Vancouver Island Canada

Over 360 million year ago, volcanic activity started the creation of what is now Vancouver Island. It is actually the top of an undersea mountain range. Petroglyphs and large stone figures gesturing toward the ocean have been found. It is estimated that the first migrating inhabitants arrived some 5000 years ago.

Captain Vancouver circumnavigated the island between 1792-1794 proving that it was actually an island. It was first named Quadra and Vancouver's Island since Vancouver and the Spanish Captain Quadra had met there several times.

The Spanish and English later fought to control the island with the English winning. There are still several Spanish named landmarks on the island.

In 1846, the Oregon Treaty established the border between Vancouver Island, Canada and the United States at the 49th parallel. Great Britain leased Vancouver Island to the Hudson's Bay Company after making it a Crown Colony in 1849.

It was not until 1866 that the mainland and Vancouver Island were merged together and known as the colony of British Columbia. Victoria was proclaimed as the capital of British Columbia, the sixth province, in 1871.

A sad story resulted from a sailing vessel called the Valencia bound for Victoria Island from San Francisco. The fog was so thick on that dark stormy night that the vessel drifted off course, unfortunately missing the entrance to Juan de Fuca Strait. It was wrecked just before midnight on the rocky coast. Only 37 out of 173 people survived.

The following year a lighthouse was constructed at the entrance to avoid further catastrophe. Several sightings of life boats reported to be found years later from the Valencia have attributed to numerous ghost stories.

There are 2,150 miles (3,440 kilometres) of coastline on Vancouver Island. Each little community along these shores has a unique character. Visitors to the island never run out of adventures on Vancouver Island.

On of the favorite events in Vancouver's Inner Harbour is called the Symphony Splash. Thousands of guests gather on the water to hear the orchestral performance which takes place on a huge barge.
Another attraction are Butchart's Sunken Gardens. The beautiful gardens were created by the Butchart family and cover a former limestone quarry. It receives more than a million visitors a year (picture above)

Another place worthy of a visit is the Goldstream Provincial Park only twelve miles from Victoria. There are 600 year-old evergreen tress and the Goldstream River Estuary which is a popular sight for bird-watchers.

The MacMillan Provincial Park boasts trees up to 200 feet tall. It truly looks like a photographer's paradise.

Skiiers love Vancouver for the cross-country ski trails (25 miles worth) on Mount Washington.
Fishermen swarm to the Campbell River. It offers salmon, trout, and many other types of fish.
Hikers can enjoy caves, arches, and waterfalls.

International Peace Garden

Where is it?

Recently we had a family reunion (my mother's side), and it was held at the Jordan Park in Salt Lake City. Part of the park is a beautifully planned garden called the International Peace Gardens. I didn't know what to expect, but I felt a sacredness and world unity about the place. It is located on the banks of the Jordan River and has been there since 1947.

The Purpose

Utah is made up of several nationalities. This garden was created to promote the general welfare of the communities in Salt Lake City.

The motto is "Community Service for Civic Improvements". Committees that contribute and maintain the gardens come from the United Nations, Utah Youth Village, Wasatch Youth Center, YWCA, University Hospital and others.

Symbolism

The gardens and structures in the International Peace Gardens symbolize world peace, the true spirit of democracy, literature, cultural heritage, brotherly love and the history of many lands.
They were the initiated by Mrs. Otto Wiesley in 1939. She acted as Citizenship Chair for the Centennial Celebration of 1947. She hoped to promote good citizenship by having foreign groups help with the beautification of the City. It was proposed and approved, however, it was stopped at the onset of World War II, before being started again.

Labor of Love

Each group was allotted a section of the garden for them to design, create and plant with their own funds. They were approved by the City Parks Director and each part was dedicated and then presented to the City who maintains the gardens.
The first country represented in the gardens was the United States. Others include Europe, Africa and Asia. Also, the Japanese gardens were added followed by 28 countries before space ran out. Festivals include the various groups dressed in their native costumes dancing and singing traditional songs. All of this is free.
The only other known peace garden in the United States is one on the Canadian border in North Dakota.

Peace

The day we visited there were several people visiting and enjoying this beautiful peaceful place. Over 20,000 people visit the gardens each year.
I hope more people will be aware of these gardens and share in their meaning and hope for peace in our world.

Hawaiian Flowers: Foster Botanical Gardens

We have lived in Hawaii for over ten years, and as were making our way through the usual traffic chaos on Vineyard Street in Honolulu we saw a sign that said Foster Botanical Gardens . We were not in a hurry, so we pulled over into the parking lot. The moment we opened our car doors, the most beautiful fragrance drifted to our nostrils. It was coming from the trees surrounding the entrance to the gardens.

We felt transfigured to another time and place. Luckily I had my camera since I saw so many beautiful tropical flowers in a various colors and shapes. I would start to put my camera away, and then I would see something else that I had to have a picture of. There were small signs labeling the different flowers and plants. We were surprised at how many of them we had never seen before.

