A winter of relative inactivity followed by an intense two days of touring gardens left me feeling rather exhausted - well that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. I missed one of our day one gardens in my last blog. I will slide it into this blog and you won't even know! Wink. Let's begin with...
Catalina Terrace
"Wander down a path bursting with spring bulbs, flowering shrubs, intriguing sculptures, and majestic views of Mt. Baker to a lower garden threaded by a playful train set chugging by. Don't miss the Gary Karr rose."
We totally missed the Gary Karr rose because it was not in bloom yet. That's okay though because there was plenty to enjoy and not a blade of grass to mow.
I never had occasion to speak to the gardeners so I didn't find out if there was a history of railways in their past or if they just enjoy trains. They had three small routes circling flower beds and ponds and one large route that ran around the other three.
There was also some unusual garden statuary. I am curious if this one was called "the truffle hunter"?
The one constant between all the gardens was tulips!
There was hardly an inch that did not have something on it.
It takes a special kind of creative to add a bidet into their garden. I can honestly say - that's a first for me!
I could imagine taking a morning coffee out to a small deck they had built above their terrace garden to enjoy a view of Mt. Baker - but not today, it was hidden by clouds.
McMorran Way
The Conservatory was hosting a plant sale at this property and it was difficult not to try to take home a plant or two. The last time I tried, the astilbe I brought home did not take well to the change of zones and promptly died. I didn't have the heart to do that to another little plant. There was the plane to consider too.
"Originally a construction site, this easy-care English garden is now a series of garden 'rooms' with vegetables, perennials, shade, and sun gardens."
Tudor Avenue
"Father and son created an Asian oasis of Japanese maples, irises, Mt Fuji cherry trees, and at its centre sits a pond with rainbow trout. Follow the path to edible gardens, a lavender field and fuchsia bed."
This absolutely stunning Japanese maple was one of the first things you saw entering this yard. And later these wonderful bonsai by the pond.
This unique evergreen seemed to be decorated for Christmas.
I would have asked the gardener if this was the Liberation tulip but she was busy with other visitors.
It was nice that there was often a place for my touring buddies to sit and wait for me as I was inevitably the last one done in the gardens.
Lurline Ave.
What a wonderland of plants this place was! It had the most spectacular variety of the unusual and uncommon.
"A water garden with Koi and lilies, carnivorous plant bog, a glass house of cacti, succulents, African bulbs, and pelargoniums, plus another house for the largest collection of high elevation orchids on the island."
The orchids were amazing and abundant!
I think Dr. Seuss may have got the inspiration for some of his characters here.
More of the uncommon and unusual - but on so interesting.
As well as the traditional and ever-lovely tulip.
And finally, the necessary and tasty.
Wickheim Road
This garden was created to provide food in an eco-friendly fashion as well as pleasure for the eye. Along one side of the garden were espaliered fruit trees that shared their space with tulips and one of the largest Rosemary plants I have ever seen.
"This sustainable organic food garden overlooking Royal Bay uses solar power, a water capture irrigation system, and ferrocement raised beds to produce food."
And of course, tulips
I was curious about the English bluebells that we saw in abundance on the tour. They seemed to grow where they chose and the gardeners let them be. However, I had heard they are quite invasive and will overrun your garden if left unchecked. Some people feel they should be eliminated as soon as they are seen but how do you pull out a plant as lovely as this Spring blossom?
When these gardeners are ready for some relaxation they even have a bocci court.
With one more misunderstood but highly prized addition to the garden - we are done for the day.
We had managed to visit most of the gardens available to us over the course of the two days but with time out for a wonderful Mother's Day Brunch we came up a little short on time to take them all in. Not a problem though because one of the gardens was at Government House which is open to the public every day. We decided to visit it on Monday before heading home.
Rockland Ave. - Government House
I have visited this garden a number of times before and I would suggest you visit it when in Victoria, when the roses are in bloom, however, you simply must not miss it. Today the roses were not in bloom. Not much else was available either so it was a quick tour before lunch by the harbour and our flight home.
And a few others.
Victoria - The Garden City
We were so fortunate to have a local Victorian chauffering us about! She would drop us off at a garden entrance and go find parking, which at times was no small task. She also gave us a city tour that included Beacon Hill Park where we saw amazing blue camas growing in spectacular abundance.
As we were stopped at a red light we saw this amazing planting of tulips on a boulevard. I'm sure seeing such beautiful scenes helps reduce the stress caused by the traffic and the price of gasoline.
So we bid farewell to Victoria with its wonderful gardens and headed for home where we had recieved a couple of inches of snow during our absence.
Credits:
C.J. Bennington Fine Art Photography