Flowers etc

What first got me into photography was flowers.  Seeing flowers through the camera lens somehow opened up the intricacies and complexities and symmetries of flowers for me.  Not to mention the sheer beauty.  Endless permutations of colours and patterns and shapes and shades and sizes.  
These were taken at Government House, the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, "the Ceremonial Home of all British Columbians". 

 A  grand place with sweeping views over the Straits.  

I'd been to the house on several occasions but had never taken the time to stroll through the grounds and the flower gardens.  So it was a revelation to me to see how lovely they are.  An outstanding rose garden and paths that wound around the hillside through the gardens, interspersed with benches to sit and admire the views.   A colourful, quiet oasis.  The property encompasses 36 acres and contains a number of different gardens tended by different volunteer organizations.   For more:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_House_(British_Columbia)

Sights from the saddle

I got an electric bike recently and have been riding a lot more.  Most of my riding was utilitarian, shopping and so forth before the ebike.  Not much recreational.  Now I'm drawn to go out exploring on the bike like I used to be able to do.  Here are some images along the way. 

Victorians have been advocating for years to restrict cars on Government St, the touristy street downtown, where the cruise ship people go and shop.  There's no parking on that street anyway but the business owners have always been opposed to closing it to cars.  So it took a pandemic for that to happen. 

 Now, on several blocks of Government St traffic has been confined to one lane in the middle where pedestrians have right of way as well and the lanes on either side are pedestrian only.

 One block is closed to car traffic so Government St is no longer a through street.

  Only problem now is that there are no tourists in town and not enough locals go downtown, especially if driving and parking are more difficult.

 (The mall parking lots are full)

This is a coal stacker reclaimer. 

They've been assembling this machine at the Point Hope Shipyards for some time now.  It will be sent to the mainland and used to stockpile coal, fed by a conveyor. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&v=_P9Zhal9otI&feature=emb_title

The Galloping Goose Trail, our long, multi-purpose trail goes right past this shipyard so I see the progress on their projects regularly.  

On this day I was on my way to hike up Mt Douglas, a hike I like to do occasionally that has wonderful views over the whole southern tip of the island.  On the way up:  

 Along the way at Willows Beach

 And in my garden, the artichoke that was among the best I've ever eaten..