Finnerty Gardens

Rhododendron praevernum - Pink heritage rhododendron, Rhododendron praevernum, white birch and dwarf variegated bamboo reflected in pond.

Timber bamboo stand.

Join us for an interpretive tour of this wonderful woodland garden. Surrounding naturalistic ponds, under the canopy of native firs and cedars, there are over 1600 trees and shrubs, which have been under planted with a range of exotic and native shade loving plants. The genesis of this woodland garden was the extensive rhododendron collection left to the University of Victoria by rhododendron enthusiasts over 30 years ago. This collection included many specimens (now over 70 years old) that had been started from seed obtained either directly or indirectly from the plant explorers who had discovered them. There are now over 200 rhododendron species and azaleas along with an extensive planting of hybrids, most of them of early origin.

Thanks in no small part to the vision, expertise and continued support from the Friends of Finnerty, other gardeners and nurseries have continued to donate trees, shrubs and perennials including many new plant introductions. Interesting plantings have been created utilizing a range of plants, including grasses, selected for year round interest.

Timber bamboo with Rhododendron praevernum.	White rhododendron ‘Snow Lady’ with mauve Rhododendron ‘Praecox.’	Himalayan birch with forget-me-nots - White barked Himalayan birch (Betula jacqemontii) underplanted with blue of forget-me-nots (mystosis sylvestris) and lilly of the valley (Convallaria magalis) that will soon add its fragrant white bloom.	Cyclamen coum, one of the plants described by the writer Thomas Hobbs as a ‘Jewel Box Plant’ in a woodland setting.
Acer griseum bark close up - Close up of peeling cinnamon coloured bark of Acer griseum with birch in background.. The bark of the paper bark maple and the birch add texture and colour throughout the year. The gunnera and candelabra primulas provide a lush setting.	Mixed woodland plantings.	Man made bog in spring - This manmade bog garden at Finnerty Gardens has a lushness and diversity of plants that would not have been possible without the constructing of a bog. In the background is wonderful specimen of Sambucus nigra 'Guicho Purple' and (Black Bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra) combined with the heritage rhododendrons. Click here for a full description.	Persicaria (Polygonium) bisorta ‘Superba’at the edge.of the bog.
Marginal woodland plantings surrounding pond and slough in spring.	Pink magnolia (Magnolia soulangeanu) trained as a standard.	Orange deciduous azalea - A deciduous orange azalea is anchored by a large rock and contrasted with the colour and texture of the blue foliage of Picea pungens 'Glauca Prostata' and the yellow of Calluna vulgaris 'Serlei Aurea' and Welsh Poppies (Meconopsis cambria).	Paper bark maple (Acer griseum) in a woodland planting.
Mahonia ‘Charity’ berries add interest after the January fragrant yellow blooms are finished.	Native skunk cabbage (lysichton americanus), (the use of native plants being a continuing trend for 2005).	Iris siberica ‘Silver Edge.’	Heritage Loderi Rhododendron - Rare species Loderi rhododendron ‘Miss Josephine Firth’ with its fragrant pink tinged bells accented by the mauve bloom of rhododendron ‘Praecox.’
Handkerchef tree or ghost tree (Davidia involucrata). This heritage tree was popular at the Chelsea 2004 Garden show.