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Victoria: City of Gardens

empress hotel gardens

Boomdee poses in the Empress Hotel gardens

After a lovely week on holiday in Victoria, BC, I’m ready to move there.  I’m originally from Ontario, Canada, so I felt a bit of a reconnection to my roots, even though I lived on the other side of the country. Victoria is known as The City of Gardens, another good reason to live there. Of course any good vacation is joyous and fun-filled with minimal responsibilities. Toss in a best friend and her cousin and it’s easy to see why I didn’t want to leave.

Back home and settled in, I’m still dreaming of this beautiful place and making mental plans to return.

orca whale statue

Floribunda: Even the art is covered in flowers

floribunda

According to a Wiki article on the island:

Victoria’s equable climate has also added to its reputation as the “City of Gardens”. The city takes pride in the many flowers that bloom during the winter and early spring, including crocuses, daffodils, early-blooming rhododendrons, cherry and plum trees. Every February there is an annual “flower count” in what for the rest of the country and most of the province is still the dead of winter.

flower perfection

Flower perfection

Due to its mild climate, Victoria and its surrounding area (southeastern Vancouver Island, Gulf Islands, and parts of the Lower Mainland and Sunshine Coast) are also home to many rare, native plants found nowhere else in Canada, including Quercus garryana (Garry oak), Arctostaphylos columbiana (Hairy manzanita), and Canada’s only broad-leaf evergreen tree, Arbutus menziesii (Pacific madrone). Many of these species exist here, at the northern end of their range, and are found as far south as southern California and parts of Mexico.

Victoria Regent Hotel garden

Outside the Victoria Regent Hotel

Non-native plants grown in Victoria include the cold-hardy palm Trachycarpus fortunei, which can be found in gardens and public areas of Victoria. One of these Trachycarpus palms stands in front of City Hall.

I felt right at home.

popcorn cart of flowers

victoria flower baskets

Classic Victoria: Flowering baskets beneath signature street lamps

Intrigued? Check out Tourism Victoria for a list of activities on the Island

Take a ride on a water taxi. We did, and it was loads of fun.

Butchart Gardens: My own take on this national treasure.

31 thoughts on “Victoria: City of Gardens”

  1. Hope I can meet you there again! Heck…. maybe one day I’ll get to LIVE there…. and we can all hang out at my place! It was so very special to meet you, and to spend time with you …. I know why Petals adores you so…. you are so genuine, and special, kind and caring – with a joyful spirit that matches all the beauty you possess. I had so many incredible and fun moments, deep conversations and silly giggles with you both that I will truly treasure always! xxoo

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  2. It sounds like a very lovely place with the enormous advantage of having its own micro-climate. You make me smile – that is exactly what I do – if I like a place I want to go live there – that’s how I got myself into this whole mess! 🙂 Is that a pretty pink hibiscus in the photo called ‘flower perfection’? Must be a good climate if it was growing outside! Your holiday sounds like it was such a fun time in a really beautiful spot! Yay for garden cities! ❤ ❤ ❤

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    • Pauline, I hear a story coming on. I would love to hear more about your travels and why you settled where you did. I’m glad I’m not the only one that dreams of living in other fabulous places.

      That micro-climate is something else. No wonder people retire there..or attend college.. .or go on holiday.

      I need to do a Google search on that bloom. I wasn’t sure, so my tag was ambiguous. 🙂

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  4. I haven’t been interrogated about Victoria at WPHO, but I know it’s coming 😉 Well, I had so much fun and memories to last a life time. I can’t wait to hook up with Julia and Laurie this spring, and then who knows where we’ll head next. What was life like before? Less shiny I suspect. You are the glitter in my life (( Alys )). Everything is a little brighter and a lot more fun when I’m with you. To the moon and back, xoxox ❤ Love You B/P/K 😀

    (PS Sorry I made you walk so fast on the last day….I worry too much)

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    • LOL! They better be nice to you down at WPHO or they’ll have me to answer to. 🙂

      I can’t wait for your wonderful take on our trip.

      Yes, off to DC we’ll go to meet Laurie and Julia. It will be here in a flash!

      Aww…the glitter of your life. That is so sweet. You’re the crafty glue…so we can stick together, sparkling our way around the globe, meeting fellow bloggers near and far.

      I won’t agree that you ‘worry too much’ because I’m exactly the same way. The one thing I dreaded about our trip was my ability to keep up with all my current foot problems. You were gracious and accommodating so don’t give it another thought. I like walking fast. Darn those tootsies for slowing us down.

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      • I’ll shall do some name dropping if WPHO gives me the gears 😉 thanks for having my back ! Hey, we may need to start a new joint Blog after we have a few holidays under our belt ! Maybe a retirement project? Twinkly Trippers, Two Trippy Blondes (we dye our hair), Airsmiles (a word play on Airmiles)….hmmmm, I’m sure we have time to think about it 😀

        BTW, how are your toosies, are they feeling any better? I need to buy some new fall shoes that are good for work. We pretty much stand for the day, walking here, there and everywhere. Lot’s of new goodies today. What a great gig 😀 I can’t wait to take you there xoxoxo ❤

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        • Oh what a fun, fun idea! I love that. Let’s buy and win the lotto. Then we’ll buy three houses in Victoria, one for you and Mr. B, one for me and Mr. F. and a shared cottage for tea/coffee and crafting. We’ll take in stray kitties and everyone will come visit from around the world.

          I’m so glad you enjoy your days at US. They’re lucky to have you. Did you manage some new shoes? I hiked for the first time in months yesterday and was pretty darn sore, but by this morning I was back to moderate-sore, which is saying a lot these days.

          Love and hugs, my dear.

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  7. Funny, I thought the same thing when I was there. I was just sure the Canadians wouldn’t let me move in and save all that beauty for themselves. Try as I might, I can never replicate that beauty that you have so astoundingly captured on film. Mine photos from there are so much less stunning but the memories are still vivid. The tea room is exactly as I recall. If I’m careful and save this winter, maybe next summer I’ll make the trip. Hopefully, my house will be in order by then. Laughter is contagious and best shared. Thank you for taking us along through your perfect photography. You captured the essence wonderfully. It’s much appreciated. Hugs,M

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    • I just mentioned to LB that I think we should host a blogging convention there. Wouldn’t that be fun?

      Thank you for your kind words re the photos. I’m lucky to have a nice camera. I’m lucky to have you, too, following my blog and leaving me such wonderful and heartfelt comments. xoxox

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  9. No wonder it is called The City of Gardens – it’s so lovely. I’d love one of those popcorn carts filled with floral abundance, please, when you and Boomdee are heading on the Down Under leg of your WordPress World Tour to visit me and Pauline (in NZ). It’s so funny – I live in the state of Victoria in Australia – and our tourism “body” is called Tourism Victoria, too. I can hear the giggles and fun you three lovelies had on your Canadian holiday all the way from over the vast Pacific. Lucky Laurie and Julia next. xoxoxoxox

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    • Dani, what fun similarities between the Victoria’s. I sure hope to see you and yours on the WP tour. We had so much fun. We should have thought to Skype from our hotel…silly me just thinking about that now. Maybe we can Skype from Virginia. Let’s keep that in mind.

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