The garden overfloweth. I left my little garden area to its own devices. I put in the perennials I had brought from the old garden, threw in some sunflower and nasturtium seeds and ignored it. I wanted to see how well it would fare on its own and if indeed there would be enough sun for anything to flourish.

I needn't have worried. Everything took off, even the grapes finally got in on the act though I still might move them to another spot. The rose bush is not happy. I do realize that and that too will have to be moved to an area with more sun. I am pleased it survived the move though and that is all that matters.

I tell Maggie not to walk through the nasturtiums as the bees are humming in the blooms and wouldn't want any sudden misfortune to happen either to dog or bee.

So she sits and waits while I admire the tumble.

Yawn. Okay. One more pic.

Ya think I planted too many nasturtium seeds?

Quite different from when I first arrived and it was a chicken pen.

After the Lavender Labyrinth, our Magical Mystery Tour took us to the Pacific Northwest Raptors Center. (No, not velociraptors. I don't know, that just always comes to mind when I see their sign. Maybe that's just me.)

And although 'tis always sad to see such lovely birds in cages or tethered, it is good to know there is a place for injured animals that can not be released back into the wild. Here, they get cared for and exercised and take on the roll of educators. It is good to see a child with a hawk or owl on their arm instead of a gameboy in their hand. You know that's going to set a great neural pathway in the brain.

The bees were a-buzz at the lavender labyrinth and no wonder, with 20 varieties of lavender to examine. The variety "White Spike", was a favourite amongst those walking the labyrinth although there were some other fantastic lavenders as well, such as the ones that had an apple or fruity scent and oh yes, the yellow lavender that smelled like lemons was also a hit (I noticed they were sold out of the pots).

The maze itself is fairly large but not overwhelmingly so and if you get a chance, when you are in the gift shop, ask for a peak at their drying room. It is truly a wonderous place of cool, dark lavender goodness. You could be cured of what ails you just by standing in there I reckon!

They of course have the sweetest dog. She's a little scruff of a thing with the cutest fur, well, just look at her... snoogums! She's the official greeter.

If you can get a chance to go, I highly recommend it. Cowichan Valley Lavender Labyrinth

We have two beehives in the garden now. Did I already mention that? I can't remember with all the goings on around here. At any rate, we have two hives named "Party Hive" and "Sky Hive". The nicknames kinda stuck the very first evening we put them in their homes. I'm sure something more noble will follow, but for now that is who they are. Both hives have different personalities. Party Hive is always super active, really sweet-tempered and always curious about what is going on in the garden. Sky Hive is very mellow and also sweet-tempered but more busy with what is going on IN the hive rather than out. Yin and Yang I suppose.

Sitting with the Bees

Anyway, I had a peek to see how they were faring with the poor weather conditions. I'm pleased to see both hives looking healthy.

New Comb

...wait for no man...

I like this view, sitting on the top of Erskine, watching the swallows, vultures and the tide below. I also thought I saw a whale... but maybe not... but maybe so...It was a shadowy shape that rose, seemingly to the surface and made, what I was assuming a white frothy churn from its blow-hole before disappearing again. These are times when you wished you had packed binoculars to an already straining backpack. Alas... now I will never know if what I saw was what I saw or what I saw wasn't.