Here are some Frequently Asked Questions (and answers)
How old are the Gardens?
The Friends of the Gardens celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Gardens in 2016.
What size are the Gardens?
They are 6 hectares (15 acres) in area.
Why don’t you charge admission to the Gardens?
The Gardens are on federal property and our License of Occupation doesn’t allow us to charge admission to the Gardens.
Are your gardeners’ wages paid by the federal government?
No, although the Research Centre provides in-kind support, we receive no operating funds from the government. We pay our gardeners and other expenses through memberships, donations, and fundraising.
How many volunteers work in the Gardens?
There are approximately fifty volunteers who work in the Gardens each week, and others who run our plant sales and other events, publish our newsletters and do other non-gardening jobs.
Who lives in the House?
The House was built in 1924-26 for the Superintendent of the Research Centre. No one has lived in it since the 1960s, although it has been used as an office and museum before being closed to the public.
My grandmother loved the Gardens. Can we plant a tree or sponsor a bench in her memory?
We no longer have room for additional trees, and no longer have a bench program because of the maintenance problem.
Can we get to the steam train from here?
No, you need to return to Trout Creek, and take Johnson, Gartrell and Happy Valley Roads to reach the steam train.
I see bear warning signs around the Gardens. Are bears a big problem here?
Because the Gardens are between Trout Creek and the Research Centre orchards, the bears regularly travel through them. We respect their space and they respect ours.
