I'm moving to a new place and I'm happy that trees can be planted now on the island. What happens when bananas fight? Someone told me that you get a banana split. I have moved these tall boys (photo) as they were awakening. The flower stage cane was too big so I cut it down. These things can get heavy. Too big too move. It would have flowered without fronds. I know it sounds strange and looks even stranger. I've separated the rhyzome in many parts as a mature basjoo is way too heavy to handle in one piece. Canes under 8ft were transported. As the old house owners walked out, they were surpised to see bare root bananas being transplanted now. Some canes were planted so close that they will push each other. I must leave room for other species but did not want to dispose of extra canes. Bananas will be used in cereal. Most don't like this kind of tiny, non-commercial crop. Someone helped me move palms under 300 lbs. Palms like immediate plantings but bananas can wait a week on the ground and will feed on the root ball portion. Mature palms are great as the impress buyers from eastern Canada. I'll manicure them and grab the winter crop left by the birds. I have lots of rock in the new garden which can be used to contain bamboo. I've planted eucalyptus and my new neighbours will find out how fast theese can grow. I need less summer water with these. I've packed juvenile camellias together to create a cluster with multi-colour and multi-type flowers. White ones are nice but the flower's lifespsan is so short. Some pinks are also too fast. I like drooping specimens. I'll put in a fall specimen to bring out of season interest to the cluster. I've planted fremontia native to CA. We don't think of California as having full PNW flowers on a tree but their native Blue CA lilac is a nice evergreen tree that was planted by old owners. Poor guys, they planted pieris on rock with no summer irrigation. That thing looked crispy as if it had been in So Cal. It's amazing how some rhodos survived summer on the rocks. I'll move them into the shade. So many rhodos are destroyed in summer out here. Many gardeners don't water them and in dry continental outlows, they go crispy. The clay turns to rock and that doesn't help. The soil I now have is a bit red like a Maritime soil. I had to move away large stones to plant palms. We have to deal with lots of rock on the island. I've planted cordys making sure that I want them there as they cannot be moved once mature. I must leave mature specimens behind. New onwers will see them as pinnates and will probably not know that they are simply dracaena spikes gone big. I've planted an olive tree. They are not a common find but I think that they are interesting. My fiance wanted cherry trees so I got a garfted tree with 5 kinds. Amazing what you find out here. I'll plant ficus. Instead of being bordered by laurel a la Vancouver. I'll border with the use of Windmill palms. Let some light in with semi-privacy. I've visited Asia where they had groves of these things. They let a fair amount of sun through but enough shade to harbour large leaf rhodos and camellias from direct sun. I have palm pups but few have patience for tiny pups so I'll plant my extras under neighbours' palms. A mother plant with a pup or two looks nice. Problem with juveniles is that thieves like them. I planted an evergreen acacia and will add more. Back in Ontario, a lawn was a good idea but out here with dry summer lawns and a huge mix of trees and plants, I want the whole thing as a garden. And being like one of the Vancouver exotic plant maniacs, there will be a tight cluster of palms and exotics that will probably compress gardening space. I've got to go to Vancouver to get gardening ideas. Any big plans for your garden? Us ex-easterners, we move in not expecting such a range of plants that take years to learn. Then we want all kinds of things in the yard. Oh, and I'll plant kiwi vines. The local Saanich cultivar of Greater Victoria. Cheers Here is a link that might be useful: Basjoo Canes

Hi, Cameron - DW and I visit Seattle at least once a year, and we spent a few days in Victoria last May, but I don't know much about the San Juans or Vancouver. I think that late spring through summer weather tends to be the best around there. Garden-wise, number one on my list would be the Butchart Gardens just north of Victoria. It is just amazing; you can get a great afternoon tea there, and I would go back in a flash. Figure on spending at least half a day there, and if roses are important to you, go later than I did. I've put a link below to my Butchart pictures that I posted in the Gallery. Another nice place to visit if you are in Seattle looking for something to do is the U.W. Botanic Gardens. It's very low-key, uncrowded and I especially liked their Japanese garden and koi ponds. There must be hundreds of koi in there. In Seattle, we have stayed at the Silver Cloud Inn at the east end of Lake Union and enjoyed it, but it's not very centrally located and one of the downtown hotels would probably be more fun if you're doing any shopping. In Victoria, we stayed at the Grand Pacific and it was really nice, but there are also great bed and breakfast places. Friends of ours stayed in one and I thought it looked more fun than a hotel. Hope this helps a little bit and I'd be happy to answer any more questions if I can. ThinMan Here is a link that might be useful: Victoria Pics

Thank you to Cindy for opening up your place for this event. What a wonderful and friendly group of people and so generous with their plants. I think I will be busy, especially finding new homes for the numerous Daylilies from Marj. Thank you Marj and I look forward to watching the Saskatoon bushes grow. I think Cindy's yard may be just as full after she replants what she dug out. Thank you all for letting me be a part of it. Doreen, I hope that I can take part in the spring one. Please send a note through email so that I do not miss it, if you do not mind? Rick

If you should be coming the weekend of May 7&8th, the Victoria Conservatory of Music has lined up 16 private gardens to visit for a nominal charge of $25. This event takes place every year and the gardens change every year. I have now attended three of these events, and most of these gardens are really superb, full of flair and innovation. I second Royal Rhodes garden (free), the Horticultural Centre of the Pacific gardens (small admission charge)and UVic's Finnerty Garden (free). Also, UVic has a wonderful facility to the north of the peninsula called Dunsmuir Lodge with breathtaking scenery from its dining room which features a fabulous buffet for lunch and a great menu for dinner. It also has accomodation and is just a bit north from the route you would take to Butterfly World and Butchard Gardens. It is a wonderfully quiet location, perched next door to John Dean Park with lots of hiking trails. Another restaurant no one has mentioned and one of my favourites for great cusine is Camille's in downtown Victoria. I believe the Carden Street Cafe was closed the last time I drove by. On some of our little weekend get-aways, we have stayed at some absolutely wonderful B&Bs, and really recommend this as a great way to get information about things to do and places to go. If you are going to Tofino, the Wickaninnish Inn (if it is in your budget) is a truly wonderful experience. Each room has a private balcony where you enjoy the roar of the breaking waves on the beach and romantic sunsets. The dining room features all organic and unparalled cuisine, a wonderful private dining experience and the most impecable service. Enjoy your visit to the island..we did and moved here 13 years ago!