Butchart Gardens January 16, 2011

Spring Prelude

The indoor garden at Butchart's opened on January 15th. It can't be too soon for me.

Spheres seem to be a theme this year. I like them.

Also, we see more rough wood/logs/bark being featured.

This year a new leaf fountain...

... joins the regular water features.

I don't know what this tree is but hope to find out. Update: other visitors figured it was a Mimosa.

And then there are the old standards, like the witch hazel in the bottom photo, which, for some reason, I am always happy to see.

It is often the lighting that makes this garden so interesting.

Government House January 13, 2011

Snowdrops are up! I could be wrong, but it seems a little earlier than in recent years.

Most of the gardens are rather dormant looking.

But I did find small pink blossoms on a tree!

January skies

January 1. The month began in grand fashion with this dramatic sunset.

January 9. A more subtle, pastel sunset makes me think of summer days ahead.

And later this big moon settled down behind the hills.

January 13. A quickly changing sky over the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

January 16. Rain, wind, rain, wind and rainbows.

Fun thing to do with a bunch of sunset pictures.