Hanging Flower Baskets in Victoria mark the start of Summer
Hanging Baskets in Victoria are hung on the old lampposts all around the city.
The Haning Flower Baskets in Victoria are iconic symbols that Summer is here. The City of Victoria, BC, also known as “Garden City”, decorates its downtown lamposts with hundreds of Hanging Baskets from June to September every year. These recognizable trademarks not only beautify the city but guide tourists through the streets of its charming historic shops, pubs, and restaurants.
History of Victoria’s Iconic Hanging Flower Baskets
Archive photo from City of Victoria
Since 1937, June marks the official beginning of summer and is celebrated by the placement of the enormous baskets on each of the old gas lamp posts.
The City of Victoria at the time wanted to improve the beauty of the downtown area and implemented the practice of hanging Flower baskets based on a few European cities. The plants used in Europe did not perform well in Victoria’s climate and it took a few attempts before the gardeners mastered the right combination. Ultimately choosing the right variety of plants for their vigor, period of bloom, maintenance requirements, and resistance to disease and insects. The baskets have varied only slightly since the 1960s.
Blooming Hanging Baskets – how do they grow?
Full-grown baskets can weigh over 20 kilograms
Every year 6 gardeners create the 1500 hanging flower baskets at the Beacon Hill Nursery, located in the southeast corner of Beacon Hill Park. In the first week of May, the process begins and takes approximately 4 weeks.
Once the baskets are made, they remain in the greenhouses for one week before being moved outside to acclimatize to the weather conditions. During the second week in June, the baskets go out to be hung on the city’s signature lampposts. This is an exciting time for residents and during the “hanging day,” Instagram and Facebook are on fire!
Park staff water the hanging baskets every evening while the city sleeps. Transport trucks carrying 2250 liters of water stop at each basket with a hand-held wand. The soil is sampled weekly for moisture, PH, and Feed Nutrients as needed.
By the end of the summer, they are impressively enormous beauties and can weigh over 20 kilograms / 45 pounds.
How to make your own Victorian Hanging Flower Basket
The city of Victoria, British Columbia offers a free brochure to make your own Victorian flower Basket.
SHOP LOCAL
In Victoria Shop at the Local Garden centers for all your gardening needs. Here are a few of my favorite shops
Demitasse Cafe and Garden Centre is a family-owned and operated, quaint little shop, tucked in the beautiful neighborhood of Oak Bay. Head to Demitasse for plants and stay for lunch, oh and pick up dinner while you’re at it! I love this place.
Dig This is Located in Broadmead Village Shopping Centre and a location in Sidney, bc as well. They have a fantastic array of gardening tools, giftware, outdoor furniture, and all the accessories to go with it. This is an excellent shop for gifts and my go-to for my circle of Garden Enthusiasts.
Garden Works in the farming area of Blenkinsop. Oodles of plant species, fertilizers, garden tools, and Outdoor home decor. They are super community-minded and all their staff is extremely helpful and Knowledgeable.
