Saturday, April 5, 2014

Beauty Captured Weeks Twelve to Fourteen

I have the best photography treat for you today (and later this week).  I know I’ve been away from the photos in the last few weeks, but there was literally no time and nothing exciting to share in our white and brown lingering winter.  But this past week was Spring Break for the kids, and a family from Church asked if we’d like to enjoy their home in a quiet spot on Vancouver Island.  Having never been to the Island, we decided that it would be a wonderful treat after a very hectic and stressful January - March.  So we trekked the 13 hours by car, 1 1/2 hours on a ferry and another hour in a car to get there.  But, oh, so worth it! 

To say that the Island is gorgeous would be a complete understatement.  I was blown away by spring in full bloom there.  You’re surrounded by the sea, the sky, the mountains and blossoms all around you.   It was incredibly peaceful, and full of rejuvenating sights and sounds.  

I have SO many photos, so, I’ll probably show you the rest of them over the next week.  I couldn’t exactly put 70 that I picked in one post. :)  You will WANT to go to Vancouver Island after this, trust me.  :)

Today I thought I’d show you all the flowers in bloom.  After a long winter, the colours were so spectacular to see.  Vancouver Island is a temperate rain forest, so the ecosystem is entirely different from where I live.  It was amazing that we were still in the same country.  


So many varieties of azaleas!  The are such a beautiful flower!  



Aren’t these light pink/white ones gorgeous?  



A lot of trees were blossoming, that’s one of my favourite things to see after a long winter!  


I think this one above is probably a flowering crabapple.  


We had gorgeous blue skies and warm temperatures the whole time we were there.  What a treat!


Forest floor flowers, showing off the sun after the rain.  



Forsythia!  What a beautiful showy bush, that vibrant yellow is amazing.  


Grapevine hyacinth...I so love these tiny little beauties!


More lovely hyacinth.


Beautiful primrose, they have such fantastic vibrant colours.  


Ranunculus.  Oh they’re so pretty, especially with how they unfurl.  


More flowering trees.  I don’t think I would ever get tired of that!  

Stay tuned for more pictures later this week, of the time we spent in Cathedral Grove forest and by the ocean!  

7 comments:

Maria Rodriguez. said...

Oh my goodness!! what a treat for the eyes!!! After this very long, very cold Winter, seeing the trees and flowers bloom like this, feels like a very much needed shot of renewed energy. Thank you for sharing them.

Carole C said...

I don't know which I enjoy more - your photos or your coloring. You are excellent at both and I look forward to your blog.

Sharyn Polesel said...

Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos. We have nothing blooming around us yet. The grass is starting to green up, so Spring can't be far behind. I'll be happy when we have some of that glorious color here.

BJ Searcy said...

Beautiful pics! Thanks for sharing.

Bobbi-spapertrail.blogspot.com said...

WOW Christine.... beautiful photography as always.... you have captured the floral world so elegantly. I'm so glad you and your family were able to take time out and just "be". Hugs!

Conniecrafter said...

Our trees are just starting to bloom down here in Southern Illinois and that is my favorite part of spring, seeing the buds and flowers on the trees, glad you were able to spend some great relaxing time with family, thanks for sharing God's beauty!

Marisa said...

Yes we are spoilled out here with the fabulous burst of srping occuring all around us! The Island is indeed beautiful :) You were soooo close yet so far!! Feel so spoilled to live out here. The natural beauty is simply amazing. Hope you hit Buschard Gardens as it is an amazing landscape of flowers in an old rock quarry.

Have done that 13 hour drive quite a few times as a family as we visit family in Calagary and Edmonton. It's a long day but better than taking the two days to do it. Can't wait to see where else you were :)