CDN RU Last Part

So glad to hear there's flowers in bloom and the weather's cooperating. Makes for an even nicer experience. I'm really looking forward to seeing pictures of Butchart Gardens. Don't forget to have fun everyone!
Christine.

Thanks for the update, nice to join you guys vicariously! That magnolia sounds incredible. Hope you got a picture, Donna.

This is just to wish you all well, and we look forward to hearing about today's excursions. It's sunny here too--but we awoke to 2.5" of snow this morning!

Inanda, you have mail.

Rosemary

Thanks for the update, ((((Donna))))! That's the big hug I was going to give you at the airport yesterday afternoon! lolol

This is so neat, to hear what you guys are up to. I can't wait to see Linda in a couple weeks. How were the butterfly gardens? Where'd you end up eating?

It's good to hear from you Donna. Sounds like you are having a lovely time. Thanks for the update-Joelle

Butchart's was great, Butterfly gardens was an even better hit with these guys. Everyone enjoyed BF gardens. Then 3 other nurseries, Pam is like a woman on a mission! West Jet will be just shaking at their heads wondering where to put everything!

We ended up have chinese at Heather's place, and her husband... people wanted to clone him!

Tomorrow will be some shopping, touring downtown, then getting together with whomever is left in town for another group dinner.

Linda

Good Morning everyone.

Woke up to rain this morning, but only light stuff, no prob! Went for a wonderful walk down to a gorgeous park about 15 minutes away from Linda's called Douglas Mountain Park. Sure enjoyed the greenery and the wonderful smell of cedar as I strolled on the trails. We had a great day yesterday, Butchart Garden in the morning, Just Joey's for lunch and then to a fabulous place called the Butterfly Gardens. Tropical Paradise with butterflies flying all over the place and waterfalls and tropical birds, and flowers and palm trees of every sort, and two beautiful Flamingos,,,and blooming brugs too! Took tons of photos. Hopefully Linda will post some of her's today. Otherwise when I download at home I'll post as many as I can. Hit 3 or 4 nurseries in the afternoon. Bought way too much stuff, so of course I laid in bed last night wondering how I am going to get on the plane with it all. Yikes!! Hope the flight attendants are in a good mood on Tuesday morning. Last night we had such a nice time at Heatherbelle's lovely home. She and her wonderful husband, Ian, were fabulous hosts and they are simply a couple of the nicest people you'll ever meet. We finally took a RU group picture, with everyone except Inanda. Unfortunately she wasn't able to make it last night. We missed her.

This morning, Ingrid, Pam and I are up drinking coffee and eating cold Pizza for Breakie. MMMM good! We are off to do some shopping downtown and checking out some tourist places, Empress, Harbour, shops, etc. We still haven't made it for our Seafood feast yet, but Pam and I are adament about having a good feed before we go. Today, for sure.

Well, I have nattered on for long enough. I'll sign off now and talk to you all later.

P.S. Ingrid wanted top extend a big "Hi" to her buds from down east, Christine and Shannon. Salutations for us to all of you too. :Donna

Hi, Ingrid!!! Hope you had a good trip down. You're not missing much here: rain, wind and pouring rain, in that order! :-) The snow's really melting fast here.

Sounds like a good time had by All!!!

It's so great to read all of your daily visits, OFG keep up the walks and reports on the wonderful blooms. It sounds like so much fun. Can't wait to see the pictures.
Jo

Donna........what 4 Nurseries did you take in? I hope one of them was B Bay! E

Brentwood Bay? Yes Elaine. It was right after lunch and lilypon lost her mind. She walked out of there with
a trayload of plants totally not hardy in her zone. I'd love to be there when she hits Westjet with phormiums. lol

Good morning all! Day 4 of the RU and all is well. I have a few more lines under my eyes that shouldn't be there, from lack of sleep, but I am sure I'll make it until I am back home and can do my regular 8 hours of sleep again. Elaine, besides Brentwood Bay, we also were to Sensations Greenhouse, and Gardenworks (twice). And Liz, believe it or not, Pam managed to get her plants into two big Brown bags to take home. Pam and her daughter are leaving this afternoon. Ingrid and I have another sleepover and we leave tomorrow morning. Had a fun time bombing around in Inanda's Volkswagon Bus yesterday. She knows Victoria like the back of her hand so was able to take us to many touristy places. Fed trhe seals in the Harbour. That was fun. Today we are going to Horticultural Centre of the Pacific, Government House Greenhouses. Oh yeah, we also visited the U of Vic Rhododendom Gardens yesterday. Gorgeous.

Everyone have a great day, and we'll talk to all soon again.

:Donna

well glad to hear you girls are having a great time..

Elaine, thank you so much for dancing so hard, we didn't have any rain, you can rest now! ;)

Well....was that fun or what? Gardeners are great, or in Heather's case grrrreat! Unbelievable hospitality, combined with a warmth of welcoming spirit seldom encountered. Isn't it fun to be with a group who actually has a shared interest and is willing to freely exchange knowledge! My most highly prized moments were watching the Out of Zone members discovering plants they had not seen before, or not seen in bloom. True Joy. A celebration of the emergence of spring in plant life, in new friends and bonds formed. Wowsy! Thanks to all and I shall try to post pics when I wake up. Dawn