Join me for a tour of Beautiful Butchart Gardens...

This week three of us met up on a sunny afternoon for a lovely walk
at Victoria's iconic Butchart Gardens.

We drove in our own cars and were directed to park in the bus parking lot, then proceeded through to a dedicated entrance and were informed of the strict instructions on social distancing.

We were told of the modified safety protocols...one way walking, one bathroom building open, the coffee shop open for take out and there was a gelato stand in the Italian Garden.

Tulip mania!

Thousands of tulips were in bloom throughout the gardens.

Clever camouflage 

 beds were underplanted using filler plants. 

Forget-Me-Nots 

blue, white and pinks

accented various shades of the tulip varieties.

Wisteria

The Sunken Garden

Droopy apricot tulips

Azalea with an intoxicating and heady fragrance.

Could be the Rothschild variety.

Frilly edged tulips

Iris in a brilliant and bold blue.

Three Sturgeon Fountain with Osteospermums.

also lining the edges of the water feature in the Italian Garden.

Cheerful pansy faces in a planter.

The walk was absolutely divine!

We plan to go each week and see the garden as it changes through the summer season.

Hope that there will be other local gardens opening up soon.

I plan to share lots of garden images from our wee plot and the larger open gardens of Victoria.

Hope that you enjoyed the garden tour!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Love...

Feeling love...
possibly more intense in these precarious times that we are living in.

a brightly painted heart rock on my beach walk last week

Intense Blue Skies at McNeill Bay in Oak Bay.

This is the beach where I spent my childhood..

we lived 2 blocks from the beach and we loved exploring the seashore.

I found some pretty sea glass on my walk.

Feeling so grateful for the smallest of things each day...

 European Wall Lizard

one of many living in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

 ~ Muguet des Bois ~

Intoxicating...

a heavy heady fragrance

pure white elegance.

Mother's Day

Remembering my dear Mom today  

I think of her everyday

but miss her more on these "special" days.

Mother's Day garden visit

with gifts from darling daughter and her sweet husband.

Tokens of love.

Garden visit with our son.

Flowers...a handmade card made with love.

Warm weather over the weekend...

we broke two weather records for high temperatures!

Cats are content snoozing on our bed.

Yummy dinner of chicken baked potatoes 

with

freshly harvested asparagus which is growing in our garden.

Mount Baker as seen from Island View Beach.

A wee bit blurry...

 a magnificent sight to see.

So many things to see

to appreciate 

to love.

Hope that you are finding some bright spots in your daily round.

Our eyes can embrace the beauty that surrounds us all...

take a few moments breathe in the fresh air

in awe of Mother Nature and all her glory

stay calm

be well.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~ 

Snippets of life here in The Humble Bungalow...and a couple of my favourite recipes

Wee little hydrangea leaves that over wintered in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

Lacy and delicate and as light as a whisper...

 tiny leaves...

Wee treasures found while weeding the beds.

Mother Nature's handiwork.

Mr. HB has been busy constructing raised beds.

We are on a long list at the Landscaping Supply Company.

Waiting for the soil to be delivered...

Apparently oodles of people locally are turning to their gardens

planting trees, flowers and veggies.

I ordered books from my favourite book seller Ivy's books on Oak Bay Avenue.

I am currently reading The Strawberry Thief by Joanne Harris.

It is the 4th book in her Chocolat series...

set in a small village in SW France 

near where our good friends live in Auvillar.

She mentions several of the places that I have visited, 

which I am remembering fondly.

Books can be a lovely way to "travel."

Dinner

of

Garden fresh asparagus

ribs

half a baked potato

I use Chef John's BBQ rib recipe from his blog Food Wishes.

It's a winner!

Made a big batch of oatmeal raisin cookies.

I've been keeping myself extra busy (happily distracted) in the kitchen.

Mr HB loves cookies...

Euphorbia bracts

photo bombed by a fly.

Brilliant blues...

a pop of colour under sunny skies.

The May skies are such a crisp blue...

have you noticed how clear the air is where you live?

