Residents and guests can spend the waning days of summer winding through the stunning Abkhazi Gardens in Victoria with a series of events.
The free 25th anniversary open house on Sept. 7 includes lawn games and a draw for afternoon tea for two at the site’s teahouse. The heritage garden, run by The Land Conservancy of BC, is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the last visitors let in at 4. The event also features the garden’s annual fall plant sale, with the grounds’ head gardener available for questions. Proceeds will go to the maintenance of the heritage home and garden created by Prince and Princess Abkhazi starting in 1946.
The anniversary celebration coincides with a fall art show fundraiser that runs Sept. 1 to Oct. 13. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the show includes artworks – available for purchase – inspired by Abkhazi Garden and created by local artists in the plein air Artists in the Garden Program. If the weather holds out, on Labour Day, Monday, Sept 1, artists will be in attendance.
On Sept. 21, admission is by donation for the International Day of Peace, featuring choir performances both streamed and live. A live feed that day comes from Prince Nicolas Abkhazi's homeland in Georgia and includes a performance of the Georgian Youth Choir at 11:30 a.m. followed by an on-site performance of the Victoria Ukrainian Choir, Kalyna Choir at 1:30 p.m.
Street parking is available at 1964 Fairfield Rd. but visitors are urged to carpool, bike or use public transit.
Learn more about the garden at conservancy.bc.ca/featured-projects/abkhazi-garden/.
