Mildest Climate in Canada: Vancouver Island

… and the most beautiful gardens can be found in Victoria, capital of British Columbia, Vancouver Island, and other parts of Vancouver Island. It is such a pleasure to walk through residential areas and admire the well-kept and enchanting front and backyards.  
.

Rhododendron blooming in January

.

.

.

Mahonia - Oregon Grape

.

Picking raspberries from a shrub during a hike in late December on Vancouver Island, I realized once more the huge climate difference to the rest of Canada.  Hummingbirds and bees in the midst of the winter were my next big surprise.

Climate Chart: https://weather-and-climate.com/average-monthly-Rainfall-Temperature-Sunshine,victoria,Canada

.

A Canadian magazine wrote: “The capital of British Columbia is one of Canada’s “hotspot” for a reason, renowned not only for its mild climate and stunning gardens.  But also for its fine dining, numerous tourist activities, and breathtaking vistas.  When it comes to climate, summers are warm but not oppressive (averaging about 25 degrees Celsius) while winters are mild and usually snow-free.  Located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria can also boast five times more sunny days than nearby Seattle, WA, and it has only half of Vancouver’s rainfall. 

Rhododendrons in late December

.

Blooming Shrubs in Winter

Due to the mild temperatures - the Hardiness zone is 8-9 - a huge variety of ornamental plants, evergreen deciduous trees and perennials are really thriving on the island.  And lawns are certainly green year-round. Even though they are not so dominant as in the rest of North America. Gardens on Vancouver Island are planted with a huge variety of blooming shrubs - which give gardens even in Winter lots of color.

http://www.plantmaps.com/interactive-british-columbia-plant-zone-hardiness-map.php

Palm trees in many gardens on Vancouver Island

.

Pyracantha

.

January in Nurseries and Garden Centers

Auricles and Pansies in all colors invite first purchases for the garden or window sill.  It’s time to plant fruit trees as the soil is certainly not frozen and there are great varieties available.  Gardeners get ready for serious work now in the midst of winter: planting, pruning and mulching the flower beds.

Osteospermum Flower

When visiting Victoria, don’t miss this nursery and garden center:

GardenWorks Victoria North (Great Cafe/Restaurant)

Great Workshops for Gardeners

4290 Blenkinsop Rd, Saanich, B.C.

https://www.gardenworks.ca/hours-locations/saanich/
.

Skimmia Japonica

.

Giant Trees on Vancouver Island

Another difference to the rest of Canada are the huge trees you find everywhere. They are often taller than four or five-story houses.  Don’t miss to visit the giant Douglas Fir trees further north, half an hour from Nanaimo. Cathedral Grove, located in MacMillan Provincial Park, not far from Port Alberni, is one of the most accessible stands of giant Douglas fir trees on Vancouver Island.

Cathedral Grove, located in MacMillan Provincial Park, is one of the most accessible stands of giant Douglas fir trees on Vancouver Island. Here visitors can stroll through a network of trails under the shadow of towering ancient Douglas-fir trees, majestic pillars untouched by the modern world – some more than 800 years old.

MacMillan Provincial Park is a provincial park, located 25 km west of Qualicum Beach and 16 km east of Port Alberni, the park straddles Highway 4 in central Vancouver Island on the way from Nanaimo to Ucluelet and Tofino. 

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/macmillan/

.

Ancient Trees Are Still Found Here

A massive Sitka spruce was recently discovered near Port Renfrew, Vancouver Island, in the territory of the Pacheedaht First Nation people.

Sitka Spruce in the Rain Forest

If you don't mind an occasional rain, it's a rain forest after all. But Vancouver Island is an interesting alternative to your Winter in Florida. So much to discover and to do here: beautiful beaches, sailing, floatplane flying, golfing, hiking, antiquing, kayaking,
snow-shoeing in the mountains...  Oh, and certainly visiting the wonderful nurseries, botanical gardens, and well-stocked garden centers. However, it is not a really cheap area.  Do you know what B.C. means? Bring Cash!

<><><><><>

Canada's most beautiful Botanical Gardens

Canadas Botanical Gardens

Amazing - even the New York Times writes about Canada's Botanical Gardens and named the Top Ten! To visit them all in one journey you might have to drive well over 7,000 km from coast to coast. Most of them are either near the Atlantic or Pacific or not far from the St. Lawrence stream.
But there are many more wonderful gardens to explore than those ten, have a look at www.gardenvisit.com/gardens/in/canada
Just for Quebec there are listed 22 gardens well worth the visit.

Memorial University Botanical Garden - Canada's most easterly botanical garden, is located in St. John's, Newfoundland, and is a resource centre for botanical research and education with a particular interest in the flora of Newfoundland and Labrador. The botanical garden is also used for environmental, botanical and horticultural education and research.
Don't miss another garden in St. John's: the Bowring Park in the Waterford Valley, which was donated to the city in 1911, by Bowring Brothers Ltd., and opened by His Royal Highness, the Duke of Connaught in 1914.

