Victoris's Abkhazi Garden

Behind every magnificent garden is a story and Abkhazi Garden on Fairfield Road in Victoria’s Oak Bay is no exception. Victoria sits on the southern tip of Vancouver Island and with its year-round moderate climate lends itself to a wide variety of plants that can thrive without being subjected to harsh winters.

Prince Nicholas Abkhazi and Princess Peggy Abkhazi purchased the property, home to their now famous garden, in 1946. Their extraordinary love affair saw the couple through seven decades, surviving the Second World War and spanning three continents. The couple purchased this weed infested and overgrown 1.4 acre lot as it was about to be subdivided. Although this Shanghai born princess and her Georgian prince from Russia were both very private people they warmly welcomed visitors to their meticulously planned garden, referred to by Peggy as the garden that love built, since 1949.

The couple was separated for many years during which time Peggy spent 2 1/2 years in a Japanese interment camp and Nicholas as a prisoner of war in Europe. Peggy and Nicholas eventually married in Victoria and soon began work on the grounds of their newly purchased home and property. Having no children, they invested all their love and attention on developing and maintaining their grounds and building a beautiful and natural garden that flowed from one end to the other. Although not specifically Chinese or Californian, Abkhazi Garden was heavily influenced by both styles resulting in a truly unique creation. California architect, John Wade was hired to design the properties summer house and brought with him the new and innovative ideas that were emerging in architectural landscape design. The belief was that landscapes should be an art form that reflected the place people together with the times of the surrounding area.
The sites predominant Garry oaks provide a feeling of serenity and one of immovable strength bringing together the different parts of the garden. Magnificent rhododendrons that are more than 100 years old display a beauty equal to the plant’s flowers. Decades of perfectly pruned azaleas have developed into the living sculptures that can be seen today. Each season holds a unique picture with the hundreds of naturalized bulbs that cover the garden in blankets of different colours depending on the time of year. Even natural rock crevices have been planted with carefully selected alpine plants that help in creating a natural flow in the landscape. Visitors can complete this incredible journey of nature’s colours and sights with a visit to the Abkhazi Garden Tea Room. Situated in the former living room of the couple’s house one can enjoy open-faced sandwiches on dark rye bread, cream cheese, smoked salmon and organic salads. Perhaps a lunch which includes camembert or local cheddar, soup and a variety of breads is more to your liking. The perfect end is of course savouring chocolate truffles, a lemon loaf or fresh fruit with a cup of tea.

The couple’s long time gardener, Chris Ball and their housemaid, Maria Camosa were entrusted with the care of Abkhazi Garden. An emotional and highly charged dispute erupted between the two after the property was sold to the gardener. When he could not afford the $30,000 that was required annually to maintain the property, he sold it to a developer whose intent was to build a townhouse community. Camosa was devastated proclaiming that Peggy and Nicholas would never have wanted their “Garden that love built” to be destroyed. Horticulturists across North America were enthralled by the story and the public support and outcry was enormous. With donations ranging from $10.00 to an amazing $1000, 000 from England, the United States and Canada as well as 12 donors raising over $600,000 and offering to take out mortgages on the property, it was saved from development. In an 11th hour settlement; the Land Conservancy of British Columbia purchased the property back from the developer for more than $1 million dollars.

Victoria B and B Accommodations