The one constant in gardening is change 鈥� the change of seasons, of the garden landscape and of the plants themselves.

It鈥檚 true, too, of one of the Comox Valley鈥檚 longest-standing nurseries, as the Van Hage family鈥檚 Art Knapp garden centre transitions to .

鈥淲e were just thrilled and absolutely honoured when Will approached us more than a year ago when he was thinking of retiring,鈥� says Leanne Johnson, president of Gardenworks, which owns nine stores on Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland.

鈥淲e鈥檙e so excited to continue the great work Will and his family undertook.鈥�

Valley gardeners will be happy to still see many of the familiar friendly faces they鈥檝e known at the nursery.

鈥淎lmost the entire team has continued with Gardenworks, and we鈥檙e adding a few more people to the mix,鈥� Johnson says.

Suzanne Wilson, a 20-year member of the Gardenworks team and formerly manager of the Nanaimo store, is excited to take the helm in Courtenay. An avid outdoor enthusiast and keen gardener, expect to see Wilson on the local slopes and trails when she鈥檚 not supporting people鈥檚 passions for all things green and growing.

鈥淥ur mission is to connect people to the natural world through gardening,鈥� Johnson notes. 鈥淲e certainly learned through COVID how important plants and gardening are for maintaining health and well-being.鈥�

It鈥檚 notable that many of Gardenworks鈥� leadership team are women, including nine of the 1o store managers. 鈥淲e look for the most talented people at the time and that has happened to be women,鈥� Johnson says.

鈥淎s women leaders, we understand what it鈥檚 like to live and work and have families. We have built in empathy, compassion and flexibility to the Gardenworks philosophy and we strive for balance in life and work,鈥� she says. 鈥淎nd we鈥檙e always looking for positive people who love people as much as they love plants!鈥�

Exciting things blossoming

Those familiar local faces include Paris, the store鈥檚 fashion buyer, Johnson says, answering a question heard from many shoppers: 鈥淲e鈥檙e not only keeping the fashion, we鈥檙e expanding it 鈥� we鈥檒l have a store within a store.鈥�

Those familiar with other Gardenworks locations will also be excited to see some of their favourite innovations, including a hip new 鈥淏otanical Bar,鈥� where instead of connecting over cocktails, friends will connect over garden projects, like creating a succulent planter or an orchid and glass arrangement. 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be super-fun,鈥� Johnson says.

Gardeners will also see a refreshed interior with more tropical plants, lots of seasonal decorations, gift ideas, beautiful home decor finds and artisan creations from Vancouver Island and B.C.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a long tradition at Art Knapp of local love and that鈥檚 something that Gardenworks supports as well,鈥� Johnson notes.

鈥淲e are so honoured that Will entrusted us to his business and we鈥檙e so excited to be in the community. It鈥檚 been really heartwarming, the support we鈥檝e received.鈥�

Plan to attend the big reveal and official grand re-opening in mid-November 鈥� watch for details online at , on and on .

And of course, you can visit in person from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at