Government House January 10, 2012

Snowdrops were up but the snow was yet to come.

I must stop taking pictures of witch hazel, but it does add some welcome colour to a winter garden.

Most of the colour was from berries.

I had a little picnic in the gazebo.

Government House - November 19, 2011

♫ All by myself... ♪

Beautyberries again. I do like them.

A walk to Government House - October 3, 2011

Autumn crocus is such a pretty colour.

'Don't worry, be happy.' Easy for them to say. If it was by chance a message that Glenn wanted me to see, I was to get a more powerful one the next day. There was no reason at all for me to drive by the corner of Camosun College at that time, but while stopped at a red light I happened to look to the side and see, written in large letters on a metal box, the words 'You are wonderful'. I'd not seen the grafitti there before or since. The last thing Glenn was able to say clearly to me while he held both my hands in his was, 'You're wonderful.'

It's funny the things you miss. Glenn and I always had fun kicking fallen chestnuts along sidewalks.

I did find out the name of this lantern-like flower but will have to find it again.

Government House - September 5, 2011

A few roses.

Government House August 1, 2011

Government House July 3, 2011

Government House in the rain June 27, 2011

In the rain there can be some interesting finds ... and not just wet flowers. With so few people around, two deer were having a good feed in the rose garden.

The older deer was chomping on the rose blossoms. She wasn't too concerned about my presence.

The younger one was not as bold. Aside from the roses, this shrub was a favourite snack.

I wondered if the recent addition of wire on top of the rock wall around the grounds was doing a better job of keeping the deer in rather than out, although with open gates they are free to come and go.

Uneaten roses.

And an iris.

Government House again June 15, 2011

A name tag beside the peony directly above, which had huge blossoms in seemingly two colours, said 'Coral Charm'.

Beacon Hill Park & Rockland June 6, 2011

Beacon Hill Park

The structure below used to be enclosed in wire with birds living inside. Then someone came along and killed all the birds. The aviary stood neglected for many years, but just recently it has been renovated and turned into an information kiosk.

In and around Government House in Rockland

I don't remember seeing these reddish poppies in town years ago. Orange and pale salmon were more common colours.

A magnolia blossom.

I don't know what this flower is but it was actually quite small.

At a nearby house is an intriguing view of a gate to the back yard. How I would love to see what is back there, as if it might transport me to a different place - Italy perhaps.

Government House May 13, 2011

Here are some of the flowers in bloom in mid May.

I seem to recall a TV news report not long ago about neighbours of Government House being annoyed that they hadn't been consulted before unsightly wire had been added to the top of the rock walls around the property.

Apparently the purpose was to keep the deer out. These deer, however, are resting inside the walls. I don't know how long the beehives have been there and whether or not they are used.