The Town of Qualicum Beach is celebrating the Year of the Garden and is participating in the BC Communities in Bloom.
Qualicum Beach has had success in the National Communities in Bloom competition over the years and this year entered under the non-competitive friendship category.
The most prominent celebration of these two initiatives is the Rotary Friendship Garden on Memorial Avenue as you enter town. The garden artfully displays a floral fire hydrant and 75th anniversary logo that celebrates anniversaries for both the Qualicum Beach Fire Department and the Qualicum Beach Rotary Club. Both these groups have significantly contributed to the well-being of the town over the decades and are well-deserving of this floral tribute.
Over 326 red fibrous begonias (the 2022 theme colour) went into the fire hydrant display, and a further 180 fibrous begonias and 144 alyssums made up the main flower display. The garden was designed and planted by the town’s talented parks department staff and is a memorable way to commemorate these significant anniversaries.
READ MORE: Parksville city council endorses 2022 as the ‘Year of the Garden’
Another planting that will also receive attention at this year’s CIB is the Eaglecrest Entry Garden initiative. This planting will be presented as a ‘Showcase Project’ later in October at the CIB Symposium and represents the work of volunteers in the Eaglecrest neighbourhood.
One notable Eaglecrest volunteer is Vern Black, who was honoured with a Garden Heroes award for his work co-ordinating volunteers on the garden’s redesign, as well as on the creation of the Eaglecrest Drive Superbox, recognized nationally in 2004 as a Special Mention. Black was also an early pioneer in broombusting,” which he began tirelessly eradicating in the Eaglecrest community in 2000.
Two CIB welcome signs were also recreated and act as a reminder of the town’s awards over the years, notably the Canadian Classic award won in partnership with the City of Parksville in 2004. The signs are located on Highway 19A at the town boundary just before Yambury Road, and on Memorial Avenue just past the Rupert Road Roundabout.
A Symposium linking Year of the Garden and Communities in Bloom will be held later in October in Victoria and will wrap up the two initiatives and recognize this year’s participants.
The town is being represented by Marlys Diamond, who will highlight the town’s reconnection with its CIB legacy between 1999 and 2006, and stressing other town showcase projects submitted by various groups, including one from Broombusters, a group that began in 2006 with a CIB connection.
For more information visit https://www.qualicumbeach.com/2022garden.
— NEWS Staff, submitted