Friday, June 10, 2022

Floral Fest Friday: Butchart Gardens




"But you, oh gardener, poet that you be
Though unaware, now use your seeds like words
And make them lilt with color nicely flung."
VITA SACKVILLE-WEST


I sit here and type words to reflect the summery day outside—warm sunshine and not a cloud to mar the blue, blue sky. Perhaps it knows rain is forecast for the next few days (which we need, so there's no lament here) and is making the most of the sunny day.




We were a few short days away visiting family on the West Coast (Vancouver-Victoria areas). It was so sweet to see the faces of people we love and share times together after so long a time apart. One afternoon we visited Butchart Gardens with Rick's sisters. An overcast day with chances of rain, we were glad it held off during our visit. Lots of people wandered the gardens, all eager to enjoy the early summer beauties. As author Clare Ansberry once said, "Gardens and flowers have a way of bringing people together, drawing them from their homes."

The roses you see above were in full bloom in front of my sis-in-law's residence. I don't know their name, but the colour made me think of a sunset. We were told it's been a cool spring on the Island, so the roses at the Butchart Gardens are late this year. Shrubs in the rose garden promised a great show of blooms in a week or two but we only saw a sparse few the day we were there. 

In spite of the still green rose garden, there were flowers in abundance everywhere else in the gardens. It was such a lovely afternoon, I have to share a few photos for you. I hope you enjoy. For more about these beautiful gardens, do check out their blog HERE.



At the entrance...
 


Rick and his sister...



The two of us under the Laburnum anagyroides
Golden chain tree



The tulips were mostly done and gardeners were busy pulling them out,
getting the beds ready for summer blooms. Clouds of blue Forget-me-nots,
in the midst of the dying, drying leaves, still created a delightful display. 







"Until we can comprehend the beguiling beauty
of a single flower, we are woefully unable to grasp
the meaning and potential of life itself."
VIRGINIA WOOLF

 




"Just living is not enough...one must have sunshine,
freedom, and a little flower."
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN



Two siblings who share the love of gardening. 



A little bee having a dip in a blossom. There's a lilt in the heart
watching that little bum wiggle in its beesome reverie.






"Joy does not simply happen to us. We have
to choose joy and keep choosing it every day."
HENRI J.M. NOUWEN



And I admit, it's so much easier to choose joy when one is amongst
such glimpses of heaven. That's me standing by the water fountain,
lost in my own reveries.





"Small pleasures must correct great tragedies,
Therefore of gardens in the midst of war
I boldly tell."
VITA SACKVILLE-WEST, The Garden




Meconopsis
Himalayan blue poppy



"Where flowers bloom, so does hope."
LADY BIRD JOHNSON


Our meander through the gardens wound up at the cafe where we had tea and current scones, with a poke around the gift shop afterwards. My purchases included notecards of floral watercolour artwork by Jennifer Sammons and a bottle of French 'Champagne Peony' Eau de parfum by Mistral. The scent of summer in a bottle: "A sparkling mix of pink grapefruit, effervescent prosecco, raspberry, French cassis, violet leaves, peony, crisp mint, and grape leaf."  We all made our way home with hearts refreshed and filled with that certain lift to the spirits that only nature's bounty in a flower garden can bring. 

During the few days we were away, our own garden grew leaps and bounds—alas, so did the weeds. So I'm off to tackle them on this sunny afternoon. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.


Heart hugs,
Brenda

All photos are mine, except the one where I'm standing
by the fountain, which was taken by my sis-in-law, Wendy.



16 comments:

  1. What a delightful garden wander, amongst such beautiful colours and scents. That rose is just lovely. Enjoy your time away.

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  2. What a beautiful garden! What a wonderful way to spend a day.

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  3. Oh, I am sure that your cup was filled! All that beauty . . . shared with loved ones . . . what a gift!

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  4. What beautiful gardens! Oh, how the weeds do flourish in our absence! Relax with a glass of something icy cold when you finish that weeding.

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  5. I'm so glad the rain held off for your visit here. The gardens are beautiful any time of year, I find. I'm hoping to pay a visit to the roses next week. A few roses in my own garden are just beginning to open. This year I'll have peonies and roses together! A surfeit of blooms!

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  6. What gorgeous photographs of these flowers. The roses you have shared are stunning. Always wonderful when siblings get together.

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  7. Good morning, Brenda. This post is pure joy from words to photos. I have to tell you I cried when I saw the Golden Chain Tree or as my mom called it a Golden Rain Tree. She had one and it was glorious, the only one in our state at the time. When her home was sold the new owners cut it down. I never told mom as I knew it would break her heart as it did mine. The gardens are exquisite and to actually see a Himalayan Poppy - what a special treat. I know you thoroughly enjoyed yourself and the time with your family. Thank you for this lovely, lovely post.

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  8. Such a gorgeous place have visited it once! Impressive-thanks for the lovely photos!

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  9. That was Lin Floyd above

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  10. What beautiful flowers! Of course, the purple florals were my fave.

    I can relate to the weeds. It feels like a battle that I'll never win. LOL.

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  11. So beautiful!

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  12. I have been there twice and enjoyed every inch of the place. We had a delicious lunch there too. It has been many years ago since I was there. Seeing your pictures makes me want to return there as well as brought back fond memories. I am sure there have been changes.

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  13. P.S. I love all the garden quotes.

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  14. Gorgeous gardens! So glad you could all meet up to enjoy strolling together through such a beautiful wonderland.

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  15. Brenda your photos were just gorgeous and as always the accompanying quote is just perfect. So glad to see you and hubby enjoying what looks like a delightful day. Take care friend and don't work too hard on those weeds...I have some of my own to pull too. Hugs!

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  16. We just returned from the Seattle area. I'm excited to go back and visit again (my son and son-in-law live there). I'll definitely put the gardens on my list of things to see.

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To My Beautiful Readers,

Some people come into our lives, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never the same. ~ Franz Peter Schubert

Thank you so much for leaving your 'footprint' here in my comment box. I do appreciate you taking a moment to share your thoughts today.

Brenda xo