We discovered that some of the incredibly large trees that towered over the gardens were planted around 1853. There were trees from many places around the world including Africa. These trees were so magnificent! They actually refer to them as exceptional trees because of their age, rarity, size, location and historical and cultural significance. They indeed were massive and I had to get a few pictures of my husband standing next to the trunks so we could remember how big they were.

The gardens are very well taken care of, and they are separated into areas of special interest including the Exceptional Trees which I have mentioned, the Lyon Orchid Garden which has several new and old world species, the Main Terrace (dating back to 1953), the Middle Terraces which includes beautiful palms, and some local Hawaiian heliconia and ginger plants, the Economic Garden which has various herbs, spices, dyes and even poisonous plants, the Prehistoric Glen which features plants from various countries, and the Orchid Conservatory which has orchids of so many different varieties.

As we strolled through the gardens, I could not help but think it would be the perfect setting for a wedding. I learned that it is possible to have weddings and wedding photos there with a permit. They also offer guided tours and several times a year, school children get to enjoy this enchanting place.
I witnessed flowers and trees that I have never seen before, and had quite an educational and fascinating experience at the Foster Botanical Gardens.

AREAS OF SPECIAL INTEREST IN THE FOSTER BOTANICAL GARDEN

• Lyon Orchid Garden - a collection of Old and New World orchid species
• Main Terrace - the oldest part of the garden dating from 1853.
• Middle Terraces - palms, aroids, heliconia and ginger plants.
• Economic Garden - herb garden, spices, dyes, poisons and beverage plants.
• Prehistoric Glen - primitive plants from around the world.
• The Orchid Conservatory - blooming orchid display.
• Exceptional Trees - 24 trees designated "exceptional" throughout the Garden.

Spring Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point

Pleasantly Surprised

We had often heard about the Tulip Festival that has been held every Spring at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, Utah. I have been to the Dinosaur Museum and other educational venues at this non-profit farm and garden. They feature several events throughout the year that attract local families and tourists. Life gets so busy, but I really wanted to see the tulips this year, so we made it. The entrance to the festival is just a hint of what was inside. I was blown away by the colorful, well manicured flower beds leading up to the main building.

Educational and Good Exercise

At the entrance of the Garden Visitor Center, you are given a map of the Tulip Festival. I had no idea that the gardens were so expansive. From the building you see an attractive vista all the way to the back of the gardens. They are separated into attractive theme gardens, and pathways weave back and forth throughout. You can rent a cart if you don't want to walk the whole way. It took us about two hours to walk the whole way, and we went later in the day. I'm glad we went when it was not too hot. My husband has an app on his iphone and tracked our steps. We walked over 4000 steps, so it was a good workout besides being very educational.

Along the way there were signs giving facts about tulips in general and names of groups of tulips. Some of the fun facts we learned were:

• The tulip is the national flower of Turkey and Afghanistan
• Tulips grow from bulbs, and being native to mountainous areas, the tulip needs a period of cold dormancy (Utah has four seasons).
• Tulips are part of the lily family.
• Nearly 3 billion tulips are produced in the Netherlands each year.

We took off to the left pathway first which led to some waterfalls.

Every year they plant a quarter of a million new tulips at the Thanksgiving Point Gardens.

The range of colors and variety of tulips was amazing.

My breath was taken away by the mixture of contrasting varieties and shades of tulips. I don't remember a garden that has impressed me as much as this one did.

Theme Gardens

So you can get a better idea of the variety, here are the names of the different garden themes:

• Grand Allée
• Shepherd's Hill
• Creek Garden
• Monet Lake
• Rose Garden
• Koi View Pier
• Vista Mound
• Fragrance Garden
• Secret Garden
• Italian Garden
• Light of the World Exhibit
• Butterfly Garden
• Parterre Garden
• Waterfall Amphitheatre
• Mountain Garden

It is a great place to take your mother for Mother's Day. It was quite a walk for little children under three, but I saw many families on the motorized carts. They seat five people comfortably and can go along the paths just fine.

Picture taking is welcome, in fact, they have a photo contest at thanksgivingpoint.org/photocontest where you can post your own photos. They choose the top photos to be on the Thanksgiving Point Facebook page to be voted on by everyone. The prize is an annual family membership to Thanksgiving Point!

Ongoing activities include a Tulip Tot Playland, which is open Friday and Staurday from 10 am - 8 pm and Monday evenings from 4 - 8 pm. They offer crafts, activities, games, bounce houses and much more.If you stay late on Friday nights, it is perfect for a date with music and lights. Celebrating Spring at the Tulip Festival is something I will always remember and look forward to again.

Worthwhile Attraction

I feel ashamed that I have visited Utah so many times, but have never taken the opportunity to view the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, Utah. It beats other botanical gardens I've been too.

Let me know if you have been to a bigger or better one. Cheerio!

Best Botanical Gardens on Oahu - Beyond Honolulu

Best Botanical Gardens on Oahu - Beyond Honolulu