Nova Scotia's Annapolis Royal Garden features many themed gardens linked by picturesque paths that display plant collections, such as the Rose Collection. The collection contains over 230 cultivars. Annapolis Royal is four years older than Quebec City, the colony was called l'Acadie. The name was changed to Annapolis Royal when it became British.

The New Brunswick Botanical Garden north of Edmundston and near to the Trans Canada HWY, spreads over an area of more than 17 acres, showcasing over 80,000 plants. The rose garden, rhododendrons, luxuriant annuals and perennials offer a symphony of colour. Visitors love the spectacular arboretum. The alpine garden is a replica of a mountainous environment found in different parts of the world. It also serves as the starting point for one of the main attractions of the Botanical Garden: the waterfall.

The Kingsbrae Garden is in the seaside resort of St Andrews by-the-Sea and has been named one of Canada's Top Ten Public Gardens as well as Attractions Canada's National Winner for "Best Developed Outdoor Site in Canada" in 2001, after just 3 years of operation. The Garden was created on the grounds of several grand old estates, incorporating mature cedar hedges, flower beds and an old-growth Acadian forest. The garden also features a genuine Dutch windmill.

The Montreal Botanical Garden is one of the best in the country and is very popular in spring as a background for wedding ceremonies or photoshootings. Visitors to the Montréal Botanical Garden are captivated by the colors and fragrances from around the world as they wander from the delightful Chinese Garden to the heart of the Sonoran desert, from the peaceful oasis of the Japanese Garden to the classically designed French garden or the woodlands of the Laurentians.

Explore 12 award-winning themed gardens that are spread over four acres when visiting the Toronto Botanical Garden. This garden also hosts tours, programs, nature day camps and field trips.

Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton, Ontario is full of colour all year long. "Escape to Paradise" is it's motto. Enjoy winter in the indoor Mediterranean Garden and spectacular spring and summer outdoor displays that burst into bloom.

The Crofter's Cottage in the English Garden of Assiniboine Park in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is one of Winnipeg's finest attractions and a popular site. This heavily planted area of one of North America's largest urban parks has more than 4 million visitors annually. Both locals and visitors love The English Garden for its spectacular seasonal colour and texture, as well as the wide variety of plants. Assiniboine Park is stage for concerts during the year. On Canada day they have a huge fireworks celebration.

Visitors to Lethbridge, Alberta's breathtaking Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden come here to enjoy the peaceful grounds. It's an authentic Japanese meditation garden with many formally pruned trees and shrubs and it's well worth the visit to escape the stresses of everyday life. The Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden offers you an unforgettable experience, combining the beauty of nature in a serene setting. From the first spring blossom to the final autumn leaf, the Garden is an oasis of tranquility.

Located in Victoria, British Columbia, is the Hatley Garden, one of Canada's National Historical sites. Aside from the stunning Edwardian estate, this historic site features hundreds of heritage trees, including 250-year-old Douglas firs. Use the many hiking and biking trails to explore 600 acres of forest. The most popular gardens are the Rose, Japanese and Formal Italian. Situated near the Pacific Ocean at the southern tip of Vancouver Island, the 565-acre property reflects the richness and diversity of British Columbia. At the heart of the property is the famous Hatley Castle a 40-room mansion built in 1908 by James Dunsmuir, a coal baron and the former Premier and Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia.

Located beside the 7,000-foot Mount Chem, Minter Gardens is one of British Columbia's many stunning attractions. It features 10 different Canadiana gardens intertwined with waterfalls and waterwall, such as a Formal Garden, an Alpine Garden, a Fern Garden, a Lake Garden and a Fragrance Garden. Dazzle your senses...

The David C. Lam Asian Garden is the largest area in the University of British Columbia Botanical Garden, Canada's oldest continuously operating university botanic garden. Visitors can explore the many plants and trees from Tibet, Japan, China, Korea and other regions of the world. Favourites include the stunning magnolias and rhododendrons.

55 acres of gardens can be explored at The Butchart Gardens in Greater Victoria on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Established in 1904 on a former quarry the gardens are now considered a National Historic Site.

Vancouver's VanDusen Botanical Garden is a pleasure to visit year-round. The garden has 55 acres worth of plants gathered from around the world. Best time to visit are the six weeks from late May to end of June when the Laburnum Walk is in full bloom. There are also a number of Theme Gardens including a Meditation Garden, Rose Garden, Stone Garden, Korean Garden, Perennial Garden, Herb Garden and Canadian Heritage Garden.

Glendale Gardens, located in Victoria, British Columbia, calls itself the "garden for gardeners". This six acre garden is located on a large nature conservancy, which is also home to the Pacific Horticultural College. Explore the grounds along its many trails. Glendale Gardens boasts 10,000 varieties of plants in 28 demonstration gardens, including perennial borders, Japanese and Zen gardens and a romantic Winter Garden.