GPOD on the Road: Annual Arrangements in Victoria

Appreciation for a colorful city full of creative plantings

Happy Friday GPODers !

It ’s been a minute since I did a post on my trip across North America last year ( if you missed it , take hold of up on that series here : Gardens Around Niagara , Canadian Wildflowers , andAssiniboine Park Gardens Part 1andPart 2 ) , so I ’m picking it back up a minuscule further down the route , on Vancouver Island , BC .

After hustling across the Canadian Prairie during the peak of summer , bunk to the Canadian Rockies for a few week of hike and coolheaded dips into alpine lake , I made my way across British Columbia . One ferrying ride later and I made it to my west coast address : Vancouver Island . One of the largest and most populous island along the coast of North America , Vancouver Island has a mild temperature that , fuse with rugged coastline , creates for an incredible landscape painting fill up with diverse plant life story . However , my first destination was n’t one filled with wild nature , it was the colorful and artsy cap of BC , Victoria .

Entering the urban center , I was anticipating a daytime filled appreciating computer architecture , sampling fresh seafood and browsing the rack of ill-scented boutiques . But , like I am one to do , I found myself wandering the streets of Victoria and admiring all of the plant and flower touches along the way . Here is a sampling of the summertime plantings I determine :

Walking into business district from the public parking lot I began my journey from , I was immediately draw to these over - the - top hang up field goal perched on every light Charles William Post . On a grey , rainy solar day the rainbow color scheme was a cheerful increase to the many trees and fleeceable patches .

If only I had a ravel handy to get a well looking at ! From all angles these field goal were sensational . So full of efflorescence and trailing down for all around , the only way to see the pots containing these founding was to stand directly below them .

Entering Victoria via ferry , there is no interrogative sentence that this is a urban center that prioritizes plant . I shoot down on the island a couple hour northwards in Nanaimo , but seeing this bright red “ Welcome to Victoria ” sign made of vivid red wax begonias ( Begonia×semperflorens - cultorumcvs . , Zones 10–11 or as an annual ) from foot was still impressive and ask in . And this is no new , modern addition either . This sign as been an Inner Harbour staple fibre since 1954 !

And a closer look at those reddish wax begonias , utterly covered in vivacious blooms .

The highlighting of my plant life spotting was , of course , this absolutely incredible giant topiary called “ The Surfacing ” . Surrounded by bed of daisy bush ( Brachyglottis greyisyn . Senecio greyi , Zones 8–10 or as an annual ) , blanched coneflower , sinister - eyed susan ( Rudbeckia hirta , Zones 3–11 ) , and ferns , this conception draw the eye despite being smack dap in the middle of the haven and surround by lots of sight , sounds , and people .

This is an yearly display that can be found outside the Fairmont Empress Hotel and actually sport a mother and small sister orca ( which is hidden on the other side ) cresting a wave . Massing of a sea dark-green pot — maybe blue Festuca elatior ( Festuca glauca , Zones 4–8)—creates the wave that the ‘ Purple Knight ’ alternanthera ( Alternanthera dentata‘Purple Knight ’ , Zones 9–11 ) and cotton lavender ( Santolina chamaecyparissus , Zones 6–9 ) wales perch on . After a little research I also pick up that this living carving is about six meters farsighted , just a couple meters short of an actual female killer whale ’s duration !

The hang basket are back ! While slightly different , the restaurant I ate dinner at had very exchangeable cling baskets to the unbelievable Earth of color I encounter heading into business district . It was too rainy to ride out of doors and enjoy these quarrel of beautiful transcription , but I did spend some meter after my repast taking photo and enjoying the flush - filled space .

This include a beautiful border of annuals stab over the patio fulminate and a gorgeous sundown on a flush - filled city . Victoria is high on my inclination of metropolis to visit again for this very reasonableness . I will always appreciate when a city and its inhabitants give aid and give care to adding works to their concrete hobo camp .

Have photos to share ? We ’d love to see your garden , a special assembling of works you have it off , or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit !

To submit , send 5 - 10 photos to[email protected]along with some info about the plant in the pictures and where you consume the photograph . We ’d be intimate to pick up where you are located , how long you ’ve been gardening , succeeder you are proud of , failures you learn from , Hope for the time to come , favorite plant , or odd floor from your garden .

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wale topiary surrounded by garden bed

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