Simple dinner 

Shake and Bake chicken thighs

"Booth Bay" broccoli salad

Hope you enjoy this tasty salad 

it is one of my summertime favourites.

Some of the restrictions here in BC are being eased this week. 

The authorities have devised a plan 

to gradually increase our return to the "new normal."

I look forward to resuming a wider "bubble" of people that we can interact with...

self distancing while being social should be easier with the better weather.

Picnics, outdoor cafes and bistros 

will be very popular in these coming weeks and months.

Hope all is well with you.

Stay safe.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Ups and downs during the Pandemic...

Parrot tulips with chartreuse streaks...

Mother Nature could have painted these sweet flowers herself.

I love the modernist icy Tapio Wirkkala Finnish vases.

They cleverly camouflage the flower stems.

I cannot imagine my life without flowers.

Can You?

I suppose that is why I toil for hours in our garden.

Hopeful that seeds, tubers and bulbs will grow and flourish.

Gardening is a quiet hobby

one that offers many rewards.

Tending and creating a garden has so many benefits

fresh air

 exercise

nature

birdsong

bees 

butterflies

"My extravagance is my garden - 

it's the first thing I look at every morning when I wake up. 

It gives me so much pleasure."

~ Ina Garten ~

Flowers have the power to elevate even the humblest of vessels...

from a jam jar to a crystal vase.

We are flying a new flag here in The Humble Bungalow.

It is flown in support and gratitude for the front line workers

who are helping us all stay safe during the pandemic.

We purchased this flag at The Victoria Flag Shop on Fort Street.

Each night at 7pm we are out banging pots and pans with our neighbours

to let the workers know that we are grateful for their work.

Current read Mary Coin by Marisa Silver

an interesting book so far and I am almost halfway through the story.

Am seriously looking for some book suggestions 

as I am running out of books fast!

Hope that you are managing to stay safe and are feeling cozy in the comfort of your own home.

We are living through such unusual times...

some days are better than others.

I read that we might be modifying our way of life for the next couple of years.

Perhaps we will never go back to those carefree days?

Who knows?

We just have to take it one day at a time and do our best.

I miss so many things

family

friends

entertaining at home and being entertained at other peoples homes

our bridge games

knitting group meetings

sitting sipping coffee at the cafe

the freedom to go shopping and browse in a store

the local library and bookshops

the pool and yoga studio

lunching out with my gal friends

the spa and hair salon

dinners out with friends

going to the cottage

travel

"May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears."

~  Nelson Mandela ~

"Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness."

~  Desmond Tutu ~

Take care.

XO

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Tulip Mania...and a surprise!

The Spring tulips are magnificent in colour and form...
tulip mania is very real here in The Humble Bungalow!

Intricate patterns and vibrant details.

I've been gardening in these pretty grey pearls...

a gift from our darling daughter.

Love this soft worn in chambray shirt from the Gap.

Its years old and a favourite of mine.

It is so very cozy and in these troubling times I am wearing only comfy clothes.

Cashmere, chambray and yes! Yoga pants.

Keeping it real here.

My days are slow paced and provide a variety of activities...

gardening, dusting, cooking, reading, knitting and walking.

I never know exactly how my days will shape up.

Coffee and checking in with social media and the news are the first things...

Sitting still and looking out the window

while quietly reflecting

on things that I am grateful for and that practise sets the tone for the day.

I don't usually gravitate toward suspense thrillers...

 this one by Shari Lapena caught my eye and WOW!

I read it in two days and was riveted to my seat!

The ending has a real twist!

Reading is such a fabulous distraction.

I am "escaping" every day through books during this pandemic.

How are you doing?

What are you reading?

Chester napping...he makes it look effortless to fall asleep!

I envy him...

Rosemarie who resides in Vancouver sent me these sweet socks.

Cheerful and soft, perfect for these cozy comfort clothing days...

Thank you Rosemarie.

XO

I am going to start reading this book later today.

In the meantime I am going to water the garden and do some laundry.

Routines help fill the time while we are staying home so much.

Are you keeping busy?

Stay safe

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~