A SEASON OF MILESTONES

by Kait Burgan

Photos courtesy of Milner Gardens & Woodlands

As June turns spring into summer, gardens all over Vancouver Island reveal the colourful miracle of their natural beauty and strength to knowledgeable horticulturists and novice admirers alike.

We called this house this name [Long Distance] because it was so far away from my old home, and because the telephone was always ringing for him. Veronica Milner

For Milner Gardens & Woodland, peak season is also a time of milestones. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Milner estate being open to the public and the 25th anniversary of being gifted to Vancouver Island University (Malaspina University-College) by Veronica Milner. Thirty-five years ago, at about this time, Prince Charles and Lady Diana visited, and it’s been 90 years since the main house was completed. While there are many reasons to celebrate, the past year has been a challenge because of COVID-19. No doubt, history will mark these times as well, as a milestone of note—among all the others.

Milner Gardens & Woodland is a 70-acre estate along the eastern shore of Vancouver Island in Qualicum Beach. An extensive network of trails meanders through old-growth Douglas firs and cedar trees, leading back in time to a waterfront house on a sprawling lawn that overlooks the Salish Sea.

Veronica Milner was the wife of Horatio “Ray” Milner, a successful Albertan lawyer, philanthropist, and businessman who purchased the property in 1937. The estate was an escape from the busy-ness of life in Alberta that Veronica named Long Distance. “We called this house this name because it was so far away from my old home, and because the telephone was always ringing for him!”

Veronica was British and had royal family ties. She was also an accomplished horticulturist, active on many boards and societies, including the International Dendrology Society that aims “to promote the study of woody plants and shrubs, and to conserve and protect those that are rare and endangered.” Many of the trees and shrubs at Milner Gardens were brought back by Veronica from trips abroad. For more of the Milner story visit the website: milnergardens.viu.ca/milner-gardens/milner-story)

For the first time since opening to the public in 2001, the gardens were closed for much of last year. Programs were suspended and re-evaluated, and the retirement of the head gardener led unexpectedly, to the head chefs of the on-site Camellia Tea Room, stepping in to fill the role.

“They were so busy during the day,” says Geoff Ball, Executive Director at Milner Gardens & Woodland, of the pruner toting chefs, “there were large sections of the gardens they had never seen. They’ve been here for years but they began to get to know the gardens in a completely different way. They’re more connected and inspired now by the beauty they work around.”

Geoff is the self-described “horticulture student that never left.” Back in 1995, he was working towards a career in forest seedling production and had some experience as a researcher when VIU needed someone for two months to help with its horticultural program and some research. He jumped at the opportunity. When the contract ended, he was offered another. After that, another.

That was twenty-five years ago. Today, Geoff and his wife live on-site in the house that was built by the Milners 90 years ago.

“I was in charge of the grounds in the last year that Veronica lived on-site,” says Geoff. “We know that she loved the wild garden. It is not meant to be highly manicured. The garden should feel like enhanced nature; things should spill and flow.

We want to maintain the health, integrity, and usability of the garden, but we’re not locked into preserving it like a heritage building or heritage garden. We try to always keep to the style and approach that we feel she had.”

There are more than 200 volunteers who dedicate their time and talents to Milner Gardens. They do everything from collecting and packaging seeds, operating the tearoom and welcome centre, to designing and constructing buildings such as the pool house that is now the gift shop. Before COVID-19 hit, volunteers started building a brand new fence with an elaborate rock entranceway to replace the existing perimeter deer fence.

Milner Gardens has strong ties to all five of the rhododendron societies on Vancouver Island and in 2014, volunteers began foundation and planning work on a new rhododendron garden. The area has been designed to host thirty to forty guests with circular walkways and a centre stage. This new garden has species from all around the world and adds to the existing collection of hybrids.

“These are the ones that would be found naturally in the wild; the grandparents of the hybrids,” Geoff says, adding that interpretive signs will be installed.

“I think at the end of the day, Veronica Milner would be happy,” Geoff says. “I think there are times that I made her roll, and she’ll have been wanting to scold us, but I do think that overall, she would be very, very happy with what’s happened here. I think she’d be very proud.”

Milner Gardens & Woodland is now open—with COVID-19 protocols in place—Thursday through Sunday (April 29 - September 5), from 11 am to 4:30 pm.