Kootenays Road Trip B.C. Nelson Rhodo, Kaslo, Balfour Ferry, Canal Flats, Creston

Here are a few more random photos from my road trip through the Kootenays in B.C. (British Columbia, Canada), starting with a giant rhododendron north of Nelson, then a fast return trip to Kaslo to catch the Kootenay Bay - Crawford Bay Ferry. And we left Nelson around 2 p.m., and made it all the way to check-in at a Creston motel by 9 p.m. Hinged on catching the ferry, but I had a great driver who knew the route!

Giant Rhododendron Blaylock Mansion

Rhododendrons were blooming everywhere in southern B.C. the second week in June, but when we saw this enormous rhodo at the side of Highway 3A as we drove from Nelson to Balfour,we just had to stop! I love rhodos, and simply HAD to have a closer look at this behemoth.

Another View: Rhododendron Blaylock Mansion

Here's the view from a closer angle. I cannot find the photo of me beside this rhodo to give it scale. This plant has to be 15 feet high. It dwarfed me! Blaylock Mansion is now a spa/wellness retreat (read Blaylock history).

Kaslo B.C. Hotel

One of the reasons we covered so many miles this day was that our original plans to spend the night at Ainsworth Hot Springs had been thwarted. Ainsworth lies between Balfour and Kaslo, and the hotsprings pool winds through a natural, somewhat small and scary U-shaped cave. At least it had been scary and claustrophobia-inducing for me, when I was six. I was curious to see it as an adult.

But not to be: The Ainsworth motel staff informed us that, every 5-7 years, the hotsprings pool closes for about 10 days for renovating. That this closure coincided perfectly with my road trip was frustrating, to say the least. So off we went, north to Kaslo, to have tea and snack.

M.V. Osprey 2000 Balfour-Kootenay Bay Ferry

Here's the view from the M.V. Osprey on the 4:30 p.m. crossing on June 10. The Summer schedule, with additional crossing times, runs June 12- September 3. B.C. Ferries notes that this service is the longest and most scenic FREE ferry in the world. Cannot argue with that!

Balfour-Kootenay Bay Ferry

The roughly half-hour crossing leaves enough time to get out of your vehicle, take a few photos, and chat with random, friendly strangers. Such was the group gathered beside this flatbed truck, admiring the large stones that had been made into water fountains. The largest one, we were told, would fetch $4,ooo retail.

Why I travel # 86 : The gentleman in the picture laughed and said, "Now your husband will wonder who you were traveling with!" A few more remarks back and forth, a few laughs and a bear hug, and he was off to his golf weekend in Crawford Bay, and I to Creston, thinking how cool it is to connect with other travelers! But that's a blog post on its own.

Canal Flats Reclaimed Land Canada

I remember the twisty turny Highway 3A from Crawford Bay to Creston as a guaranteed motion sickness inducer, and was a bit concerned that we chose this old route instead of the Salmo-Creston cutoff south of Nelson. But sitting in the front seat, with late afternoon sun lighting this, the east side of the very long and narrow Kootenay Lake, it wasn't bad at all.

We pulled over to have a look at the impressive reclaimed land sign at Canal Flats. We'd been driving along side miles of flat farmland that began where Kootenay Lake 'ended'.

Sunset Motel Creston B.C.

This is the second motel where we inquired about rates, inclusions, etc, and where we stayed, along the highway on the east end of Creston. Their sign (click image to get larger view, then click Back button to return here) is typical of most hotels in the Kootenays and into southern Alberta. Wireless internet was a major feature for almost all motels/hotels.

After checking in and unloading luggage, we drove a few blocks back toward town, found a pub with adjacent cold beer store, Had a very good food for a pub dinner, a cold beer, and headed back to the motel. The next day, we planned to get to Crowsnest, Frank and Pincher Creek, Alberta, to have a visit with my cousin.

We did: See pictures of this part of the trip at National Parks Road Trip.

Volunteers Needed Rhododendron Gardens Mississauga Ontario to Dead Head Spent Rhodo Blossoms

Volunteers are needed this summer (now!) at Mississauga's Rhododendron Gardens. If you are in the area, or biking or hiking the Waterfront Trail through Port Credit, take a few minutes to stop at the Gardens and lend a hand with dead heading the spent rhododendron blooms.

Rhododendron in Full Bloom

This picture above of a blooming rhodo is the Before picture -- the glorious show of blooms that draws hundreds of visitors each spring to the garden park on the lakeshore in Mississauga.

Spent Rhododendron flower - the After Picture

When the bloom is gone, what's left needs to be carefully hand picked from the stem, taking care not to disturb the emerging stalk that will hold the blooms for the following summer. This lets the plant put all its energy into new growth, rather than into seed production. The paler green shoots bracketing the spent blossom in the middle show how much growth has already taken place on this particular plant. The longer the shoot, the trickier it is to get into the center to pinch out the spent blossom.

After the pinch - all neat and tidy and ready to grow!

The photo above shows the pruned area on a rhodo that has yet to send up new growth around the spent blossom (hand courtesy of Master Gardener Para). This is tedious but somewhat enjoyable work, standing out in the open air, mere steps from Lake Ontario, amidst birdsong and butterflies, and occasionally, a nice chat with another volunteer.

