It may seem like a bit of a leap to go from catering to gardening but that’s what Jacquie Cherot and partner Katsumi Miyazaki did when they moved from the coast to the Okanagan and created Elysium gardens a decade ago. The old apple orchard they purchased up on Belgo Rd. had outlived most of its commercial value though Katsumi kept it going for a few years before they were ready to start their venture. They both knew they wanted to do something “on the land,” but what?

Looking around, the couple realized there were very few specialty nurseries in the area. They decided to start one, focusing on perennials that would grow and thrive here in the semi-arid climate. As a keen gardener Jacquie decided she also wanted to create a public garden space to showcase the nursery plants and to provide a beautiful venue for weddings. Although she had never created a public garden, Jacquie had a flair for design. She set off on an inspirational tour of English public gardens and came back with loads of ideas. What evolved became a genuinely Okanagan version of those lush, green places.

Jacquie and Katsumi decided on the name Elysium because that was the playground of the gods in Greek mythology. “It’s a little bit of heaven where we work like hell,” Jacquie quips. Leaving quite a few of the original apple trees, which lend the garden a sense of age and maturity it wouldn’t otherwise have, their four acres now features about 2,000 varieties of plants including a huge selection of peonies, an area devoted exclusively to day lilies, a herb garden, rockeries, xeriscapes, lavender lane, apple alley (glorious in blossom time), gazebos, pergolas, benches, a dry river bed, and a Japanese inspired garden. This project, a tribute to Katsumi’s heritage, was designed and constructed with the help of Kunio, a Japanese friend.

“I wanted the garden to be both inspirational and educational,” says Jacquie and so it is. Although they get visitors from around the world, many local people come to buy plants and get advice about what might thrive in their own gardens. Jacquie also offers a variety of gardening seminars throughout the year. Mindful of water conservation, the garden is all hand-watered and only when necessary (there’s no electricity in the garden). “Katsumi got disgusted with all the sprays he had to use while working the apple orchard,” says Jacquie so the couple also decided to maintain the gardens organically.

The whole enterprise is run and maintained by family: Jacquie takes care of the tours, weddings, and most of the gardening (along with her assistant Yuka), Katsumi looks after orchard stuff plus mowing, watering, pruning, and Jacquie’s two sisters Ann and Lynne, work the nursery. A real family labour of love and a paradise in our own backyard. Visit and see for yourself!

For more info., open hours, admission prices etc. please visit elysiumgardennursery.com or phone 250-491-1368.