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Sooke Harbour House, Organic West Coast Gardens.

The gardens of Sooke Harbour House are, modestly put, an edible paradise. We grow naturally, organically and seasonally. The plants we have in the garden all have an edible part. It may be a leaf, a flower, a root, a tuber, a stem, the fruit or the bulb.
The garden is very attractive in all seasons, but more colourful in the Summer. Spring, Fall and Winter, all have their own charm and beauty.

The purpose of the garden is to grow interesting and delicious products to use in our kitchen. Our favourable climate allows us to do this year round.

We do not separate the garden into herb, vegetable or flower section. Everything is planted where it will grow the best. That may mean the roses are interplanted with herbs and edible flowers or fuchsia and tuberous begonias thrive under similar conditions There are challenges to growing by the ocean, but the natural beauty makes it all worthwhile.

If you have questions about kitchen gardens, herbs, salad greens, or edible flowers please feel free to email inquiries to gardens@sookeharbourhouse.com. Please state where you live, so we can take your climate into consideration.

Byron Cook, Head Gardener

Our Herb Garden

Sooke Harbour House Herb Garden:

Usually a herb garden will contain edible plants with a culinary use, that will be harvested fresh everyday or dried for future use.  They may also contain medicinal herbs or dye plants and that is their original use.  Some plants will have both culinary and medicinal use, such as sage and lavender and may be both useful and beautiful.

A herb garden can be arranged in formal beds, like a knot garden or parterre or informally put into a mixed border with ornamental plants.  The garden may contain annuals, biennials,  and perennials with both shrubs and trees.  Our garden contains all these elements and are generally used throught out the property and as part of the landscape.

At Sooke Harbour House, we have created an edible landscape on our grounds of over 200 edible herbs, greens, edible flowers and vegetables.

Our garden design focuses on producing healthy, fresh and delicious food, which is both beautiful and functional.

Garden Tours at Sooke Harbour House

Garden Tours

Join one of our experienced gardeners for an instructive stroll through our organic kitchen gardens. Learn what we are growing for our kitchen this season, discover edible plants, hear about our efficient composting system, the process of becoming certified organic, and take in the beauty of our grounds.

Complimentary garden tours take approximately 45 minutes, and are offered daily at 10:30 am. Please meet your tour guide at the front desk at this time.