Ronnings Garden is a west coast gardeners vision left behind by one of the first European settlers to set roots on the north end of Vancouver Island in 1910. Brent Ronning, the garden architect, was attracted to the area by a promise by the local government to build a road leading out to the settlers living at Cape Scott. No such wish materialized causing many settlers to leave the area, but not Brent. He continued to live at his house until the early 1960s.

During the years, Brent Ronning cleared over 5 acres of land to plant his own wilderness garden of dreams from seeds and clippings of exotic plants and trees he ordered from all around the world. He earned his living working as a fisherman and trapper, even sometimes as a camp cook. But always his passion was Ronnings Garden. The years past, the garden continued to grow. People would consistently stop in to visit while on route to Cape Scott or Raft Cove.

In the 1970's the garden was left temporarily unattended and the west coast brush and trees started to take over. The hundreds of flowers shrivelled away and Ronnings Garden showed signs of disappearing. Today, Ronnings Garden enjoys regular maintenance thus the flowers have reappeared, the colour is back, the rain forest has been pushed back letting sunlight in once again.

Some of the highlights of Ronnings Garden is the twisted Monkey Trees. The trees mark the entrance to Brent Ronnings home. The trails are cleared and zig-zag throughout the park. The grounds are a great example of a west coast wilderness garden experience, that all should explore.

Ronnings Garden is available for viewing by the public. It can be found off of the gravel road on the way to Cape Scott Provincial Park. It is close to 1 1/2 hours from Port Hardy. Once at the parking area, it is only a short 15 minute walk to the gardens.