East Vancouver Tour of Private Gardens

Our 2012 Garden Tour Poster!

2011-05-13T23:15:00.002-07:00

Once we have our 2012 poster ready to go to the printers, we will post it here on our blog as well!

The 2012 East Vancouver Garden Tour! Sunday, June 17th!

2009-06-04T11:25:00.021-07:00

Hello Fellow Garden Lovers!

Write "East Van Garden Tour" in your calendar for Father's Day, Sunday, June 17th. Like last year's, the 2012 tour is extremely walkable, and we already have between ten and twelve splendid gardens lined up for your touring pleasure!

Revisit this blog for details about what to do on the day of the Tour. Figaro's Garden Centre, 1896 Victoria Drive (at 3rd), will probably be our one of our home bases again. Figaro's has traditionally provided their hospitality. However, this year's gardens are going to be in the Wall Street neighbourhood, which is not particularly close to Figaro's, so we are hoping to have two home bases this year, one at Figaro's as usual, and another at Burrard View Park on Penticton Street (home of the St. James Cottage Hospice), a place roughly at the centre of this year's group of gardens. There are public restrooms there, and we hope to have power to provide coffee and hot water and goodies.

The tour runs from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This is not an event you need to come to right on time! We often get a big rush of people right at 10:00, but there's no need. You'll see exactly the same gardens if you get started at 11:00 or noon or 1:00 or even 2:00! You could, for example, pick up your tour map at 11:00, go visit a few gardens, go over to Car-Free Commercial Drive or Hastings Street for an amusing lunch, and then come back to the Tour and see the rest of the gardens after lunch.

Also, if you are on the Figaro's e-mail list, they will let you know about special seasonal discounts and sales for their regular customers. To get on their list, just e-mail figaro@telus.net, and let them know.

When and where to get your tickets for the tour!

2009-05-13T17:24:00.010-07:00

The 2012 tour is June 17th.
Starting around March 2012, you will be able to order your tickets for the tour — $12 per person — at Britannia Centre's Info Centre, 1661 Napier, or by phone at 604-718-5800.
Tickets are limited. Just a few will be available on the day of the tour, so to avoid disappointment, we recommend that you "register" ahead of time. (If you decide to risk getting tickets on the day of the tour, note that those will be cash only!)

Finding Gardens for Future Tours!

2009-04-01T21:14:00.005-07:00

Sandy, Janet, Ann, Pat,and Jo have scouted out good gardens in our target area for 2012's tour (very walkable!).
We like to cluster our gardens so that the whole Tour is walkable, so we like to save up suggestions of splendid gardens for future Tours! If you know of any potential good gardens around and about East Vancouver, let Pat know (604-253-1885), if not for this year, then maybe next year or the year after!
Get looking, gang!

Save June 17th for 2012 Garden Tour!

2008-09-07T22:25:00.010-07:00

The 2012 East Vancouver Tour of Private Gardens on Father's Day, Sunday, June 17th.

So make note on your calendar now and get your tickets ahead of time through Britannia Centre.

Also, do let us know if you would like to help out in the organizing of the tour ... or to volunteer to help with publicity just before the tour ... or if you would be willing to sit in a garden or sell tickets on tour day ... (For any of these volunteer opportunities, please telephone Pat Davitt at 604-253-1885).

Also, let Pat know of any stunning/wonderful East Van gardens you think we should include in future tours.

Garden Sitters Needed!

2008-06-18T21:08:00.005-07:00

The 2011 Garden Tour! Sunday, June 17th!
We will need garden sitters!
If you have time to do a three-hour shift (10:00-1:00 or 1:00-4:00) as a garden-sitter in one of our beautiful gardens this year, you can take the rest of the tour for free!
Please let Pat Davitt know if you're available (604-253-1885).
The self-guided tour runs from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The 2012 Garden Tour! Sunday, June 17th

2008-04-13T21:26:00.018-07:00

This year's tour is Sunday, June 17th, Father's Day, as has been our tradition....

Note that it's the same day as Car-Free Commercial Drive, so, if you can, plan to walk, take transit, or ride a bike.
You can get your tickets — now $12 per person — at Britannia Community Services Centre ahead of time. (And we do recommend that you sign up ahead of time. The tour is very popular, and, although we do have a few tickets at the event itself, tickets are limited.)

The self-guided tour runs from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Note that most gardens are not wheelchair-accessible, children must be 12 years or older or babes in arms, and pets are not allowed. Also, photos are not allowed unless you get the gardeners' permission.

Take the tour for free! If you have time to garden-sit for a while in one of our gardens this year, please let Pat Davitt (604-253-1885) know. If you garden-sit, you can get free admission to the other gardens on the tour!

Getting in Touch with Britannia Neighbours!

2006-06-15T23:55:00.004-07:00

We have a Britannia Neighbours blog and we also have a Britannia Neighbours e-mail address, which is britneighbours@gmail.com.

(We have the one Britannia Neighbours address that serves both Britannia Neighbours and, specifically, the East Side Garden Tour.)

Who organizes the East Side Garden Tour?

2005-10-26T17:53:00.004-07:00

The Garden Tour is organized by Britannia Neighbours. If you think you would like to have your garden on the Tour ... or if you know of an East Side garden that you think deserves to be featured on the Tour and you'd like to recommend it, please get in touch. The proceeds from the Garden Tour go to help fund Britannia Neighbours' projects for the year.

About the 2012 Garden Tour

2005-10-26T12:35:00.011-07:00

The 2012 tour is on Fathers Day, Sunday, June 17th. Participating gardens are open from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., and we try to organize the tour so that it's walkable. For all gardens on the tour:

Children must be twelve years or older or babes in arms.
Photos are not permitted (unless you get permission from the gardener); please make sketches of inspiring garden ideas.
Please leave your pets at home; animals are not allowed.
Please do not smoke or eat while you are in the tour gardens.
Carry your ticket/map with you and be prepared to present it.
Regrettably, not all gardens are wheelchair-accessible.