Government House grounds March 29, 2009

It was such a nice day that we continued to the Government House grounds. Sometimes it can be a bit of a letdown after Butchart's but this time was an adventure because a whole new (new to us anyway) trail has opened up extending down to the bottom of the property. Also, the grounds had been tidied up considerably since our last visit. The "Woodlands" covers 22 acres.

At the top of the loop trail is a sign, and there are information sheets which you can take along describing the plants at numbered spots along the way. After reading the sign, I am wondering if the flowers I've been calling Easter Lilies all my life are actually White Fawn Lilies.

Part way down the path a hummingbird buzzed up not two feet from my face. Twice! Surely that must be a good sign. Or maybe it was merely trying to shoo me away.

In a recent letter to the local newspaper someone wrote, "Why bother saving the Garry Oaks? They're ugly." By that rule, I guess they might rid the world of spiders, hyenas, bulldogs and maybe even some not very attractive people. Well, the trees and their acorns are a part of my childhood school yard memories, and I like them. They are also unique to this part of the world. I read that the name comes from Nicholas Garry, deputy governor of the Hudson's Bay Company. They are known as Oregon White Oaks in the U.S.

Surprisingly few flowers were in bloom but there were a few in the upper part of the grounds.