Roses are...

not just red in our garden. They are also fuchsia on the outside and yellow on the inside.

They are also growing as high as my 1.5 story roof...

Stop and smell

The sun came out this weekend. FINALLY! And with it, so did our roses. Because I've been working on work things and can't think of anything more exciting to blog about... this week is going to be rose tour. Here goes.

Little people

This Sunday, Jeff and I are especially thankful for a number of little people in our lives. My dear friend P and her husband welcomed a sweet baby girl this week, and we are so thrilled for them. In addition, two of the little boys in our care group are being baptized this morning. The music today is thus chosen to honour these little ones, and the important place they hold in our lives. Please click on each song title to hear it. 

All God's Children

by Sally Albrecht

Down in the River to Pray

arranged by David Mennicke

Jesus Loves Me

arranged by Tom Fettke

Butchart Gardens Part 2

As I mentioned yesterday, we had a wonderful day at the Butchart Gardens after my graduation. We took our time and enjoyed the entire garden- each section was uniquely beautiful that it makes it hard to pinpoint my favourite spots. I really loved the peace,  and tranquility of the Japanese Garden. It was very green and very quiet- two things that make me happy.

It was a little early for the roses (although quite a number were in bloom) but we did catch the peak of the peonies.

Triple bloom peonies- each flower had a burst of pink petals in the centre

I should have taken more pictures of the irises- they were in every colour imagineable and were really striking.

As were the Whirligig Daisies.

I think, however, my favourite were the blue poppies. I posted about them here last week... they were so delicate and the most beautiful shade of blue.

Since our visit, I've read up on these Himalayan Blue Poppies and it appears that they are quite difficult to grow.  I suspect that since our garden is fairly shaded, they would do very well here... and I think they may be worth the experiment.

The gardens, as a whole, are perfectly maintained, and impressively striking. I think I prefer the more informal areas , but the whole place is certainly worth a visit.  I was just amazed that it was the brainchild of one woman- a woman who set out to make an ugly quarry pit beautiful. She certainly succeeded and her family, who still run the place (very successfully), are making her legacy a lasting one.

Butchart Gardens Part 1

The day after my graduation, my parents, Jeff and I met up with some long-time family friends at the Butchart Gardens. We had a really wonderful day in the gardens and Jeff and I came home with renewed enthusiasm to continue whacking away at our own wilderness garden (!). There's a great history of these gardens (detailing how Jennie Butchart had the amazing vision to turn her husband's empty quarry pit into the incredible Sunken Gardens seen below) at this link.

The famous view- walking down into the Sunken Gardens

Looking back at the Sunken Garden entrance steps from the middle look-out tower

Columbines in full bloom

Famous fountain at the far end of the Sunken Gardens

Inspiration

Newest family member

Last weekend, Jeff and I went to the mainland for a few days. It was the first time in over two years that we've driven across on the ferry, and we had a great weekend visiting relatives, including this guy:

Our newest nephew T was just 3 weeks old when we last saw him at Christmas. He's now a busy, bright, happy, curious and very social little fellow who is even sweeter in person than in these photos... if such a thing is possible.   

Peace and faith

Yesterday, was a day of two anniversaries- one happy, and one less so. Jeff and I began our Canada Day celebrations last year with an early morning phone call, the kind that is so early it can only mean bad news (click here for a refresher). This year, we're thankful that today is off to a much calmer and more celebratory start...and at a bigger level, we're just plain thankful. 

For the past few weeks, I've been thinking about what music to play today. I've chosen a piece that was actually sung at my parent's wedding, 45 years and 1 day ago. It's a piece I have loved for a long time- a piece that I often listen to when life is no going so well. It's a piece about peace, and about faith. In celebrating family milestones this weekend, it feels like a very fitting soundtrack.