One of Courtenay鈥檚 hidden treasures is about to celebrate its 20th birthday complete with live music and cake. Tucked behind the former Visitor鈥檚 Centre and the historic train on Cliffe Avenue, the Comox Valley Rhododendron Garden was the inspiration and dream of well-known hybridist Harry Wright who wanted to create a place filled with greenery and colour for nature lovers and people who simply enjoyed walking.

In April 1996, through the Partners in Parks program, the City of Courtenay set aside space for what would evolve into seven beds filled with 130 varieties of multi-coloured rhododendrons. A special bed called the BOVI (born on Vancouver Island) was added 10 years later and contains only shrubs hybridized on Vancouver Island.

Birthday celebrations will start at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 3 when Courtenay Mayor Larry Jangula addresses the group and welcomes guests. Among other special guests will be Ron Webber, who was mayor in 1997 when the gard鈥漞n officially opened, and a group of out-of-town rhododendron fans from Whitbey Island in the U.S., who belong to the American Rhododendron Society. Members of the public are invited to enjoy music by the Lakme string quartet, share cake and coffee, and take in the display of spring colour.