No one answered the door to let this little girl enter Hatley Castle. Perhaps the butler was off having a cup of tea in the kitchen and chatting with the cook. Well, let's take a stroll around the gardens, instead.
I wrote a recent post about Hatley Castle, built by a coal baron in the early 20th century. The gardens were closed last time we visited, so we tried again. There isn't a lot blooming yet, but signs of life are everywhere. The Italian garden is formal, with gravel paths, a beautiful stone pergola (where the little girl's mother had wedding photos taken a number of years ago), and four statues representing the four seasons. I believe the photo is of autumn, with sheaves of wheat in her hand.
In other, more natural areas, streams trickle down to a large pond. I'm not certain what the flowers are, but they fit in well with the mossy stones lining the stream.
A narrow section of the pond is linked to an island by an arched bridge. The look reminded me very much of Monet's garden in Giverny. Alas, there were pirates about and we had to swordfight our way to reach safety in the gazebo on the island. Sadie was a good captain and guided us all well.
Grape hyacinths, hellebores, and daffodils carpeted the woodland area of the gardens. Yellow and blue are such a great combination, especially against all the green. Perfection!
Many Canada Geese live near the garden and consider themselves the owners, I think. They honked furiously when we got too close, and I wonder if nesting has made them protective and a wee bit cranky.
Our spring has been very chilly, but this week things are different. Temperatures in the 20s have made gardens spring to life. The sweet peas that I planted on March 17 are finally erupting from the ground. I really wondered if they were rotting and would ever come up. Last night we ate dinner outdoors for the first time. How lovely it was to sit in the early evening sun and relax.
Weekend activities will include gardening, that's a given. And hopefully a few more meals outdoors. Any plans in your corner?
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What a lovely place to stroll! My weekend includes the possibly painting a table or two.
ReplyDeleteIt's all lovely...Sadie should have surely been welcomed in. Things were going well here until today when cold rain and then snow arrived. It's not sticking thankfully. Enjoy your weekend...hope that it is pleasant and warm.
ReplyDeleteI don't know what those flowers are, either, but they sure are pretty.
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely place to visit especially with your granddaughter. What a week of weather we are having. Our windows are even open today!! Hope you have a good weekend.
ReplyDeleteSpring is such a promising time. Looks like you and your darling darling are enjoying it!
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a lovely place to explore. Enjoy your weekend. I hope I can be outside tomorrow , supposed to be warmer, but Sunday we are back to snow, according to the forecast.
ReplyDeleteI love the arched bridge . So beautiful
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures. I wonder if those flowers are Drumstick Primroses.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos, the Canada goose and the water is marvelous.
ReplyDeleteI heard it snowed a bit in southern Vermontm into Massachusetts today. We had much needed rain at this lower elevation.
Such a pretty spring garden and it sounds like you had lots of family fun. Enjoy your gardening. I’m just taking a break from planting seeds to read this. Still a bit too cold to eat out her. Hopefully soon. B x
ReplyDeleteMy God that we can see every sunrise of a new day your immense love 🙌 and your infinite mercy 🙌🙏thanks my god for absolutely everything 🛐🛐🙌
ReplyDeleteHately Castle is a wonderful place to visit, we sure are missing our trips out to Victoria and visiting there. I really enjoyed your photos of it.
ReplyDeleteVery pretty tour of Hatley Gardens. That bridge is really lovely and I agree about the blue and yellow combination. Enjoy your weekend.
ReplyDeleteIt's so nice to see the early Spring flowers popping up all over. This is a pretty place to visit and I love that bridge too...very picturesque.
ReplyDeleteA real reminder of visits to Giverny, one of the most beautiful gardens.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful place! Spring is just starting here. Buds are popping and I have started clean-up. Have a lovely weekend. Kit
ReplyDeleteHello, Lorrie. Your garden visit looks almost a bit magical it is so lovely. The flowers you had in question are Allilulum's. They are a favorite of mine, especially the white. Spring in your area looks beautiful and I know only enhances the gorgeousness that abounds.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend. And enjoy your dinners outside, it is still too cold for that here, but the lilacs are in bloom so I won't complain.
Magical... Achingly beautiful... -happy sigh-
ReplyDelete🌷🌱🌷
Beautiful photos of this lovely Hatley garden, Lorrie. The bridge did remind me of Monet's!
ReplyDeleteWe had snow last week and more coming this week, so flowers must wait longer to bloom in profusion. My few daffodils are already gone.
Oh such a shame that the butler ignored that knock...the castle could not possibly have entertained a more worthy visitor! But I am glad that she and her entourage, er, family were able to enjoy the beautiful Hayley gardens. It’s great that they are still being kept up and I loved the guided tour. We have a similar favorite place ... Shore Acres is an estate garden here on the Coast that belonged to a lumber baron. It is now a State Park .
ReplyDeleteThe weather has been absolutely wonderful! Our yard has sprung to life as well. It's amazing what a difference one week can make. I think I have the little flowers you have in that photo aong the creek. I should find out what they are called.
ReplyDeleteLoved the arched bridge shot!
ReplyDeleteIt's slowly starting to warm up here...I actually did some weeding last weekend. It hurt, but I had to pull out the wild violets that were growing rampant!
The bridge and pond reminds me of Monet’s garden where I often go as it is near our home.
ReplyDeleteThe garden looks beautiful! I wish Monet’s garden re open.