Capital Home Summer 2016

CapitalHOME SUMMER 2016

HOW VICTORIA LIVES

The Edition

Living Edge on the

Touring 3 waterfront homes • Dallas Road Penthouse • Hornby Island Retreat • Harbour Float Home

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GARDENS: - Pollinators, Herbs & Floral Design

PICNICS: - 12 Amazing

Destinations

Food: - Pack a Perfect Picnic Basket

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Visit Our Showroom For Victoria’s Best Selection of Contemporary & Modern Furniture

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A Whole New Home Furnishing Experience

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{ In this issue }

26 p.

70.

Pack a Perfect Picnic Eric Akis finds plenty of B.C.-sourced foods for your summer getaway

dallas dreamin' 76. Perfect Places Kim Westad finds some ideal Island places to spread your picnic blanket

10. Garden Gadgets

40 p.

16. Attracting Pollinators 18. Herb Guide 20. Floral Artists 22. Tropical Decor

echos of beauty

54 p.

flOAting fantasy CapHOME_Sum16_1-100.indd 7

On the cover: The view from one of five decks in a Shoal Point condo in James Bay. Photo by Debra Brash p. 26 Capital home | 7

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Editor’s NOTE Dive into our water edition

V

ictoria is a great place to live no matter the season.

But there’s something about summer and living on an Island surrounded by all this water.

With the big, beautiful Pacific Ocean on our doorstep, it’s little wonder we’re the envy of the land-locked across the country.

We celebrate water here, drawn to the shores by an irresistible pull. It brings us a sense of awe and inspiration. It can be calming as sunshine spreads its sparkling blanket across the ocean. And some days, it’s daunting as wind whips up the waves and crashes them to shore.

We are treated by big ships, sailing boats, kitesurfers and fishers working the ocean’s surface, and there are beachcombers, sun worshipers and people of all ages on the beaches and outcroppings finding wonder and solace.

This is home and we’re fortunate.

So there is good reason to relish our relationship with the water around us.

In this issue of Capital Home, writer Grania Litwin introduces us to homeowners who are living their dreams on the shore, overlooking and floating upon our part of the Pacific. All are very different, but linked by the love of the water.

You will meet Carene Robertson who sometimes has to pinch herself as she lives

out an adventure of living aboard a float home on Fisherman’s Wharf. She’s lived in big homes and condominiums, but cherishes her new life tied to the dock in a small home with bed and breakfast operation below.

She’s downsized and liberated and now part of a tight-knit neighbourhood where residents share potlucks and morning coffees and experience pleasant daily routines with tourists and businesses as well as seals, otters, and Great Blue Herons.

Close by — and several storeys into the sky — a Victoria couple have five different decks to view panoramas of Juan de Fuca Strait and the Olympic Mountains, Beacon Hill Park and the hustle and bustle of a working harbour directly below. The call it “a delightful place to live because there is so much to see.”

Anyone who has ever visited Hornby Island will be envious of Carole Arnston and Keith Hemphill, an artist and architect who built a dream cottage on the beautiful island. The finished seasonal home is a masterpiece on the beach and a grand achievement considering the construction challenges on semi-remote Hornby.

This issue also celebrates another summertime favourite — picnics. Is there any better way than to spend a summer day than a perfect place, good company and delicious food?

Our food expert, Eric Akis, packs a perfect basket with B.C. meats and cheeses and some his culinary surprises as well as some great wine suggestions.

And travel writer Kim Westad provides us with 12 great places to spread that blanket.

You can wander to Mayne or Salt Spring Islands, venture to Fort Rodd Hill or find ample beauty and privacy so close to home.

You may be surprised at some of the history in these perfect picnic spots as Westad shares a few secrets. Who knew, for example, that there used to be a rollercoaster atop Mount Tolmie? Or that the original owner of French Beach, a circus owner, used to winter some of his cougars there?

Dive in and enjoy our latest edition of Capital Home.

