Spring is Here - Photo Impressions from Vancouver Island

Rhododendron Bush

Vancouver Island has the mildest climate in all of
Canada.  Especially in the Southern Part of the Island, 
colorful blooms are seen already in February
and early March. 

Small botanical gardens (and nurseries) in woodland
settings invite visitors, some are even free, like this one:

I discovered these flowers and blooming shrubs in
a woodland garden in North Saanich at the southern 
end of Derrick Rd.  Take Hwy 17 north from Victoria,
Exit 31, turn left into Wain Rd, and drive approx.
4 kilometers, turn left into Derrick Rd

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Rhododendron Bush
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Between Victoria and Sidney are several small botanical gardens
and a butterfly garden which are charging only low admissions. 
I prefer these intimate, natural settings to the
one, much hyped and overrun by tourist busses, and charging
almost a $40 entrance fee... Native and ecological -
compared to a Disneyland-like tourist garden.

Daffodils

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Rhododendron Blooms

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Hellebores Bloom

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Rhododendron Tree

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Rhododendron Tree

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White Hellebores

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Winter Heather

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Camellia Bloom

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Cherry Blooms

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Heather White
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Daffodils blooming in masses
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Oregon Grape

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Red Currant

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Pieris Japonica

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Moss

Read more here about botanical gardens and gardening in BC:

https://garden-dream.blogspot.com/2017/12/horticulture-centre-of-pacific-in.html

https://vichortsociety.org/winter-garden/

https://vichortsociety.org/local-area-gardens/

https://vancouversun.com/homes/gardening/in-the-garden-best-flowering-shrubs-for-spring

https://www.gardenworks.ca/news/137/the-wild-plants-of-bc

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Jardin Botanico - Botanical Garden in Buenos Aires

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Not only a must-see but also a quiet place to relax in the buzzing city of Buenos Aires is the Botanical Garden on Av. Santa Fe, next to Plaza Italia and the zoo.  The Jardín Botánico is a place to walk, relax, and discover a range of plants and trees native to Argentina, and other regions. Bring a picnic basket and share some quality time, as you'll see many locals doing.

Occupying seven hectares, the garden, designed by Charles Thays, has a collection of some 6,000 tree and plant species, a botanical library, Roman, French, and oriental gardens, a herbarium, and five greenhouses, including an art nouveau structure that won an award at the Paris Universal Exposition in 1900. 

The grounds also contain a large collection of sculptures and an English-style house used to host temporary art exhibitions and workshops. In this building is a fantastic show of how plants evolved on our planet over millions of years to our times. And how thankful we should be and take care of nature.

The city government's gardening school also functions on the site, which was founded by French landscaper Charles Thays, who designed many of the city's parks and squares and was inaugurated in 1898.

Botanical Garden - Jardin Botanico

Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30 - 18:00 - Free entrance!

Av Santa Fe, next to Plaza Italia and the zoo, in the Palermo area

https://buenosaires.gob.ar/vicejefatura/ambiente/jardin-botanico

https://becci.dk/parks-in-buenos-aires/

 

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Heronswood Botanical Garden - Early Blooms

 

The Heronswood Botanical Garden in Northern Washington State was not easy to find as there was no signage on the main road, but I didn’t give up and finally found it.  And I was glad that I persisted, as it was a beautiful woodland garden - even being amid the midst of winter.  Not far away, the hills and mountains were still covered in snow. 

In this little peace of plant paradise, I was greeted by a friendly couple who explained to me all the treasures that the garden offered.  Surprisingly, I found many flowers blooming: Hellebores in many colors, Rhododendron trees, Witch Hazel, Crocus, Snowdrops, Hazel trees, Cyclamen, and many more. 

I wandered the meandering garden paths, along small lakes and ponds.  Adding to the blooming plants were a plethora of ferns, mosses, evergreen shrubs, and even several cacti in the rock garden display.

Throughout the year, Heronswood Garden has many events, such as the Hellebores Special Sale on March 9, the Spring Sale on May 4 and 5, the Hydrangea Festival on August 10, and the Autumn Sale on September 14.  You will find more events on their website HeronswoodGarden.org

Heronswoodgarden is located off Hwy 104 in Washington State between Port Angeles and Poulsbo in the Kingston area.  The garden is open in summer from 9 am to 3 pm, Wednesday to Sunday. The winter hours from the end of October to April 1 are 9 am to 3 pm, but only on Saturday and Sunday.  Admission is $10, and youth (7 to 17) $5.

The address is 7530 288th Street NE, Kingston.  WA

Phone 360-297-9620.  Email: info at Heronswoodgarden.org

The garden is owned and operated by the Port Gamble S´Klallam Tribe. It is well worth the visit, either from Port Angeles, from Tacoma, or by a short ferry ride from Seattle.  

A hidden gem for all plant lovers and gardeners. I was fascinated by the many plants that are thriving in the Northwest States - plants that I rarely have seen before. 

Hardy Cyclamen

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Parque El Rosedal in Buenos Aires

 

Imagine ten-thousand roses blooming in a garden and park-like setting on a lake, close to one of the downtown cores of Buenos Aires, not far from the botanical garden and the zoo, both easy to reach on foot.

This rose garden (Rosedale in Spanish) is more than a century old and has received the International Garden Excellence Award from the World Federation of Rose Societies.  As well as its roses, it features a lake with a Greek-influenced bridge, an amphitheater, an Andalusian patio, and a poets' garden with twenty-six busts of famous writers including Alfonsina Storni, Dante Alighieri, William Shakespeare, and the famous Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges.

The land for this garden and the surrounding park belonged to the country house of Argentine president Juan Manuel de Rosas until he was defeated in the battle of Caseros on February 3, 1852.  The work to design the garden was begun by French landscaper Charles Thays who created numerous gardens and landscapes in Argentina, and was finished by his disciple Benito Carrasco in 1914.

Av Malabia (from Botanical Garden, Av Santa Fe) southwest

Paseo El Rosedal Garden 

Open 10:00 am - 18.00 pm Tuesday to Sunday, closed Mondays

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