Rhododendron Gardens in Full Bloom

And while you prune and pinch, it helps to know that you are in some small but important way setting the stage for the next year's glorious Spring show at the Rhododendron Gardens. And knowing how much pleasure the gardens give to all visitors, especially the bridal parties who make this display their living backdrop for wedding photos.

If you are able to help simply show up on a weekday and ask to to speak to Para, who will give instructions. On weekends, look for other volunteers busy dead heading rhodos in the bushes.

As well other volunteers are busy on other projects in the Gardens, reports David Culham:

The Waterfront Trail construction is underway. The central rose bed is progressing slowly and with a great deal of sweat. Rob has donated all the roses but also the great amount of time in planning out the colour, scent, and the timeliness of bloom. Our expectation is that the roses will add to the colour throughout the summer and help define a Garden and not a Park.

Ferns have been donated and planted along the Tecumseh Creek by volunteers. A mornings dig for wild flowers (May Apple) succeeded and the transplanting occurred by volunteers. Weeding and shrub trimming is underway by volunteers. Para and staff are undertaking further Rhodo plantings at the moment especially in places with previous loses.

New Rose Garden

Here's the start of the new rose garden, where Rob is working long hours to lay out and plant about 700 rose bushes.

UPDATE: Thanks to a large group of spent bloom pickers, much of the dead heading is now done. BUT -- there's always some weeding help needed, so do drop by and pull a few!

More pictures of Rhododendron Gardens see this post

Mississauga Ontario Rhododendron Park, Forsythia, Azaleas

Update BRG Rhododendron Garden Tour May 2010 Info
++++++++++
This year (2008), the rhododendrons are still in bud at Mississauga's (Ontario) Rhododendron Gardens. Yesterday, I took these pictures of the forsythia, and what I believe are azaleas. I know azaleas thrive in similar conditions to, and flower around the same time as rhododendrons, as I grew both shrubs in my garden in New Brunswick.
And although the flowers can appear similar to one another (there are just so many varieties of both shrubs), I heard that the simple way to tell the difference is that azalea blossoms come out before their leaves open. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong. Please! Based on that criteria, the pink blooming shrub - trees in the picture should be azaleas.
Forsythia, too, is in full glory at the Rhododendron Gardens, and with the sun shining full upon it at noon, it was so bright, it almost hurt your eyes to look at it. The picture above is taken up the path from Lakeshore Road in Mississauga, at the park entrance at Shawnmarr Road.
The above picture shows some scale, as daughter Jen stops to let me take a photo. In this view, I am facing towards Lake Ontario, the opposite way as the first photo. Early spring wedding parties looking for photo locations should be aware that, although the spring blooms are lovely, the air is very chilly still here in Port Credit and a brisk wind has been blowing off the lake most days.
I did take a close up of one of the blossoms of this tree - shrub above, but a gust of wind shifted the focus, so it didn't turn out. The rhododendrons are in full bud, and one variety may have been in bloom. Most of them seem to be a few weeks from opening, so I'll check again every few days.

It would be most helpful if the City of Mississauga Parks and Rec put identifying labels on all the plants in the gardens. This park is a fine example of one of the last remnants of Carolinian forest in Ontario, and many of us have not seen Carolinian plants (see Carolinian forestbooks).

For my rhododendron pictures (and links to Mississauga parks) from last spring, see Rhododendron Park in Mississauga.
Learn more about rhododendrons from books about rhododendrons.

UPDATE: Rhododendron Garden Tour

Rhododendron Gardens :: Mississauga Park

(Updates posted below)
Taking a break from marathon renovations, I walked across Lakeshore Road today to see if the rhododendrons were in bloom, and to find how far I am from Lake Ontario. As it turns out, not far at all -- about a five-minute walk!

Rhododendron Gardens Rhodos

Interim Place Original Site Mississauga Canada

At the entrance to the park, I saw this plaque, which I expected to inform about the origins of the park. To my surprise, I found it marks the location of the original Interim Place (women's shelter) in Mississauga.

Japanese Cherry Trees in Bloom

After several days of rain, storms, drizzle and fog, the sun was peeking out again, and highlighting the many trees in bloom.

Spring-blooming Shrubs

Apple Trees in Bloom

The apples trees proved to be Russets, with fruit ripening in mid Autumn. While picking fruit off the tree is not allowed, windfalls are free for the asking.

The inclement weather earlier this week had not damaged these tulips (pictured) in bloom, though mine in Streetsville were decimated. Everywhere, the trees positively glow with white, pinks, and carmine blossoms. I'm hoping to get a photo of Mississauga Road north of Eglinton tomorrow: There's a mile-long stretch of road lined with apple and cherry trees in bloom.

Lake Ontario shoreline Mississauga Rhododendron Gardens

And there I was, after less than five minutes of easy walking, feeling well pleased with myself for moving to Port Credit. I've always wanted to live near water, and I am thrilled to be so close to a Great Lake. When next we get a good blow from the southeast that whips the waves into large rollers, I'll brave the elements and take a picture for you.

To find more about the Gardens, see the City of Mississauga (new page will open), and check my websites for more Mississauga photos.

Video of this scene at YouTube
Deadheading rhodos see this post


Update May 2008:
• Spring seems late this year -- here are more photos from Rhododendron Park Gardens taken on May 5, 2008 -- see Rhododendron, forsythia, azalea post.

• Tour May 25 2008 : Rhododendron Garden Tour

Update 2009 : The Gardens has a new name and a blog of its very own! See Brueckner Rhododendron Gardens.