Capitalhome

104

David Whitman / director of Advertising JASON SCRIVEN / pablo miranda SALES MANAGERs WENDY KALO / OPERATIONS MANAGER Gordon Faller / GRAPHIC design - LAYOUT DARRON KLOSTER / EDITOR DAVE OBEE / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Capital Home is published by the Times Colonist, a division of TC Publication Limited Partnership, at 2621 Douglas St., Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8T 4M2.

Canadian Publications Registration No. 0530646. GST No. 84505 1507 RT0001 Please send comments about Capital to: Editor-in-chief Dave Obee dobee@timescolonist.com

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To advertise, phone: 250-380-5328, or email Sales Manager Jason Scriven at: jscriven@timescolonist.com.

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233

Marketing Homes In Every Neighbourhood No other real estate company offers local and global marketing for Canadian homes on:

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dozens of exclusive websites and publications.

Whether you are looking to buy or sell, vist us for your complimentary consultation at 752 Douglas Street, Victoria or call 250.380.3933 today. sothebysrealty.ca E&O.E: Not intended to solicit properties already under agreement.Real estate agency. Sotheby’s International Realty Québec, Independently Owned & Operated. Sotheby’s International Realty Canada, Brokerage. Independently Owned & Operated.

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DESIGN DIVAS

A CC ES S I N G D ES I GN

Danisha Drury-Slegg

G

iving designers what they want has translated to a great curve of growth for Danisha Drury-Slegg and Donna Morrison.

The owners of Design District Access, a “one-stop-shop” interior design resource centre at 577 Pembrokw St., opened its doors in 2010 to designers, stagers, builders, architects, students and homeowners — and it has expanded by doubledigit growth each year since opening.

From only a handful of product lines and a modest-sized showroom, the business now boasts eight employees plus design interns and access to thousands of international and locally made products.

“There is a constant commitment to ensuring that the products are current and offer the Victoria design community the newest and best product options available,” say the partners.

More than 450 designers, stagers, contractors, clients and other trades utilize the showroom on a weekly basis. Design District Access’s new website — www.designdistrictaccess. com — also make it possible for designers and homeowners to order products from anywhere in the world. Its library includes extensive fabric, flooring, wall covering, lighting, décor, furniture and window covering product lines.

Drury-Slegg says new products arrive each week to offer clients “the very best and most current available in the marketplace in the largest resource centre of its kind on Vancouver Island. ” Along with a massive in-house library, clients can shop either in-store or on the new e-commerce website.

The design centre has become “the hub of Greater Victoria design – whether it is a small renovation or a completely new build.”

Drury-Slegg said Design District Access works with customers to bring projects to potential. It also works closely with Vancouver Island University School of Interior Design and Pacific Design Academy graduates by offering work experience and job placements. The centre also provides

a private boardroom IS available to clients if they need to arrange meetings.

Donna Morrison

monthly product knowledge seminars.

The design centre recently moved to a larger, 2,300-square-foot showroom on Pembrokw at Government.

Drury-Slegg said clients are offered assistance with whatever design project they are working on.

At the resource centre, each team member works as a “design assistant” to interior designers, stagers, builders, architects, students and homeowners.

These procedures save clients time and money by allowing the design assistant to handle ordering, tracking, pricing, delivery and product inspection on the clients’ behalf.

Three workstations and a private boardroom are available to clients – free of charge – if they need to arrange meetings while having all the necessary design resources close-at-hand.

Drury-Slegg says the company’s business plan includes a commitment to “community collaboration,” with designers, students, stagers, builders, trades, architects, homeowners, local businesses and schools. These include mentoring, internships and job placements; membership on Pacific Design Academy’s board of directors; donations of discontinued products to schools, teachers and local craft people; referrals to local trades and businesses; and regular seminars. CH

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Sleep in Style...

