meadow | Denisekathleen's Weblog

We took a lovely walk the other day to a part of the city we rarely visit, even tho it was only about 40 minutes by foot. In the Hillside-Quadra neighbourhood of Victoria is a wonderful Garry Oak grove called Summit Park. Next to it is the old Smith’s Hill Reservoir, shortly used in the early 1900s and fallen into disrepair. I find the rough and ragged beauty of the place astounding, and there are some beautiful views of the city to be had. Many years ago when I lived nearby, I remember how magnificent it was in the early spring when the crocus were in bloom: a tranquil sea of purples and white.

This north west view caught a glimpse of blue sky in the dark grey day.

A vast variety of greens.

South west view toward the Sooke Hills.

If you can ignore the chain-link fence and barbed wire, you can find magical beauty here.

Lots of birds take advantage of the old reservoir. In the summer, it’s a great place to watch swallows.

One of the largest Garry Oak meadows in the city.

The lovely snowdrop, always our first sign of spring’s approach.

I was touched by this memorial bench and the wild offering in memory.

A great windy day yesterday so we incorporated a long walk around the waterfront with the more mundane tasks of dropping off tax returns and picking up cat food. It is so much fun to walk in the wind, smell the fresh spring air and feel the strength of the ocean as it crashes on the shore. We had a lovely encounter with a Hummingbird who let GJ get quite close to him to take some pictures. The camas is blooming along with the buttercup and a few fawn lilies still showing off. Because it’s wild flower season, the parks crews have left the grassy fields along the waterfront long and wild, and the wind was making them sing.

Beautiful long grass leaning down in the wind. We had just met the cutest little bulldog who came bounding through the grass with pure abandon and delight.