A group for people who are into rhododendrons and companion plants—whether you’re already growing them or just curious about getting started. They’re a chapter of the American Rhododendron Society, founded locally in 1984, and currently have around 75 members.

Monthly meetings happen at Comox United Church hall (250 Beach Drive) on the second Tuesday, 7:00pm, doors at 6:30pm. Guests are welcome. Meetings usually include plant sales and speakers talking about rhododendron care, propagation, or garden design. Members also organize garden tours and a June picnic.

The big community project is the Comox Valley Rhododendron Garden along the walking path between the Historic Train building on Cliffe Ave and the Courtenay Airpark. NIRS members built and maintain it through the city’s Partners in Parks program. The garden has seven beds with over 130 varieties of rhododendrons, including one bed dedicated entirely to hybrids developed on Vancouver Island. Work parties run from spring through fall—usually Thursday mornings after meetings, switching to Tuesday evenings in summer. It’s part maintenance, part social gathering.

Membership is $40 annually (includes couples), $10 for students or associate members from other ARS chapters. Benefits include access to the quarterly ARS Journal, discounts at select nurseries, free admission to the Rhododendron Species Foundation Garden in Washington State, and a lending library of gardening magazines.

If you like rhododendrons or want to learn more about growing them in the valley’s climate, this is a welcoming group. Check nirsrhodos.ca (don’t be scared of the website warning you it’s not a secure connection - it’s fine) for meeting schedules and their monthly newsletter.