715 Finlayson St. Victoria 250.388.6663

6421 Applecross Rd. Nanaimo 250.390.1125

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BACKYARD TRENDS

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our yard is an extension of your home, so don’t forget about lighting when you are designing your outside oasis. Mclaren Lighting in Victoria can help you add light to your garden and deck plans that will extend your living space and create a beautiful scene no matter what the season.

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1 1. Beat the heat this summer with the Muse & Merchants “Lapaz” stand up cooler.

It’s fully insulated and ready to chill all your favourite beverages.

3. Patio garden string light set from Capital Iron has 24 clear, vintagestyle lights and is 48 feet long. They have commercialgrade, weatherproof sockets that are expandable to maximum amperage.

Fully assembled and great for outdoor patios and gazebos.

2. Straight forward, straight-sided modern styling, the Jack Lantern from Scan Designs is an accent for any indoor or covered outdoor area.

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GARDEN GADGETS

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g i z m o s

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4. Grill Daddy from Capital Iron lets you steam clean your barbecue grates.

Just add water and clean.

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5. Birdhouses are always great decorative pieces and homes for our feathered friends.

Find them at Dig This.

6. The antique bottle feeder is a favourite with Dig This customers and local hummingbirds.

7. Locally owned Castart Studios ltd. Works with a number of talented artists to produce original concrete sculpture, birdbaths, water features, benches, lanterns and planters. Find these at Dig this.

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8. Build your own magical miniature fairy garden with a new selection of figurines, houses, cottages, and delightful accessories at Capital Iron.

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Bring back the bees How to pull pollinators into your garden

By Teresa Woodard

A

uthor Rhonda Fleming Hayes’ garden buzzes, beats and blooms, thanks to the thousands of hard-working pollinators in her eye-catching front yard. She’s one of the lucky ones: Bees, butterflies, birds and other pollinators are threatened by habitat loss, parasites and pesticides. In her new book, “PollinatorFriendly Gardening,” this Master Gardener and pollinator advocate urges gardeners to attract these winged friends by planting pollinator-friendly blooms. Her book offers fascinating insights to plant-pollinator relationships, provides categorized plant lists and offers practical steps gardeners can take to make a difference in the pollinator world. We talked with her about how to plant your own pollinator-magnet garden and more.

Sunflowers are cheap and easy to grow and attract a range of pollinators to any garden. But have a variety of flowers to attract as many as possible.

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POLLINATORS Q: What value do pollinators bring to our gardens?

A: By now, most folks have heard the sound bite that bees are responsible for every third bite of food we eat. Without bees and other pollinators like butterflies, birds, moths, flies and bats, our dinner plates would be lacking in color, flavor and nutrients. Bees are in trouble for a number of reasons, but the major issue is habitat loss, including millions and millions of acres just in our country. While many environmental issues are distant, abstract problems, the great thing about pollinators is we can help them right in our own backyards.

Garden by garden, I hope we can make up for this habitat loss by planting more food for them, and more food equals more flowers.

Q: What plant traits do pollinators value?

A: In general, bees like flowers in blues and yellows with a shallow landing area. Butterflies are attracted to reds, purples and pinks, and prefer flat, daisy shapes. Hummingbirds are attracted to red tubular flowers. But, there are plenty of exceptions — like hummingbirds who are all over Salvia ‘Black and Blue.’ A good way to identify good, local pollinator plants is to observe plants in your neighbors’ gardens or a nearby botanical garden. Walk around and see what flowers have the most pollinator visitors.

Q: What are five universal musthaves for a pollinator garden?

A: I recommend five natives — milkweed, aster, goldenrod, salvia and liatris. A couple bonus must-haves are zinnias and sunflowers since they’re so cheap and easy to grow and attract so many species of pollinators. My favorite moment this summer was when a hummingbird started harassing a monarch who was sitting on a ‘Moulin Rouge’ zinnia in a stand of

20 other blooms and apparently ignoring a popular purple zinnia from the previous season. It’s funny what proves popular to every season.

Q: Besides flowers, what trees and shrubs are valuable to pollinators?

A: Don’t just think of a single flower bed.

