Vancouver Island Master Gardeners 
The Vancouver Island Master Gardeners Association (VIMGA) is a group of volunteer Master Gardeners living on Vancouver Island from south of Duncan north to Campbell River.
Learn more about what we do and why we do it.
- Garry Oak Ecosystems
The Garry oak ecosystems are one of the most biodiverse but also the most threatened in Canada. This interview by Jan Thorsen with Dr. Caroline Josefsson, a biology professor at VIU, about a Garry Oak restoration site on the Nanaimo VIU campus highlights these threatened ecosystems as well as what can be done to restore them. - Invasive Plants Change the Environment in Unseen Ways
Just getting rid of invasive plants may not be enough to allow the ecosystem to recover. Read about the unexpected changes to the soil as well as the long-term environmental impacts of efforts to remove them. By Master Gardener Whitney Peek. - The Herb Gardener
Everything you have ever wanted to know about growing, using, storing and preserving herbs. A wonderfully informative article by Jo Canning! - Mini Bee School
Native Bee Society of BC is sponsoring a Mini Bee School at Beban Park Social Centre in Nanaimo, August 15 and 16. Click for more information. - Grow All Seasons Vegetable Festival and Plant Sale
Want to learn more about fall and winter vegetable growing? How about dehydrating fruits and vegetables, food storage tips and self-sufficiency? Come to Beban Learning Gardens in Nanaimo on Saturday, July 18 for presentations, displays and a plant sale. - VIMGA/VIRL Virtual Gardening Series – Smart Water: From Saving to Xeriscape
Join Master Gardener Jo Canning for our next episode in the Virtual Gardening Series. The presentation Smart Water: From Saving to Xeriscape will be on Monday August 10 from 6:30pm to 8:00pm. Jo-Ann’s focus is on helping urban gardeners develop strategies in our changing climate to keep their landscapes sustainable as well as beautiful. Water … - Summer 2026 Newsletter
The summer 2026 VIMGA newsletter is now available! - The Battle for BiodiversityLearn about the impact of invasive species on the Garry Oak Meadows. Watch this free virtual event – Battle for Biodiversity – on Tuesday, July 21 from 6:30pm-8:00pm. Hunter Jarratt (aka “The Invasive Species Guy”) will introduce Garry Oak ecosystems, their importance and current status. He will also share about the invasive species that are threatening the remaining ecosystems and their implications, through …
- How campaigns to save the monarch butterfly can threaten Vancouver Island’s biodiversity
Campaigns mailing out milkweed seeds for monarch butterflies could be introducing more invasive species to Vancouver Island, experts say. Read on to find out more. - VIMGA’s Partnership with VIRL Inspires Okanagan Master Gardeners
Okanagan Master Gardener Anne Patterson interviewed VIMGA’s Jo-Ann Canning for this article for their newsletter about VIMGS’s partnership with the Vancouver Island Regional Library to create the Garden Seminar Series. They were so impressed with what we have accomplished that they want to start a similar program in the Okanagan. - Adapting Your Garden: Body and Space Working Together
Both aging and injury can have an impact on what we are able to do in the garden. Read Master Gardener Intern Katherine Caughran’s article for suggestions on how to adapt your garden and your gardening practices so you can keep gardening even when your body just can’t do it all any more. - 2026 InfoSheets are now available under ResourcesThe InfoSheet Team extends a thank you to each of the writers for their expertise and hard work: Beth W., Deb G., Dorothee K., Chris S. and Jean C. A warm thank you is also extended to the peer reviewers for their time and thoughtful suggestions: Angela E., Linda D., Deb G., Gerry D. and …