Positive Letters ... inspirational stories ...: Victoria

Showing posts with label Victoria. Show all posts

Friday, 5 October 2018

The Obedient Plant … found in Butchart Gardens ...

A second visit to Butchart Gardens highlighted ‘the Obedient Plant’ … having come across Miss Willmott’s Ghost at the Abkhazi Gardens in Victoria … the Obedient Plant became an obvious candidate for a post.

Obedient – the flowers stay in situ once bent back … as here ...

For those Latin minded gardeners - it is Physostegia

Unobedient … if that’s a word?! As the poor plant should be without man-handling!

So here are some views, some notes, some comments for a Thanksgiving post … Canadians celebrate on Monday … the history I will do in a follow up …

An early 1900s view of the limestone quarry (cement works) prior to its conversion into the Gardens we see today …

The Sunken Garden as I saw it … sadly it was a gloomy day ...

I’d gone back because I wanted to take the boat trip they offer from the tiny Tod Inlet – which is the secluded water leading up into the Gardens.

Tod inlet – small and sheltered … though the boats only run during early Spring to early Autumn (Fall I guess to you!) …

The trip gives a little history of the origins of the Gardens and goes around Brentwood Bay … I’d come over on the ferry – as a way of connecting the Cowichan Valley across to the Saanich Peninsula where Victoria’s airport is.

This captured pic gives an idea … I live just to the north of Mill Bay …

One of three ...

I love the specimen trays they have out in the information centre – which is where I’d found Miss Willmott’s ghost.

Specimen trays and …

Pears, Walnuts, Beechnuts and a Dogwood berry

Autumnal displays …

Here another find is the green Echinacea flower … interestingly the Greek ekhinos means hedgehog: live and learn!

There were hundreds of people there … and trying to find a few quiet moments is almost impossible – but good that the Gardens are thriving, I guess!

Seedbeds that earlier in the summer were grass … they are utilising their space effectively …

The various photos are briefly described …

My tomato and goat cheese tart was positively delicious – I went back for another before I left … couldn’t resist! Apologies for the bite out!!

From a very wet Black Friday … the sun is due to reappear tomorrow … I hope you all have lovely weekends and for Canadians enjoy your Thanksgiving day …

This is an iphone photo… I think it is the Eunonymus Europaeus …

This iphone photo doesn't do it justice - the colours are
lovely ... while the Blue Poppy itself is gorgeous

You can buy one of these delightful shopping bags … advertising their special Tibetan Blue Poppy … another story – another day!

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Friday, 3 August 2018

Blog Sandwich Update 13: Day out in Victoria, Canada …

I had to take the little car for some attention (nothing to do with me) … it needed whatever it was – Mercedes summoned us - I arrived on time … the chap was somewhat amazed – being the English ‘girl’ in a Smart car …

Inner harbour (site of original Fort),
Empress Hotel lit up, Legislature in all
its glory ...

… some others rocked up, and his comment was 'they’re an hour and a half late'! People get lost … but this little soul (if I can call myself that?!) had found her way to the outskirts of the industrial area near where Point Ellice house is today (without SatNav).

Victoria 1889

Down I walked, past the Cowichan Tribes store – I called in for a chat and look around, on to Bastion Square, where Hudson’s Bay Company established its trading post, Fort Victoria (1843 – 1858), … I need to have another look around this historical area.

Finns - as it now is

I was ready for something to eat – trouble was ... Finns presented itself: a beautiful redbrick and fieldstone building overlooking the harbour called to me – originally built in 1882 by Roderick Finlayson, as a ship chandlers and provisioners, known today as ‘the father of Victoria’.

Tabasco cocktail sauce and
grated horseradish

Better than a quick snack … so a good light lunch was had … Oysters with a Caesar salad accompaniment. No wine – just water! It was delicious … the view was gorgeous despite having to be indoors as it was a cloudy, chilly Thursday, check out the views on the harbour on their site.

Recent self-portrait: Robert Bateman

Then off to walk along the harbour front to an Art Gallery – the Robert Bateman Centre. As a child he (now 88) was fascinated by the natural world, sketching and painting wildlife around him. Travelling and teaching allowed him to focus on art and nature … as well as stimulating youngsters in the great outdoors.

Cardinal in Sumac 1992
(can you see him ... middle left ...?!)

The art in the gallery was a delight to see … he is highly acclaimed today as one of Canada’s great artists and conservationists.

Dozing Lynx 1987 by Robert Bateman
(apologies it wasn't the Snow Leopard - though I have
that ipic too)

Very different from Emily Carr – though both these artists were influenced by the Group of Seven – Canada’s first national art movement inspired by the Canadian landscape.

Totem Pole in the new extension - Empress Hotel

I wandered back past the legislature, thought about tea at the Empress Hotel … but walked on through, not by – it was packed … and then retraced my steps up town to find little car.

'Farm' - the cannabis bar ... not quite sure of the status
as regulations are in the process of being relaxed

I was fairly desperate for some tea … and hoped to find a cup somewhere – nothing presented itself … I cannot stand fast food outlets (sorry!) … anyway I met a bulk of a man outside a bar …

Descriptions of products available

… he was obviously ‘guarding’ something – but I thought I might be able to get a drink : so asked … he said he didn’t think it was the kind of tea I’d like or perhaps was suitable for me … so I asked what it was: a cannabis bar!

I have no idea what any of these are ... except I was
in that shop!

I went on my way – about three steps … u-turned, retraced … and said ‘do you think they’d mind if I went in for a quick look’ – he said he didn’t think so … and I could take pics as long as no-one featured.

Not the chap! Just one of the murals on the hoarding
for the Rock Bay project

Actually the chap I met inside was quite interesting – he’d had mental problems, and mixed with ‘the wrong sort’ … and said that since he’d had some help using cannabis it had calmed him down and he could cope with the depression and challenges.