Think about your whole yard — trees, shrubs, ground covers, vines, herbs, vegetables and fruit bushes. They all have value for pollinators.

Fruit trees are especially important in the spring time as one of the first major sources of nectar and pollen. Other sources are crab apples, linden, chestnut and tulip trees, and shrubs like chokeberry, serviceberry, lilac, raspberry brambles and blueberries.

I have a long hedge of wild rugosa roses and raspberries along my driveway. In the summertime, it literally buzzes with bumblebees and bees as they work away.

Q: In your book, you talk about creating a season-long buffet of overlapping blooms. What are some of the challenges to making this happen?

A: Spring blooms are something that people need to really work on. In summertime, it’s easy to throw out a few flowers and get bees, but in spring, they’re really hurting.

One of the first sources of nectar is one of the most reviled flowers — the dandelion.

So think about leaving some dandelions in a part of your yard or wait to mow until they’ve bloomed. Spring blooming bulbs, like scilla and alliums, are other good early nectar sources.

Annuals and herbs can also help fill in gaps between various bloom times.

when pesticides threaten pollinators and how to avoid using them. I have a visible, quarteracre in the city and don’t find the need for pesticides. Still, I get great compliments all the time.

Third, allow for nesting sites. Honey bees go back to hives, but many wild bees are ground nesters and need bare soil for nesting. This can worry some people, because they don’t want to come upon a nest of bees with their mower or shovels. So I always say possibly there’s a corner of the yard, slope or unused area to leave unmulched for these nesting bees. Other bees use hollow stems or beetle tunnels in old logs for nesting, so consider leaving pruned debris and fallen branches in a spot for them.

Q: How can gardeners also make their pollinator gardens more neighbor-friendly?

A: Naturalistic native gardens don’t have to look weedy or unkempt. Keep short plants in the front and tall in back. Add crisp edges or mowed strips to contain natural plantings.

Introduce larger flower and leaf shapes for balance. Add human touches — like a piece of garden art, a birdhouse, a chair or other decorative piece — to show “a cue to care” or hint that the garden is being tended. Consider adding a “Bee Safe” yard sign and point out pollinator activity to passersby. CH

Q: What are a few easy steps for homeowners to make their backyards more pollinator friendly?

A: First, plant more flowers. The busier people get, the more they choose foliage over flowering plants.

But, those flowers are what are lacking for pollinators.

Second, avoid pesticide use.

My book goes into great depth on this topic explaining why and

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HARD WORKING

Herbs

U

Fill your garden with delicious varieties By

Joan Morris

n like flowers that simply get to grow in the garden and look pretty, we ask far more from our herbs.

We want them to be pretty, but also be edible, attract pollinators, use little water and be low maintenance. Fortunately, hundreds of herb varieties can do all those things.

Following are tips on filling your garden with hardworking herbs with some suggestions on some all-star varieties that are sure to please.

Growing Tips • Almost all herbs prefer growing in light, sandy, welldraining soil. Before planting, add 3 to 6 inches of compost in the top 12 inches of the soil.

• Plant on a mound to ensure drainage.

• Although most herbs are hardy, requiring little water or fertilizer, basil is the significant exception. Basil loves water and should be fertilized every two weeks. Like other herbs, however, it doesn’t grow well in standing water so make sure the soil is drains well.

• Very few herbs grow in shade, so create your herb garden in a sunny spot.

• Herbs can frustrate some gardeners because of the need to pinch off flowers to ensure the foliage continues to grow, but if you can eat the leaves on a plant, you also can eat the flowers. One of the benefits of using flowers instead of the leaves is that the flowers generally have a milder flavor.

If you can eat the leaves of herbs, you can also eat the flowers. One of the benefits is the flowers generally have a milder flavour.

Grow These Basil

Some favorite varieties include Ocimum ‘Pesto Perpetuo,’ a nonblooming basil that is the epitome of low maintenance.

