Summer’s here – the wind’s blowing warm, the greenery is blooming and the birds are chirping loud and clear.
It’s also time for the eighth annual Sooke Secret Garden Tour, featuring nine individually-unique gardens to wonder through and relax in.
The event runs on Sunday (June 5) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine.
The suggested starting point is on Ayum Road, located high above Cooper’s Cove in Saseenos, east of Sooke – here, visitors will be able to enjoy a panoramic view of Sooke Harbour while passing through a Mediterranean-style garden, full with aromatic herbs, textured grasses and cozy pathways through exotic vegetation.
Frankly, if you were dying to see Sooke this is a solid way to start, says Sue Hyslop of the Sooke Secret Garden Tour committee.
“It’s been a really good showcase for Sooke and for people who come from Victoria and beyond,” she said. “This is a great opportunity some truly great gardens and some unique areas of Sooke.”
The self-guided tour then zig-zags throughout the entire Sooke region, with gardens in spots such as Milne Landing, Mountain Heights, even a “family” garden on Blanchard where kids can stretch their legs for a good old-fashioned game of tag.
Go further northwest and you’ll reach gardens that take a more au naturale look, thanks to their location deeper into the woods, such as one at Otter Point Road, which also features trout ponds.
One of the special gardens this year will be at the Tugwell Creek Honey Farm & Meadery, west of Otter Point, where visitors can take a self-guided audio tour that will teach everything about bees, honey, mead and how they are all produced.
The garden tour, will also feature various artisans and artwork, as well as musical performances by musicians, in addition to light refreshments.
For more info, visit sookesecretgardens.com.