Best of British ...Columbia

摘要

Jim Wilson takes a busman's holiday and looks at leading garden centres in Greater Vancouver. Vancouver and satellite cities facing the Pacific Ocean enjoy an equable climate conducive to plant growth. Unlike Alberta to the east of The Rockies wheretemperatures can plummet to -35C, British Columbia seldom experiences frosts. It has an enviable sunshine record, and a great deal of rain. Plants grow fast, and sub-tropicals normally associated with Florida thrive in the Sunshine Coast microclimate. Major garden centres are few and far between but they are more plantorientated than many in the UK, with garden furniture and full-scale restaurants notably in short supply. Canadian eating habits are weird! Big boxes (sheds) all have their 'garden centres' but the quality of plants seen left much to be desired. End-of-season bedding and small shrubs still on display in July at 'bargain prices' were fit only for the skip, but still the customers were tempted. A couple of excellent centres in Burnaby (Greater Vancouver) have gained customer confidence through offering not only top quality plant material gleaned from leading producers close to the Cascades near the US border and from down south, but also service and incentives to sustain interest and goodwill.