Ocimum ‘Wild Magic’ basil grows to about 16 inches tall and produces beautiful violet flowers that will attract a lot of honeybees and other pollinators.

Ocimum citriodorum is popularly known as lemon basil. It has a wonderful lemon flavor and gives your pesto a twist.

Ocimum ‘Cardinal’ has a fabulous flavor matched only by its flowers.

Lavender

Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’ is a classic lavender for cooking with fresh and for and drying. The flowers are deep violet and the semi-dwarf variety has one of the darkest violet blooms you can find.

Lavandula x intermedia ‘Phenomenal’ is a sturdy lavender that tolerates fluctuating weather. It survives the heat and the cold, the wet and the dry.

Lavandula ‘Silver Frost’ has silvery white foliage and incredibly deep violet blue blooms.

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HERB HAVEN Thyme

Thymus vulgaris ‘English Wedgewood’ has a delicious flavor. It has wide greenish (SAGE) yellow leaves and pink flowers.

Salvia officinalis ‘Variegated (GERANIUM) Everyone knows about Berggarten’ is a classic culinary Thymus ‘Oregano’ is a semiIf you like the benefits of rosemary, but Rosmarinus sage with large gray leaves. It’s trailing plant that combines the citronella, but not the strong officinalis ‘Spice Island’ will smell, try Pelargonium ‘Skeleton surprise you. The plant’s broader a good choice even if you don’t flavors of thyme and oregano.

Thymus longicaulis is also Rose.’ It contains high amounts leaves contain so much oil that cook with it.

For landscape salvias try these: known as turbo thyme. It grows of citronella and can be used as the leaves are sticky.

Salvia elegans ’Golden Delicious’ really fast, has large fresh an insect repellent, but it has a scented leaves and big lavender has bright yellow leaves. soft rose odor. colored flowers.

Salvia melissodora is Pelargonium ‘Variegated grape-scented.

Nutmeg’ is easy to grow and Satureja repens makes a great, Salvia leucantha ‘Danielle’s does great in containers. It also fast-growing ground cover.

Dream’ has pink and white is one of a few herbs that do Thymbra spicata is a spiked blooms and is especially well in the shade. It can even be savory, also called Za’atar. It is Aloysia triphylla, also known as drought-tolerant. grown indoors as a houseplant. an unusual plant and drought lemon verbena, is a favorite. It Salvia chamedryoides ‘Electric It has sweet little white flowers tolerant. has great flavor that can be used Blue’ is a unique and and can be reproduced Satureja thymbra is a pink, in cooking and for a popular sage. through cuttings. spicy evergreen. refreshing tea.

Pelargonium Rosemary Oregano

Organum vulgare, or Italian oregano, is a classic.

Organum vulgare ‘Dwarf Greek’ has round, fuzzy leaves and a sweet flavor. It is evergreen and can be used as a ground cover.

Organum ‘Barbara Tingey’ frequently is used in crafts.

Organum ‘Bristol Cross’ grows upright to about a foot tall and produces beautiful soft pink flowers that are perfect for drying.

Salvia

Savory

Verbena

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OVER 40% SOLD

BUY NOW! 43 EXCLUSIVE RESIDENCES PRE-CONSTRUCTION PRICING

FROM $259, 900 INCLUDING NE T G ST

SALES CENTRE : 1000 INVERNESS ROAD SAT URDAY + SUNDAY 1–4 PM 250.883.2715 QUALIT Y GUARANTEED BY

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This is not an offer for sale and is for information purposes only. An offer for sale may only be made in conjunction with a Disclosure Statement. For more information, please call us at 250.883.2715. E. & O.E. The above images or drawings are for illustration purposes only. The developer reserves the right to alter size, price, design and/or finishings at any time.

