Bed and breakfast gardens

Our bed and breakfast gardens have been getting a lot of attention recently. After a chilly Spring the air suddenly warmed in mid-May. Plants were about three weeks behind their usual state of growth but they've been catching up fast.

With the help of Linda's sister Pam and her husband George much has been accomplished. Guests' comments have been just part of the reward.

The pavers laid two years ago have been cleaned and sealed in the main areas. That sentence does not do justice to the task since we laid 15,00 - 18,000 of them. Container pots have new annuals so that the bed and breakfast gardens have lovely little displays. Moss has been cleaned off four roofs and weeds are in the constant process of being removed in that constant battle.

Another big project was to take up all of a moss-grown lawn which never received enough sun for the grass, dig up the sprinkler system (you wouldn't believe the directions the pipes took underground: a baffling invisible maze) and replace it with an environmental drip system. Then 12 yards of soil was moved into place before planting could begin for what promises to be a charming garden through which a bark mulch path winds. Ah, yes, and then there were the other paths which needed bark mulch, 12 yards of it. Finally, a leaning retaining wall was taken up and re-built vertically.

Phew, that's exhausting just to write about! Come and see our Victoria gardens if you can. Everything is bursting into bloom. The photo above shows the pristine path under the wisteria looking towards the front entrance.

Royal BC Museum exhibit

The Royal BC Museum exhibit "Treasures: The World's Cultures from the British Museum" has just opened in Victoria. It runs until 30th September 2009. Accompanying it is an IMAX film "Journey to Mecca". We have had the opportunity to preview both and heartily recommend them to you.

The exhibit is one of the best at the RBCM for several years. Its 300 artifacts present over a million years of history. Like all exhibits at the museum it is very well presented. You can buy tickets online or at the museum.

The IMAX cinema always has several films being played over the summer with one having top billing: "Journey to Mecca". Ibn Battuta has been described as "the traveller not of an age but of Islam", having travelled 75,00 miles! He began these in 1325 with the journey to Mecca shown in the film and then kept going, on and on.

Do visit them both. (By the way, the mammoth above is part of one of the Royal BC Museum's permanent exhibits which range from the Ice Age to pioneer days in Victoria).

Easter in Victoria

Easter in Victoria looks like being beautiful after our unusually long winter. I suppose any journalist with a regular feature to write runs dry of ideas. This was true for this blog post until the day dawned with wonderfully warming sunsine. At last Spring can begin. Our tulips are barely buds but that may change by Easter.

Victoria in the Spring is delightful. As well as floral beauty there are charming walks (four guests went for a hike on Whiffen Spit today and loved it). There are easter church services, a chess festival, easter egg hunts, a performing arts festival, an exhibit about the Vikings, live jazz as well as all the usual places to explore: see the Victoria Attractions page on our website.

By Easter Sunday we hope for a little resurrction of our own here. The old gazebo had to be dismantled and a new one will replace it. As our namesake, we really did have to ensure that it remained in one form or another. Maybe a photo of it will appear next time.

Until then, Happy Easter.
Linda and Martin.

New Victoria Spa Package

The new Spa Package is the latest addition to our range of packages.

We see packages as a convenience for our guests who wish to have a selection of activities and goodies pre-arranged. This we are happy to do. Other people prefer to have just one or two elements of the packages and we can help them plan this. Then, others like to discuss possible options with us after they arrive. The choice is yours.

If a bed and breakfast spa package appeals, then you will enjoy two (one apiece) endless relaxation full-body massages (I can verify that they are wonderfully soothing), a fruit and cheese tray with sparkling wine or apple juice, local Victoria chocolates, fresh flowers and a selection of Silk Road spa products to take home. The total cost is Cdn$310 + 5% GST, in addition to your room rates. A two night minimum stay applies.

Others on our website include two romance packages, a gardens package and a whale-watching package.

If you prefer just to have a massage or other treatments then take a look at our Victoria massages page - there are two massages, body scrubs, facials, manicures and pedicures from qualified therapists. Please remember to book ahead so that we can arrange an appointment with them. If you take a massage we suggest you plan a relaxing couple of hours afterwards to savour the deep calming you will be enjoying.

Breakfast at a bed and breakfast

Breakfast needs to be set up very soon in the Morning Room where our bed and breakfast guests will enjoy the break from their fast tomorrow morning. So before doing this I thought a quick breakfast blog entry was in order.

Attending a trade show last weekend I stayed in a hotel for its convenient proximity. Overnight parking cost $12 and the breakfast was over-priced. Oh to be in a bed and breakfast with free parking and a free full breakfast!

So before I load our dining table with all the accoutrements that make our breakfast table so elegant I thought a little background might be of interest.

The Morning Room (read Dining Room) receives the morning sun so, poetically, one might describe rays of morning sun glancing across the table but I will refrain from that. The furnishings are a blend of antique Canadian heirlooms and more contemporary items like botanical tapestries. Elegant glass and silver add sparkle. Flowers vay according to the seasons. All this is set up the previous evening and necessary preliminary kitchen preparations made.

In the morning Linda and I silently (always) enjoy our coffeee, toast and marmalade (what else for an Englishman?) before turning to the baking, blending, cooking etc. You can see a sample of typical results on the breakfast page of our B&B website. It is tasty and nutritious, "setting up" our guests for the days excursions. A few recipes are also on the website including our favoured Fruit Fool which also makes for a quick yummy dessert.

We hope you will be able to enjoy it soon too!

2009 - stay in a BnB

To stay in a BnB affords extra value at a time when everyone is taking extra care with personal expenditures. We wrote about this in a recent blog and it was re-inforced by an advertisement being placed in the WestJet flight magazine by three Victoria bed and breakfast associations.

The advert speaks of the many complimentary services offered by bed and breakfasts rather than hotels but also rightly wrote that "personal service, comforts and extra efforts are always included".

We are reminded of this when we look through the comments written in our guest books last year and in the preceding ten years. It is a heart-warming experience to read of such appreciative comments. It's also an encouragement to realise that we have personally contributed to making their stay in Victoria a memorable one.

So as we approach the 2009 BnB season we do so with some apprehension, not expecting last year's record occupancy rates, yet with the knowledge that we will be providing our guests with a wonderful break from their daily lives. We look forward to meeting our 2009 guests!

Valentines's Day!

Romantic bed and breakfasts in Victoria, or anywhere else, are ideal settings to bring or add a little romance into your life or, better still, someone else's.

Wikipedia tells us that little is known about Saint Valentine except for his name and burial place. February 14th may not even be his feast day. As to how he became associated with love and romance is unclear; Chaucer may have had something to do with it. Anyway, who's complaining? It's a welcome break in the middle of dull winter.

The photo here is of the whirlpool bathtub the privale ensuite bathroom of our Regency Room. If you look hard enough you'll see bubble bath too. Although we are full on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th our cottage (romantically secluded in the gardens) and rooms are vacant on all surrounding nights. All have the same lovely two-person whirlpool bath, a fireplace and a private entrance. So if it's not too late for your plans do check our availability calendar and get in touch. We'd love to make your getaway break a special one.