Can you say PINK?

I have so many wonderful photos from Minter Gardens I just have to share a few more with you.. If like me you love the color pink, you should enjoy this post, with few words and lots of photos... all in pink.

This was my first time seeing cherry trees in blossom..... awesome!

Magnolias are so exotic looking!

One of many pink rhodos, this one was a real beauty!

Tulips, one of my favourite spring flowers

Can you believe it- even pink shrubs!!!

What a view!

Bleeding heart- another spring beauty!

More tulips...and yet more tulips...

Beauty.... Peace.... Serenity.... Heaven!

Peace,

Linda

Things To Do If You Are a Flower...

Be a wonderful color - like purplish pink.

Stay out in the rain.

Understand what the wind says.

Dance to its' rhythms.

Grow towards the sun.

Smell good.

Count every star.

Be beautiful...

More Blooms and Blossoms...

Isn't this spring weather getting you in the mood for gardening? I am several weeks behind where I would like to be at this point...guess that's what I get for going west...

I plan to start top-dressing my beds with compost tomorrow. I did some weeding and "tidying up" today, pulling old stems off perennials, etc. I'm sure my flower beds have been wondering where I have been...

So, since I don't have much in bloom right now other than tulips, I'm treating you to some more beautiful shots from Minter Gardens in Chilliwack B.C. You can read my previous post here to learn a bit about Minter Gardens. Twelve themed gardens welcome the visitor, and the floral displays are spectacular. Being a lover of tulips and other spring flowering bulbs, the timing was perfect for our visit. Massive plantings of tulips were around every turn as we strolled the paths. The rhododendrons and azaleas were also amazing, not to mention many other plants already in bloom, many I could name and some I couldn't. What a visual feast! Surely there must be gardens in heaven, don't you think? Look at the "tulip tail" on this peacock!!

These few hours were certainly a joy. I'm sure anyone who appreciates nature even just a little bit would love an afternoon at Minter Gardens.. but for a gardener, this was pure sheer paradise. The blooms, the colors, the designs, the water features... from the stately native evergreens to the tiniest flower, it's all a treat for the senses. The gurgling brooks and waterfalls, the ponds, even a water wall added so much to the feeling of peace and serenity as we enjoyed the beauty of Mother Nature. Our visit began with watching hang-gliders soaring on the air currents around Mt. Cheam and ended in the special Bonsai display..only in beautiful British Columbia!! This was such a special afternoon, spent with a special friend. Thanks Wendy!

If you are ever in Chilliwack you must plan a visit to Minter Gardens... you won't be disappointed. You can view their website here.

Click on these photos for a larger view....

Peace,

Linda

Count Your Blessings....

Count your gardens by the flowers,

never by the leaves that fall.

Count your days by garden hours,

don't remember clouds at all.

Count your nights by stars, not shadows,

Count your years with smiles not tears.

Count your blessings not your troubles.

Count your age by friends, not years.

Blossoms and Blooms, BC style

As promised here are some photos from beautiful blooming British Columbia, taken in late April. I spent four days in Chilliwack (east of Vancouver) before I flew to Calgary for Quilt Canada. I had a wonderful visit with my buddy Wendy; we had a blast. After our time at Acadia, she went into the RCMP and has been stationed in BC for pretty much her entire career, so our time together is rare.

It was glorious- just like stepping right into summer- everything was in bloom- the dogwoods- both white and pink (above and left), rhododendrons, azaleas, magnolias, cherry trees, lilacs, forsythia, springbulbs, you name it, it was in bloom- a virtual gardeners' paradise. One of the best parts of my visit was Sunday afternoon when we spent several hours walking around Minter Gardens after a picnic lunch. (Wendy, shall I tell them about how the car battery died because we sat there picnicing and not realizing our lights on, and after finding someone to boost the car, we had to drive up to Harrison Hot Springs to re-charge the battery... a pleasant side trip, including a visit to a Hazelnut Farm... NO? Okay, I won't tell them that part)

Minter Gardens is a 32 acre world-class show garden. Set against the backdrop of 7000 foot snow-capped Mt. Cheam, the gardens at this time of year feature close to 100,000 tulips imported from Holland. More than 1000 rhododendrons provide glorious color amid huge native cedars and rock wall terraces. Formal and informal beds, quiet cool woodlands, gurgling brooks and waterfalls... Minter Gardens has it all. It is described as "a kaleidoscope of colour, a place of serene beauty, and a gardener's source of inspiration." Indeed!

I'm sharing just a few photos here tonight..more to follow.

Piece,

Linda

"Gardening is about enjoying the smell of things growing in the soil, getting dirty without feeling guilty, and generally taking the time to soak up a little peace and serenity." ~ Lindley Karstens