Abkhazi Garden

What is Abkhazi Garden?

Abkhazi Garden covers about one acre and is laid out with winding gravel and stone paths. The main feature is its large rhododendron plants, some grown to the size of trees, which provide a canopy over the garden. Beneath these, visitors find smaller flowers, ferns, and other plants that thrive in shade. At the centre of the garden stands a tea house and a gift shop, offering a place to rest and enjoy the view.

The history of Abkhazi Garden

The garden was created in 1946 by Prince Nicolas Abkhazi and Princess Marjorie Abkhazi after they settled in Victoria, British Columbia. Both had lived through upheaval during World War Two before reuniting and moving to Canada. Over the decades, they developed the garden on their property on Fairfield Road. After their deaths, The Land Conservancy of British Columbia bought the garden to preserve it and share the Abkhazis’ story.

What there is to see

The garden was developed gradually by the Abkhazis, who planted and tended the rhododendrons and other shade-loving plants. Paths were laid out with crushed gravel and stone, winding through the mature plantings. The tea house and gift shop were added in the centre, making the garden a place for visitors to walk, relax, and learn about its history.

When to go

Abkhazi Garden is open to visitors, who can walk the paths, enjoy the flowers and plants, and visit the tea house and gift shop. The garden asks for a suggested donation for entry. It is managed as a memorial to the Abkhazis and their story, with efforts to protect its heritage status and ensure its future as a public garden.

Why Abkhazi Garden matters

The garden is closely tied to the story of Prince and Princess Abkhazi, who created it as a personal retreat after lives marked by war and separation. It is sometimes called 'the garden that love built.' The site has been the focus of heritage protection efforts in Victoria, and is preserved to share the Abkhazis’ legacy with visitors.

The flowers of Abkhazi Garden

RhododendronA vast group of shrubs and trees with showy blooms in many coloursCommon rhododendronA dense evergreen shrub with violet-purple flowers from Europe and the CaucasusRhododendron aureumA low evergreen shrub with pale yellow spring flowers from northeastern AsiaRhododendron molleA yellow-flowered deciduous azalea from China and JapanRhododendron simsiiA shrub from East Asia with flowers in shades from white to deep redRhododendron kaempferiA Japanese semi-evergreen azalea with many colourful formsRhododendron kesangiaeA tall rhododendron tree with rose pink flowers, found only in BhutanRhododendron faurieiA rhododendron with pale red to white flowers from Japan and Korea

Questions people ask about Abkhazi Garden

Good reading and sources

• Official websiteOfficial site

• Abkhazi Garden on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• Wikidata recordOpen data