Wisteria

"To Those Who Appreciate Wisteria and Sunshine..." (or words to that effect) begins the ad for the rental of the Italian castle in my favourite movie Enchanted April. By the way, it's the only movie I know of that, in my opinion, is much better than the book.

It's not Italy, but I always look foward to seeing the wisteria blooming in the garden at the side of the Empress Hotel.

Here, it adorns a neighbourhood house.

A drive in the rain - Sunday May 30

Oak Bay, Victoria BC

Bravo to the trimmer of this hedge around the rose garden at Windsor Park. Not only are the sides bevelled but the longer sections are slightly concave on top as well. The rose garden is a special place for Glenn and me. I lived in the neighbourhood when we met.

Windsor park. Cricket players through rain-spotted car windows.

A pink dogwood tree.

Masses of rhododendron blossoms on the ground.

Butchart Gardens May 22, 2010

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.

Government House May 13, 2010

On our walk around Government House a couple of jaunty cars showed up.

An unusual looking peony.

An iris. Bright orange California poppies were blooming this week - also a couple of roses.

Butchart Gardens May 9, 2010

We took the visitors to Butchart Gardens. Unfortunately, most of the tulips were beginning to fade so they weren't at their most spectacular. I expected to see a more lush display of blue poppies this week but it may be a bad year for them. The few specimens looked weak and battered, so I was lucky to get that photo of a fairly nice one a week or two ago.

Not a good picture but columbines are out and they're one of my favourite flowers.

I think the beds by the entrance gates are at their best this time of year.

Some tulips had been dug up already. I believe one of the gardeners said they keep about 10% of the bulbs.

A walk around town - May 8, 2010

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.

Butchart Gardens April 29, 2010 - Part 3

Other flowers

Blue poppies are just starting to appear. Last year there weren't any by the beginning of the second week of May when we left town.

I have no idea what these small, bright yellow flowers are. Update: I'm told the miniature yellow flowers are "Hoop Petticoat Daffodils." Thanks, Mrs. H.

Glenn took this photo of a rhododendron.

And that wraps us this week's pictures of flowers at Butchart Gardens.

Butchart Gardens April 29, 2010 - Part 2

One tulip

I think this tulip deserves a spot of its own. What in its make-up allows it to be created with one red splotch?

Butchart Gardens April 29, 2010 - Part 1

Tulips!

Some tulips haven't opened yet but I am so glad to see the ones that have. The cruise ship season has begun in Victoria so, not surprisingly, the gardens were full of busloads of tourists.

Leaving the Japanese Gardens toward the long bed of tulips.

A closer view. I wonder how many bulbs are in this one bed alone.

Such beautiful colours.

In pots...

... and not in pots (but from awkward angles!).

We renewed our passes so we're good to go for another year.