Government House July 20, 2010

Fortune cookies might have been a better idea

One day I may start a feature called something like 'My Baking Failures'.

Recently I bought frozen raspberries, then wondered what to do with them. 'Raspberry Mousse in Chocolate Stripe Tulip Cups' on a website for BC raspberries looked interesting.

Tulip cup dough ready for the oven

I thought the tulip cups might be fun to make. They reminded me of the fortune cookies we watched being made in San Francisco a few years ago, except the thin 'pancakes' for the tulip cups would be formed over the bottom of a jar or cup not bent over a bar like these fortune cookies (below) were.

Fortune cookies & cookie production

Well, my cups browned a little too much around the edges. The raspberry mixture didn't thicken so the mousse didn't turn out quite right. It had too much cream in it for my liking, although I must admit I don't know what is normally in mousse.

The cups with their orange flavour were tasty though. I think I would have preferred them rolled up with just a light coating of the mousse. Unlike fortune cookies, the tulip cups stayed soft. All in all, too fiddly and not rewarding enough to bother with again.

Butchart Gardens June 30, 2010

According to the plant identification booth at the gardens, this plant is called Astrantia. It's another one of those wort plants - also known as Masterwort or Great Masterwort, not sure which. The name 'wort' just doesn't seem to suit flowers.

Less than two weeks ago on June 18th, roses weren't in flower at Butchart's but now the rose garden is full of blossoms. Every year there are types I've never heard of such as: Bucks Fizz, Rotary Sunrise and Neptune.

The Passion Flower has mighty strange design when you really look at it.

Sidney - June 19, 2010

My sister and I had a good visit in Sidney with our almost-90-year-old Dad on this day.

I didn't know Sidney has its own flag, but it does.

Down by the fish market we saw some new statues.

The pirate has it all - peg leg, hooked hand, eye patch.

There is also this amusing dog walker.

Butchart Gardens June 18, 2010

My sister was in town for a visit so we wandered around Butchart Gardens one afternoon.

I like the plastic-like texture and the Thrills gum colour of this whirligig flower.

Columbines are one of my favourite flowers but I'm not happy with any of my photos of them this year.

Hosta leaves are intriguing.

I rode on a zebra while my sister sat in one of the bench-seat sleighs. A couple of horses were missing though. One was the first horse I rode on opening night - a white one with flowers. We were told it was being used in a parade, so apparently they have carousel animals in reserve. Instead, there was this white horse, which I like better, and also a horse with armour. The other missing animal was my favourite, the RCMP horse.

I spotted it a week later being used in this advertising display on the Empress Hotel lawn.

Butchart Gardens June 10, 2010

Now - to do a bit of catching up.

The roses weren't out yet but lots of columbines, peonies and delphiniums were.

Can't help myself - blue poppies were still blooming too.

These irises are always photogenic.

I don't remember if we'd seen this elephant topiary before. It's by the Rose Carousel.

Where's an Undo function?

Playing around with the new templates here... I think I preferred the plainer version but can't figure out how to get it back.

Freedom! June 23, 2010

After 13 years, I put my notice in and quit my job. What's next? I'm not sure, but I plan to at least take this summer off. We're off to a good start with this nice cake Glenn had waiting at home for me after I left work for the last time.

Snowbirds

The Snowbirds were in town for a couple of days during the Navy's 100th year anniversary celebrations this week. They do a lot of precision formation maneuvers but this tail-chasing, free-style sort of flying must be a new part of their routine. Looks like fun!

Abkhazi Garden revisited - June 10

We returned to this garden just to get the name of a flower...

...only to find umpteen other flowers and plants that I don't know. This looks like a lily of some sort but the flower was tiny, if I remember correctly, with heavier/waxier looking petals than most lilies.

We had a closer look at one of the three turtles.

Why Fly

Why Fly is now a free site.
http://www.whyfly.aero/
I'm not sure what they're cooking up, but something is in the works.

Coming Soon!
Special, "Free-Launch-Week" added content
Articles, pictures, videos.... something new every day.
Begins Sunday, June 6th

Abkhazi Garden

Victoria, BC

Abkhazi Garden was still privately owned when I visited it on a garden tour decades ago.

The story goes that an exiled Prince of Abkhazi (in what became Soviet Georgia) met his future wife, Peggy, in Paris in the 1920's. They went their separate ways though, and during WWII each became a prisoner of war in different parts of the world. Later, during a visit to Victoria, the future princess bought this piece of property on Fairfield Road. Then she reunited with the prince and they married in 1946 and lived here 'happily ever after' for the rest of their lives.

The property came very close to being developed but is now run by The Land Conservancy of BC. This garden was particularly known for its old and huge rhododendrons, but unfortunately some were vandalized during the time of transition.

Adults: $10.00
Students & Seniors: $7.50

The grounds

We were too late to see the rhododendrons at their best. I seem to remember much larger plants on my last visit many years ago.

The gardener we spoke to didn't know if this Spanish Fir grew naturally or was forced into this reclining position.

But its unusual, fat trunk reminded us a warty elephant, or a giant tuber.

The upper lawn on the rocky property is long and narrow.

I don't find the house particularly appealing but it must have been quite modern in its day. Now it is home to a tea room and gift shop. Seating for the tea room is in the former living room and outside on the patio. The scones we had - plain and coconut - were very good.

By the time we reached the far end of the lawn, the sun came out.

Three turtles (not shown) live in the ponds below the house.

Flowers

I don't know what this flower is but its markings are very striking. Update: the garden's own photo album labels it simply as Cistus. A website lists that as a shrubby rockrose; my best guess would be one called 'Merrist Wood Cream'.

Alium in front of Queen Anne's Lace, I'm guessing.

I hope to get a better picture of this Mediterranean plant with its beautiful colouring. According to the garden's print-out, it is 'Cerinthe major var. purpurescens' - although I've seen the last word spelled 'purpurascens' on the internet. Other names are: Blue wax flower, Blue honeywort, and Blue shrimp plant.

Welsh poppy. We were told this plant grows like a weed.

Along a small wooded path, I spotted a couple of Himalayan blue poppies - always a welcome sight.

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.