Flower Power – Kelowna & West Kelowna Garden Tour 

After being in the Okanagan area for almost 10 years now I finally attended the Kelowna & West Kelowna Garden Tour (Flower Power – www.flowerpowerylw.ca)  This was such a great event exploring a number of private gardens, a lavender farm and vineyard.  There was such a cross-section of formal to informal garden layouts and designs as well as interesting art, garden decor and wine tasting.  At each stop there was so much to take in and someone readily on hand to help name some of the more unusual plants and descriptions of how the garden evolved.

We first started off in the West Kelowna area.  As this tour is well attended I was happy to be escorted by my husband in his red MGB so that we could easily find a small spot to park in.  There were many garden enthusiasts, mainly women.  My husband had no problem fitting in though and felt quite at ease sipping wine with the ladies.   This garden was stocked with so many varieties of plants and shrubs.  The list would be never-ending so I only took photos of those plants that stood out to me.  This included roses, clematis, a pathway of thyme and various perennials.  

I was particularly taken with the water feature using a concrete leaf for the water to flow on.  

  Water Feature Using Concrete Leaves

We then moved on to several gardens in lower and upper Mission.  Each with their own unique style.  I was impressed with the use of retaining walls and bold designs.  

There were plenty of contrasting plants that complemented one another.  The use of subtle pinks, mauve and greys with a splash of yellow from the yarrow.  

It was interesting to see the history behind the Lavender Farm (www.lavenderfarm.com).  Fascinating to see rows and rows of lavender as far as the eye could see.  

We sampled a number of wines along the way including Sperling & Sandhill as well as a honey sparkling wine from Meadow Vista.   We also visited Ancient Estate Hill winery way up in the hillside behind the airport. Again there were a number of artisans on site so while perusing the art you could sample the wines.

Standing out for me the most though was the last garden stop on the tour at Bonnie & Chef Bernard Casavant’s home not far from the Ancient Estate Hill vineyard.  I was very intrigued with the program that Chef Bernard is involved in.  Chefs in the Classroom – Edible Education.  (www.chefsintheclassroom.ca).  Their mission is to educate children in the community on how to grow, cook and eat Okanagan fruits and vegetables.  Bonnie is very much involved in the garden too and the produce is provided to some of the more speciality restaurants in Kelowna.  It was definitely vegetable gardening big scale.  I was delighted to walk along a path that was totally lined with tomato plants.  High raised beds filled with many varieties of lettuce, peppers, basil…the list goes on.  In one particular raised bed Bonnie explained the tomatoes are placed in the middle; on the sunny side she grows the basil and on the shade side the cucumbers.  Such a great idea.   There were unique containers throughout this property and some delightful double red poppies and crimson peony. 

All in all this was such a great experience and I will most definitely attend this event again.  

Just a few more accents that I could not help taking photos of including a fairy garden, an antique welcome seat and a cat sitting happily by a succulent container.