At right: From left, Valerie Murray, daughter Anna Hunt and granddaughter Eloise Lecours and Bryan Murray enjoy a glass of wine and a laugh at the antics of the little girl in their gazebo, while waiting for food to cook on the barbecue. Eloise is daughter of Anna.
No doubt this house has hosted some parties for the ages. It’s outside where the real change has taken place. Lawns were vanquished in favour of a garden with meandering paths and countless perennials. Red Japanese maple bushes, reminiscent of oversized shisa, nestle either side of steps leading to a curved gazebo, and a showy Japanese moon maple stops me in my tracks. This is no surprise once you know that besides family and the arts, horticulture is of Valerie’s great passions. In addition to serving on the board of the Victoria Conservatory of Music, she has donated expertise and untold hours to support local treasures such as Abkhazi Garden, Government House grounds and the University’ of Victoria’s Finnerty Gardens. Though I only see the beauty, she cites the dual impact of marauding deer and increasing commitments courtesy of the family business. Yes, the family business. You might think that ushering four kids out of the nest, working a thriving medical practice and being an uber volunteer would be enough. Actually, I think they probably thought so too. But fate had something else in mind. They happened across a wine-making investment opportunity and carved a plan to be silent partners. (At this point in the conversation, I’m slightly embarrassed as they hand me a plate with spot prawns, Bryan’s addictive grilled onions and potato salad with fiddleheads — now it is my turn to shriek — and a glass of chilled
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SUMMER 2013
TWEED
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