85th year: Victoria’s unofficial start of summer begins today with hanging baskets

85 years and counting!

The annual roll out of Victoria’s trademark hanging baskets has begun, marking the unofficial start to summer in BC’s capital.

As of June 6th, City of Victoria crews began installing 1,350 hanging baskets on downtown lamp posts featuring flowers grown at the Beacon Hill Park nursery.

First introduced in 1937, Victoria’s hanging flower baskets are now recognized around the world.

Each year Parks staff create both sun and shade baskets to ensure the flowers thrive in their chosen location.

Roughly 500 shade baskets will contain 18 plants each, with red and pink Dragon Wing Begonias, which are adaptable and have a high heat/drought tolerance.

There are also over 700 sun baskets sun baskets containing 25 plants of nine different varieties, including Lobelia, Geranium and Petunia, which do well in full sunlight.

When the program started 85 years ago, the practice of hanging flower baskets in public areas was limited to a few European cities, so it became a symbol of our beautiful city that continues today—one of the oldest programs in Victoria.

This year, bright yellow Bee’s Knees petunias are a new addition to baskets along Douglas Street.

The baskets remain on lamp posts until late September.

After removal, the hardware is dismantled for reuse and the plant material is composted in the Beacon Hill Park maintenance yard.