Following Sister Moon: Victoria moods

"I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep"

Victoria is called the garden city with more parks per capita than any North American city. Established as a fort and trading post in 1843 by the Hudson Bay Company of Adventurers it is a jewel on the tip of Vancouver Island and home to many artists not the least of whom was Emily Carr whose delightful books on her childhood (The book of Small) paint a beautiful picture of life in old Victoria in the late 1800's. The city still has a Victorian charm and it's Chinatown is second oldest only to San Francisco.

Douglas Street sky at sunset

Fort St. with Craigdarroch Castle on hill

Fantan Alley, Chinatown

Old Victorian and Edwardian Homes

Old England Inn Garden

Dallas Road

Sooke Bluffs sky swept

"and miles to go before I sleep"
sunset walk on Gorge

Portage Park

glorious daybreak over Esquimalt

seeing forever (Thetis Cove)

Craigflower farm

Poetic licence in the fairy grove

One of the most visited gardens in the world are the Butchart Gardens, near Victoria, BC and open all year. The beautiful sunken garden was the creation of Jenny Butchart who envisioned a garden in an abandoned limestone quarry at the beginning of the 1900's. The idea grew and expanded into the gardens as they are today and include not just the sunken garden but also a rose garden, an Italian garden and a Japanese garden. At Christmas it becomes a fantasy of lights with the 12 Days of Christmas theme. The gardens are located in Brentwood Bay, not far from the city and easily accesible by bus or car.