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Megans Cookin: Afternoon Tea at Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Afternoon Tea at Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC

The Victoria Express.

Our ride to Canada! My last day of vacation was spent with my daughter in Victoria, BC. The hubby stayed in the states with the dog. I said kennel him for a day and night but the hubby just couldn't do it. We have a very pampered pouch! If the truth be told, I think it was the hubby's way of getting out of shopping. He did leave the dog for a game of golf,
so don't feel too sorry for him.

The port of Victoria





There was even a cruise ship in port.




One of the buildings in downtown.

See that double decker bus in front of us. We are riding on the top deck of one of those buses when I took this picture. We are on our way to the garden.



Butchart Gardens



The Water Fountain


Acres of Beauty

Doesn't this picture look like a fairy is going to come flying out at any minute.
It totally looks fake. I want to live here. I want to play and have tea with the fairys.

I have a million flower pictures




One of my very favorite flowers. I would grow tubs of these if I didn't live in an area that gets temperatures above 100 degrees quite frequently in the summer. Freezes in the winter. Not what I would call ideal conditions for this kind of plant.


More Hanging Baskets






Kellie and I had afternoon tea sitting on the balcony over looking a part of the gardens. It was a beautiful day and this made it perfect. I think Kellie will have memories of this time together for the rest of her life. I'm glad I spent the extra moola on this . It really did make it extra special.


This was my view from the balcony.


This was Kellie's view!



The dessert plate.


The menu!
Seasonal berry trifle
Layers of sponge cake and seasonal berry compote, finished with chantilly cream


Traditional delicacies include:
A savory house-made sausage roll with imported mustard
Roasted vegetable and cheese quiche


Savory tea sandwiches include:
Locally smoked wild BC salmon with maple and whole grain mustard cream cheese
Egg salad and watercress, mango curry chicken roulade
Smoked honey ham on a rosemary and aged cheddar biscuit
Cucumber with fresh ginger cream cheese


House-made sweets include:
Dark chocolate barquette with fresh fruit
Raspberry marzipan Napoleon
Lemon and poppy seed loaf,

coconut chocolate macaroon
Chocolate Grand Marnier truffle


Thier own signature candied ginger scone
Accompanied by strawberry jam and whipped vanilla Devon-style cream


On our way back to the port after shopping.
Potfuls of flowers every where you look. I could get use to this!

The Famous Empress Hotel



The Government Building.



A Mime


I hope you enjoyed my little vacation trip. Thanks for riding along!



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Totals:


Gas: $758.00


Camping:$282.00


Golf: $140.00


Canada trip x2:$225.00


Totals for a 2 week vacation: $1400,00. (Not bad for a vacation for 3 people for 2 weeks!)


Memories-Priceless!!!




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Labels:

13 Comments:

Blogger Shelby said...

What beautiful photos - and your right, that is not a bad price for 2 weeks vacation at ALL!

July 24, 2008 at 2:21 AM  
Blogger April said...

Absolutely gorgeous!! Thanks for taking me along with you!! and for the record, I am spending more than that for a week in florida! I really need an RV! LOL

July 24, 2008 at 5:46 AM  
Blogger Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

Your photos are absolutely gorgeous. What a idllyic family vacation.

July 24, 2008 at 6:59 AM  
Blogger Rebecca said...

now THAT's a dessert plate!

July 24, 2008 at 7:14 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Beautiful photos! The dessert plate is probably my favorite one. I've always been resistant to an RV trip. You've made me re-think things. Oh, I have a little award for you.

July 24, 2008 at 7:39 AM  
Blogger BumbleVee said...

If you get to Victoria in the winter.... there is the most amazing display of decorated Christmas trees in every available corner inside the Empress.... a lot by foundations..but many done by individuals...there are prizes for the best...

my Mom lived in Victoria for several years... Butchart Gardens was always on our list of "to dos" when I would visit..... it is absolutely breathtaking isn't it? I think it is marvelous that Butchart's wife decided to reclaim the quarry mess her husband made... ...and..the amount of effort put into it over these many years...! at Christmas they have fantastic light displays and a lot of the years it gets blown about with the wild winds they usually have at that time of year...but so worth seeing.

My Mom has been gone for 10 years now... thanks for the lovely visit even if I was viewing some pics through tears...... haven't been back since '98 .....

July 24, 2008 at 9:08 AM  
Blogger Proud Italian Cook said...

I'm in awe of how beautiful it is there! That garden almost dosen't look real. Wow, I have to make it there one day. Thanks for letting me tag along by way of your gorgeous photo's.

July 24, 2008 at 1:20 PM  
Blogger Cate said...

That looks like a great vacation! Victoria is amazingly picturesque.

July 24, 2008 at 6:15 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

oh WOW!

July 25, 2008 at 7:14 PM  
Blogger glamah16 said...

That looks like the best part of the trip. Really beautiful sites!Too bad the husband missed out. But what a great bonding trip for mother and daughter!

July 26, 2008 at 8:32 AM  
Blogger Laurie said...

I wish you could have heard the gasps!! Your pictures are gorgeous! I have always wanted to go to Victoria, one of my dearest friends lives in Canada and always sends me accouterments and post cards from her travels. Ohh, the Empress Hotel!! One of my dream destinations with the hubby!! :)
I am so exited for you and this time you had.. What a special blessing!! :)

July 28, 2008 at 11:40 AM  
Blogger Carla said...

Your beautiful garden pictures remind me of Blarney Castle in Ireland because they also have a "fairy garden."

Also, how honored am I that washing dishes reminds you of me haha

July 29, 2008 at 10:11 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

beautiful pictures, i love the garden pictures! How fun for you and kellie...

July 29, 2008 at 4:47 PM  

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