Vancouver Island
Rock and Alpine Garden Society

VIRAGS is a club of plant lovers living near Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, who visit, study, photograph, draw and grow alpine plants, bog dwellers and woodlanders, whether native or exotic. We encourage the propagation and distribution of plants.

Monthly meetings include a judged parlour show, a talk or workshop, a plant raffle, books to borrow, and time to discuss plants while enjoying refreshments.

We organize several local plant viewing trips a year, and a two-day summer expedition to mountains in British Columbia, Washington or Oregon.

The annual Lohbrunner Lecture brings a noted speaker to Victoria for a public lecture in memory of Ed Lohbrunner, plant hunter, alpine nurseryman and one of VIRAGS' founders.

Most years there are several workshops on propagation, trough building and rock garden construction.

Members open their gardens throughout the year, providing both delight and inspiration.

The Society, which is perhaps the oldest alpine gardening club, has remained local. Any distant members are ex-Victorians who want to keep up with their friends' activities. We have no publications other than a newsletter for local events.

We are always delighted to welcome visitors. Please contact us if you are going to be on Vancouver Island, even if it is not the day of the monthly meeting.