“I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree, And a small cabin build there of clay and wattles made: Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honeybee, And live alone in the bee-loud glade.”
-WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS
Nestled away on a sleepy dead-end road in Royston lives an expansive seven-acre oasis, complete with a Garry oak circle, a pinetum, a labyrinth, world-renowned sculptures, and a dreamy cafe. You slip into tranquility as you meander this whimsical playground of botanicals.
A botanical haven at Innisfree Farm
Founded in 2009 by Dr. Thierry Vrain, a soil biologist, and his wife Chanchal Cabrera, a medical herbalist and horticulture therapist, Innisfree Farm & Botanic Garden is constantly evolving—naturally—into a space where guests can experience, learn about, and soak in the beneficial qualities of the surrounding plants and landscape.
Innisfree is one of five certified botanical gardens in BC. In addition to following specific guidelines set by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), botanical gardens worldwide open their garden gates to the public to share knowledge of plants and conservation.
Art and nature in perfect harmony
As Chanchal guided me through the grounds, my senses were heightened by the sounds and synchronous movement of flora. Throughout the property were strewn sculptures of various sizes, interspersed amid the foliage. The hard lines of weathered metal, juxtaposed with delicate poppy petals and windswept wildflowers, created a yin and yang, beautifully intertwined. The pieces were created by the renowned sculptor Douglas Senft (1950-2012), a neighbour and friend. They are on permanent loan to the farm from the Senft family.
Experiences for every visitor
Open from June to September, the farm hosts various educational seminars and workshops, lawn concerts, and the biennial Vancouver Island Herb Gathering, founded in 2013 by Yarrow Willard and Chanchal.
Visitors are also welcome to explore the gardens without an agenda. Study in the apothecary garden, walk barefoot through the Garry oak circle, or mindfully wander the classic seven-path circuit labyrinth, intentionally designed with a wider path for wheelchair access. Experience shinrin yoku (Japanese for forest bathing) by lying amid the trees in the Pinetum. If you book this as a private, clothing-optional experience, you can lie in the Pinetum as naked as a jaybird, allowing your entire skin (your largest organ) to absorb the aromatic oils emitted by the surrounding conifers Or take a guided [clothed – Ed] shinrin yoku walk with Chanchal through the neighbouring Trent River forest lands to gain a deeper understanding of connection with the natural space you are immersed in.
Finding connection and tranquility
Innisfree is more than just a farm. It is a place to connect with like-minded plant lovers—a place to learn, be inspired, or escape from the hustle of life, if only for a quick cup of handcrafted herbal tea. As a mother of three, I deeply subscribe to the gospel of escapism. But I have an inkling that anyone can find something to love in this little slice of Eden
