We have negotiated an Option to Purchase a 40-acre parcel of agricultural land in Sechelt at 5941 Mason Road. The exceptional property is ideally suited to a botanical garden. Its past as an ornamental tree farm has left it significant mature trees, grassy meadows, a nearly-intact deer fence, three irrigation ponds, and some remnant farm buildings.
Site Tours
Docents have been available to take members, garden clubs and other visitors through the site on mown paths. Each visitor is asked to record comments or ideas in a book, and these comments can be viewed here. These ideas will feed into our planning committee. To see the site yourself, call Paddy Wales at 604-885-9363 to book a tour. To see comments.
Working the Land
Work parties have begun to clear out the Scotch broom, blackberries and alder that are crowding the trees. They’ve also hauled much old farm debris and derelict appliances. These sessions have been a lot of fun, and the process is amazing. If you are willing to help, please call Mary Blockberger at 604-885-9459 or e-mail.
A large vegetable area is being cleared, ploughed and mulched in preparation for spring planting. If you’re interested in helping with the vegetable garden, or learning by doing, call Harry Hill at 604-885-9769 or e-mail.
Cattle from a neighbour are busy munching the grass and adding their manure.
The Lists
We’ve been making lists – to do lists, lists of birds and animals sighted, lists of trees, lists of visitors and volunteers. Here are some interesting sightings in the first three months of visits.
| The Birds List | The Animals List | The Trees List |
| Northern flicker | Deer | Big-leaf maple |
| Spotted towhee | Douglas squirrel | Red maple |
| Red-breasted sap sucker | Bear | Quaking aspen |
| Grosbeak | Elk | Austrian pines |
| Stellar's jay | Frog | Pin oak |
| American robin | Bobcat | Sequoia |
| Song sparrow | Snake | Tulip tree |
| Turkey vulture | Cattle | Amur maple |
| Winter wren | Dog | Hornbeam |
| Dark-eyed junco | Coyote | Linden |
| Common raven | Norway spruce | |
| Golden-crowned kinglet | ||
| Barred owl |  |
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| Belted kingfisher | ||
| Chestnut-backed chickadee | Northwestern crow | |
| Black-headed grosbeak | ||
| Cedar waxwing | ||
| Ruffled grouse | ||
| Northern harrier | ||
| Great gray owl | ||
| Bald eagle | ||
| Great blue heron | ||
| Mallard | ||
| Fox sparrow | ||
| Cooper's hawk | ||
| Hooded merganser | ||
| Brown creeper | ||
| Ruby-crowned kinglet | ||
| Pileated woodpecker | ||
| Trumpeter Swan |