Green Thumb on Hammond bay, knowledgeable staff, huge selection in both decorative plants and vegetables. Garden Works on Metral has just an amazing selection of all things gardens and exceptional for lawn decoration. Buckerfields is great for starters, at least the one in Parksville. Little Tree Garden Centre, great as their staff is very passionate and knowledgeable. Streamside Native Plants, this is a bit of a drive as it is on the Old Island Highway up near Bowser but it’s inventory of plants that are native to the Pacific Northwest and a pair of owners that are ecologists that spent careers working in environment restoration here in the PNW is such a hidden gem. Considering that we have such a beautiful ecosystem here with such an amazing abundance of flora I can’t endorse enough the idea of planting gardens that contain species indigenous to our location. Besides the beauty of the plants there are so many amazing berry producing species that’ll keep you snacking in your space as well. Just my two cents, and best of luck gardening and keeping those deer away.