Vancouve Island top left, Seattle has that huge
range of fjord like inlets ... Vancouver itself
is about where the title 'Boater's Guide' appears
above the 49th parallel

He mentioned other health issues it appeared to cure – I don’t know … and we were just generalising … I enjoyed my chat … however = no tea!!

On up past murals like the one above … to the car and back home via the dreaded Malahat – it was a fun walk around … stimulating and diverse …

That was another day in the life of this positive blogger …

PS This dozing blogger - just realised that it is a Lynx Dozing ... and not the Snow Leopard = brains went somewhere!! Sorry commenters, but more importantly - the artist: Robert Bateman.

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Saturday, 21 July 2018

Point Ellice - the O'Reilly House ...

Learning more about the pioneers (on the Canadian west coast) of what I would call 'our age' ... ie Victorian life onwards - we'd recognise houses, tea parties etc ... earlier than that it'd have been pretty rustic and rough ...

Water colour by Kathleen O'Reilly - showing the drawing
room awnings to protect the textiles from the sun
(the house today is protected with sun blinds)

Point Ellice house built in 1861, bought six years later by the O'Reilly family ... and as Peter and Caroline's family expanded the house was altered, the gardens developed ... with meticulous records being kept ...

Boating celebration for Queen's Birthday late 1800s

Access to the house was either by the water ... the Gorge Waterway was one of the many fjord-like inlets that abound in this part of the world ... or a rough track ... yet Peter O'Reilly insisted the gravelled driveway was meticulously raked and graded ....

Cottage Garden Border

... it would have been quiet, surrounded by nature, yet easily accessible from Victoria, by then capital of British Columbia ... 'invasion for the gold, by the Americans, was to be avoided at all costs!' ... being here kept control of this part of the west coast ...

Love the stained glass - reminds me
of some we knew as kids down in Cornwall

The industrial nature of their surroundings started coming to the fore in the late 1800s ... sawmills and rail-yards arrived ... but family and guests could boat down the quieter waters of the Gorge.

Part of restored vegetable garden

The family owned the house for 108 years before selling it in 1974 to the Provincial Government - leaving everything, except their personal possessions, behind ...

Fremontodendron ... clambering around the front door

The cottage altered in those beginning years to accommodate their way of life ... but by the 1880s became a rambling asymetrical home in the popular Italianate style of that era ...

Lots of old perfumed roses, and foxgloves
were out for us to enjoy

Restoration has been possible through the archives available to house and garden conservators ...

Croquet set ... a fielder was needed
to make sure the balls didn't
disappear into the gorge!

... original wallpapers, paint colours, locations of pictures, clothing, earlier layouts of rooms, garden plants and seeds ...

Restored wallpaper by the
front door

... so much could be faithfully reproduced to bring the house back to its earlier glory - and give us an overview of life for those pioneering settlers ...

Dining room ... or warm winter room

Guests had wicker shields fitted over the dining chairs - so they didn't get the intense heat from the fire ...

I didn't find out who these were ... but just liked them -
they were in the kitchen!

...while the warmth from the chimneys kept the table linens dry by means of the narrow cupboard fitted into the sides of the chimneys above the fireplace.

The family Bible

Ingenious - those early settlers .... that dining room as it was warm in winter from the fire - became the family's room for 'working in' ... hence the Bible, writing table, piano etc ...

Joseph Trutch's desk - which Peter used

Remember that WEP challenge we had in February last year - Back of the Drawer ... the family in the 1960s found letters from the first Prime Minister of Canada (1867 - 1873; 1878 - 1891), Sir John A Macdonald, to Caroline O'Reilly's brother, Sir Joseph Trutch, when he was appointed British Columbia's first Lieutenant Governor ... the O'Reilly's bought his desk when he decided to move back to England.

Peter and Caroline O'Reilly

The exterior walls have been scored to make the stucco material appear as though the house was built of stone blocks. It was painted in pale rose, dark brown trim and with red detailing round the window sashes - faithfully restored.

A quick note to other points of interest I spotted or appear in the guide book ...

Kitchen range on which the Chinese cook made their meals

The kitchen was very modern for the 1880s ... a cast iron French range (coal and wood-burning) ... a copper hot water tank, heated by the tubes running through the stove (an earlier one had exploded).

There's even a ceramic water filter ... a block of charcoal inside purifies the drinking water! Made in London by the Silicated Carbon Filter Co. Patented Self-Aerating Moveable Block.

Butler's Pantry

A 154 piece of Minton china, King's Border is on display in the dining room ... along with other sets of china in the butler's pantry ... including large serving platters and what looks like a cake plate - which is actually a dark blue Wedgwood covered cheese plate decorated with a raised white fern motif.

The curators have secured the china ... so it hopefully doesn't get damaged in one of the many small earthquakes we get here ...

The drawing room ... with the piano and harp given
to Kathleen by Lady Trutch

A Victorian drawing room's overcrowded arrangement was common at that time ... Kathleen O'Reilly was very talented and simply decided she did not want to leave Point Ellice ... staying on after her parents died ... devoting herself to keeping the house and garden going as her parents had aspired to.

Jerusalem Sage - drought resistant plant ...
but I loved it - Phlomis Russeliana

Rudyard Kipling visited Victoria, but not Point Ellice house, however he remarked that the city was 'more English than the English' ...

... the house reminded me of my early home ... particularly the garden with the borders, roses, and hollyhocks - which weren't out ... but the guide book shows them ...

Kathleen, Frank and John

Point Ellice is a true historical record of the life and times of a family home and garden at the end of the 1800s ... not many properties are able to boast this sort of accurate history ... a lovely day out and visit ...

Back of the Drawer Bloghop post ... linked here ...

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories