government house
Good morning and/or afternoon. I hope the day is treating you fine. Another stunning day on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. I really do feel fortunate to be living in such a beautiful part of world. It seems when you turn on the news it’s either drought this or bomb that; if I were to turn it all off and step outside my door things seem pretty calm and smiley in good old Victoria B.C.
It’s been an incredible season for gardening this year. I hate to be one of those people who always opens up their conversations with talk of sunshine and/or hey how bout that weather but alas I’m a closet meteorologist. When one finds themselves working outside day in and day out it’s easy to take notice. Blessed is to have an office outdoors. Today I got some quality garden moments, first a stroll through government house then a little relaxation in the back. Let’s take a look at what caught my eye today. 
A perfect stop to slow things down and take it all in. Mix mediterranean with a gary oak meadow. 
Perovskia atriplicifolia growing on a dry rockface oceanside view. 
It seems the Thistles were looking their best, so many different types were in bloom. A very large Eryngium agavifolium. 
Caught the echinops just starting to open. 
I’m a real fan of giant kniphofia (red hot pokers) 
A large Agave parryi that survived two -16C cold snaps this winter exposed and wet. No big deal, nice job agave. Below an ornamental oregano; Origanum ‘Kent Beauty’.
It’s always seemed to me Crinum’s were too tropical to be hardy in Victoria but fool me not these come back every season. 
Crinum powellii is a showy bulb from South Africa related to Christmas amaryllis. My only experience with growing these is at the greenhouse but testimonials seem to say they are easy to grow in the garden. Two tips for the wise, they hate being disturbed once planted and are sometimes victim to slugs as the first leaves emerge. Keep your eyes open during early spring when fresh bulbs and bare rooted plants are being sold. 
I’ve admired this digitalis the last few times I’ve visited Government House. This one is new to me. Could it be Digitalis parviflora? 
Lovely!
Government House Victoria B.C. Centrally located and an easy place to find some serenity.
P.S. I need some ideas for gardening topics to write about. Have you had something you wanted to know, let’s find out together.
It’s been frigid cold here in Victoria this past week. Temperatures dropped as low as -10 and a light sprinkling of icy snow coated the city. In the mornings my garden features a series of tropical plant ice sculptures. The two echiums up front have curled up and croaked. A few succulents that didn’t make the cut in the migration met an untimely fate. Mild to some it’s still bloody cold I tend to think these winter months are best celebrated closer to the equator.
On Sunday we took a quick stroll around Government House to see how the plants were fairing.
Even with the best attempts of the resident gardener this sonchus acaulis looks to have met it’s match with this cold weather. Still you never know.
A few large agave looked healthy enough.
Here’s hoping they live to see the new year.
Mahonia media flowers all winter long.
