Welcome to the Duchess of Dirt’s website and the venue for our show garden at
Growing Concern Cottage Garden!
July 2025
As of Monday, July 7th our garden will be open by appointment only.
We will still welcome visitors and group tours throughout the summer months but appreciate that you email ahead to set a date and time for your visit.
John and I hope you are having as much fun in your garden as we are. The landscape continues to change as the days slowly progress towards fall. Always something new and exciting to enjoy each morning.
Please note: I am the only “Duchess of Dirt” in British Columbia and there are only two of us in Canada.
I am a gardener, writer, and educator. “Duchess of Dirt” is my pen name.
Feel free to check out the items under the various Menu Buttons which will provide you with a more intimate peek at the plants and wildlife in our Zone 7a garden, located in the maritime Pacific Northwest. More specifically…we are nestled in rural Black Creek under the shadow of the renowned ski hill, Mt. Washington, within the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island in beautiful British Columbia, Canada.
Most of the photos on my website were taken by my photographer husband…John – the Duke of Compost…who is also a bona fide plant-aholic gardening nut same as me. The others… especially most of the insect ones…are mine.
We hope you enjoy the journey.
Leslie and John Cox
Growing Concern Cottage Garden
7896 Fairview Rd
Black Creek, BC V9J 1G5
