Same province, other world

BAILA LAZARUS

Strolling through fields of brilliantly colorful tulips, tiptoeing through an English rose garden or getting a European massage – perhaps these don't immediately spring to mind as B.C. activities, but they can all be found just an hour and a half's drive from Vancouver.

Nestled between Mount Agassiz, Mount Woodside and the Fraser River, Agassiz and its surrounding area offer a different type of B.C. tour, away from the crowded beaches and busy hiking trails. Gardens, farms and hot springs are now destinations for a variety of relaxing spring and summer day trips and overnight stays.

To start some research on what the Fraser Valley has to offer, head east on Highway 1 towards Hope and take the Harrison exit for a stop at Minter Gardens. Now in its 28th year, the creation of Brian and Faye Minter is an ongoing pursuit to create no less than one of the most beautiful gardens in the world.

Using the natural topography, the area is divided into 11 theme gardens, including a fragrance garden, lake garden, rose garden and stunning Chinese Penjing garden. Penjing is a Chinese art of creating miniature landscapes. A piece of rock with a tiny twig on it could be transformed into a mountainside and Buddha tree. The collection at Minter Gardens is the first outside of China.

An underground lake enables the Minters to distribute water throughout the garden and be creative with its use in lakes, streams and waterfalls. Brian Minter is especially keen on having visitors hear the water before they discover it around the next bend.

Besides offering stunning vistas, whimsical sculptures and dozens of ideas to take home for your own garden, Minter Gardens also offers a place to have receptions in one of two banquet rooms; or even a wedding (complete with large lawn, covered pavilion for up to 175 guests and a fairy tale chapel).

Give yourself at least an hour and a half for the gardens, before heading north on Highway 9 and into the Circle Farm Tour. A self-guided tour of the region's agricultural offerings, it includes hazelnut growers, cheese-makers, corn and strawberry farms, as well as lodges, pottery studios and various museum and historic sites.

One of the big surprises here is Tulips of the Valley. This B.C. company rivals peers in Holland for stunning tulips, and they're grown right beside the Fraser River. Offering thousands of fresh cut greenhouse tulips January through Mother's Day, Tulips of the Valley also sponsors a tulip festival on Seabird Island. Check their website for the best time to go, as the flowers bloom at different times each year, usually March or April, depending on the weather.

Also on the Circle Farm Tour is Limbert Mountain Farm Simply Fine Foods, a heritage farm that uses freshly collected herbs, nuts and vegetables from their own gardens to create sensuous meals, tasty teas and self-indulgent desserts. Tea varieties range from cream Earl Grey to chai to three-flower-burst (where bundles of flowers burst to life in a glass teapot set on the table), and menu items include daily fresh vegetable soups and pastas with home-made sauces. If you're a garlic lover, be sure to visit their one-acre garlic garden, with more than 20 varieties. Or take one of their courses, such as Cooking on the Wild Side, The Summer Garden or Taking Back the Backyard.

Include a visit to the farm in upcoming events such as the Slow Food Cycle Tour Aug. 9, the Garlic Festival Aug. 16, the Harvest Festival Oct. 11 or the Circle Farm Christmas Tour Nov. 29. Phone ahead so your group can book a garden tour, cooking class, herb walk or spot for lunch in the 100-year-old farmhouse.

After a full day of walking around Minter Gardens, Sea Bird Island and various farms and heritage sites, soaking in a hot springs pool can let you relax and recall the beautiful sights and lovely fragrances of the day. At the Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa, the Healing Springs Spa also offers an indoor hot pool, indoor and outdoor mineral pools and a variety of spa treatments. Massage techniques include reflexology, reiki, stone, lymphatic therapy and shiatsu; skin treatments range from purifying back treatments and anti-aging treatments to eye lifts and men's facials. Located on the southern tip of Lake Harrison, the resort is the perfect venue from which to take in lakeside festivals or tour the town.

For more information on the sites mentioned, visit their websites: www.mintergardens.com, www.tulipsofthevalley.com, www.limbertmountainfarm.com, www.harrisonresort.com and www.tourismharrison.com.

Baila Lazarus is a freelance writer, photographer and illustrator living in Vancouver. Her work can be seen at www.orchiddesigns.net.

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