Day 2: A Walk in the Garden

Day Two: A Walk in the Garden

Our day began with a walk along a short nearby trail we had discovered the evening before labeled the "Moments in Time" trail. The loop trail began along the edge of the lake and then circled into the nearby old growth forest before returning back to shore and included placards providing information about the history and ecology of the area. 

"Moments in Time" trail pictures ...

 

 

We took a second chance at the lodge restaurant completing postcards while breakfast was prepared. By 10AM we were back on Hwy 101, which continued to round the south side of the lake before turning north and east to bring us to Port Angeles.

Port Angeles...

 

We checked into the ferry, parked the car in the waiting lot, and wandered around the port area for an hour before boarding the Black Ball ferry that carried us across the Salish Sea/Strait of Juan de Fuca to Victoria, BC.

We spent most of the ride on the forward deck, behind us the snow capped Olympic Mountains, ahead of us, beneath an otherwise washed blue sky, a low grey fog bank that was thick enough to elicit regular blasts from the ship's horn as we penetrated it. When we exited the ocean mists, Victoria came into view, a toy city set on the water's edge.  

The Blackball Ferry ...

Upon landing we proceeded immediately to our lodging, the Queen Victoria Hotel, located just a block from the waterfront, the Parliament building and the Empress Hotel. Hunger drove us to a nearby cafe - "Brown's Socialhouse" - for a late lunch after which we headed to Butchart Gardens.

While we have been to Butchart Gardens before - never in mid summer when the floral display is at its peak. And while the flowers were peaking, the crowds were not.  Perhaps because it was midweek and relatively late in the day, the grounds were scarcely populated allowing maximum enjoyment of the landscape. For three hours we wandered the groomed pathways, back tracking on side paths often to catch a different angle or view, stopping to read every placard to understand the history and development of the grounds. We meandered about the dazzling Sunken Garden, a transformed limestone quarry; crossed open grounds that serve as a venue for concerts - a group was warming up as we lingered; strolled through the subtleties of the Japanese Garden; paused at the fragrant Rose Garden and ended with the fountained Italian garden.  It felt like a honeymoon promenade - me and my rose!

The Butchart Gardens

Ahh... finally  in the gardens of Mrs. Jennie Butchart..

First a 'touch of good luck' - Tacca - the Butchart Bronze Boar, a copy of the bronze boar in Florence

A year ago, we touched a similar bronze boar sculpture at a Mercato Nuovo (open air market) in  Florence, Italy!

With 'Tacca' - surely a day of good luck - not a trace of cloud in the sky!

 

The Sunken Garden pictures below...

 

 

Flowers, flowers...

Variety of Sweet Pea flowers ...

Oh... roses - you are so beautiful!

Shakespeare: "Of all flowers methinks a rose is best."

Giant Dahlia...

The Three Sturgeon Fountain - entrance to the Japanese Garden

Other than flowers...

A great day indeed ....

Afterwards, we returned to our hotel to change into a bit more formal wear and proceeded to the celebrated Empress Hotel to sit on the veranda and enjoy dessert and sunset over the harbor. By the time we were finished darkness had descended and the Parliament Building was lit up like a fairy castle with its edging of white lights.

at the Empress Hotel ... 

We explored the public areas of the hotel, soaking up both ambience and the rich history - captured in photographs and newspaper stories posted throughout. Afterwards we took a stroll along the waterfront before returning to our room and a most restful night's sleep...

Victoria, BC - a beautiful city...

Grateful for another beautiful day!