With relatives visiting for the weekend, we spent the day in downtown Victoria. Weather: sunny and warm. We began with breakfast at the Vista 18 restaurant at Chateau Victoria.
There are great views from this restaurant, although some of it is blocked by a new condo building.
A zoomed-in view of sailing ships in the harbour.
The food however left something to be desired. Are they kidding with these potatoes?
After breakfast we went shopping and saw these amusing handbags.
The protest du jour had something to do with salmon.
This visitors centre at the edge of the Inner Harbour was a gas station many years ago.
On the Empress Hotel grounds these giant tulips as big as your open hand were just past their prime.
Indulge me while I post too many pictures of laburnum, but I love the stuff even if it is poisonous. I like other cascading flowers such as wisteria also.
This is the time of year for rhododendrons and azaleas. I especially like to see orange and yellow ones, which aren't quite as common in these parts.
A number of these mauve flowering bushes are at the gardens, all in pots. I still don't know what they are. Update: Butcharts' plant indentification centre tells me it is "Prostanthera rotundifolia" commonly known as Australian Mint Bush.
A few tulip beds remain but many have been replanted. The beds have a 'between seasons' look.
Just when I'd given up on seeing many blue poppies here they are! Best of all they're blooming along with the orange azaleas (I think) making for a lovely colour contrast.
