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Oak Bay Native Plant Garden
(Beach Drive at Margate Street)
This garden is a landmark at the corner of Beach Drive and Margate Street,
and the landscape is intrinsic in establishing the character of the neighbourhood.
The site is also of great ecological value as a green space and nature
reserve. It acts as a preserve for plants indigenous to southern Vancouver
Island, many of which are endangered by development.
The Native Plant garden is closely associated with the founding settlers
of Oak Bay. The original site was part of the home and garden of Arden,
designed by Samuel Maclure for Ada and Hugo Beaven in 1908? Mrs. Beaven
was the former Ada Pemberton, daughter of JD Pemberton, one of Oak Bay's
original four private landowners and Surveyor General of BC. The site of
Arden was part of the Pemberton estate. Hugo Beavan was the son of BC Premier
Robert Beaven (1882-1883), who also served as Mayor of Victoria.
In 1939 Mrs. Beaven donated 0.52 acres of her property to the Municipality
of Oak Bay to be used as a native plant park.
In keeping with Mrs. Beaven's wishes, the Municipality has maintained the
property in its natural state, two ponds from the original Mclure plans
still exist, and the fight against non-native invasive species by dedicated
Friends of the Native Plant Garden is on going.
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