F

loral designers pushed the limits of their artistry during a unique show at Mayfair Shopping Centre. Fleurs de Villes was a celebration of spring and the talents of some of the Island’s best floral designers, who brought 17 mannequins to life with flowers and plants to the delight of Mayfair shoppers. Each display sprouted from a partnership between an Island florist and a leading brand, inspiring new creative direction through collaboration. Fleurs de Villes worked with several talented florists — Platinum Floral Design, Foxgloves Flowers, Daisy Chain Florists, Fleuracious, A Sea of Bloom, Brown’s The Florist, Tara McHugh Flora, Petal and Kettle, Jennings Florist, Petal Plus,

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FLORAL Fantasies MOST ORIGINAL Victoria Symphony-Brown’s the Florist With shops in Victoria, Sidney and Langford, Brown’s creates memorable floral arrangements and gift baskets using flowers and plants sourced both locally and from around the world.

Designer: Andrea Strachan

MOST REALISTIC Effervé-Petal & Kettle Petal & Kettle is a Parksville-based boutique florist, teashop and event decor specialist known for chic floral arrangements, unique gifts, and exquisite wedding decor.

Designers: Laura Dempsey, Joanna Fell and Karen Sorensen

Flower Power Art that’s alive and blooming Photography by Carla Unger

Mayfair Flower Shop, Ingrid+ Rose, Insite, Fine Floral Design, and Decorate Victoria. “We’re always looking for new and inventive ways to gather the community and create a unique experience for our shoppers,” says Laura Poland, general manager at Mayfair. Fleurs de Villes, a Vancouver company established by fashion and media professionals Karen Marshall and Tina Barkley, launched the idea at Mayfair and have since carried it over to Vancouver’s Oakridge Shopping Centre. Next year, the partners plan events at shopping centres in Edmonton, Burlington, Ont., and Montreal.

There are also plans to take Fleurs de Villes to other countries. CH

BEST IN SHOW 98.5 Ocean-Fine Floral Designs Fine Floral Designs is a trendy floral boutique in the heart of James Bay in business for the past 24 years creating beautiful, exquisite flower arrangements for royalty, celebrities and dignitaries when in Victoria.

Designer: Jane Brajkovic

Tom Lee Music- Petals Plus Designer: Jane Travis Capital home | 21

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DéCOR ENCORE

There’s a strong tropical vibe running through home decor for the summer BY KIM COOK f there’s one decor trend that hits summer’s sweet spot, it’s tropical style.

Furnishings and accessories made of tropical plant and tree fibres started to appear in the fall, in modern vintage and midcentury pieces. That trend has expanded for spring and summer to wall coverings, textiles and rugs printed with imagery drawn from the jungle, beach and rainforest.

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DéCOR ENCORE One fun aspect of tropical decor is that you can interpret it many ways — glamorous is one style, but there’s also island, preppy or bohemian.

A palm-printed pillow can freshen a sofa or chair or another with playful toucans peeking out from behind bamboo branches can add a whimsical twist to any room.

Add a few inexpensive rattan pieces; the textures contrast nicely with contemporary furniture’s trim lines, and bring homey charm to more bohemian spaces. Rattan also works as a foil for both bright and neutral hues. You can also add chunky baskets or ottomans woven from sea grass, rattan and abaca fibres.

For colour beyond foliage green, consider sultry hues such as orchid, banana and passion fruit. Go beachy with a palette of tans, creams and greys.

Your tropical imagination is the only limit as you can hunt down brilliantly themed pieces such as a chic white pineapple table lamp, flamingo-printed sheets and myriad rugs that bring a warmer world into your home. CH

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FOLLOW YOUR HEART

MOVE IN THIS JANUARY!

They say the kitchen is the heart of the home.

And at Escher, ours are bigger than average.

Whether you’re looking to invest in a one bedroom suite or a view penthouse, Escher’s kitchens feature oversized islands or peninsulas, integrated appliances and built in desks. Add to that the comfort of concrete construction, and Escher makes a solid investment in downtown Victoria living.

VISIT US TODAY! Escher Presentation Centre Open Daily Noon- 5pm 102 - 608 Broughton Street Victoria, BC Tel: 250.590.9940

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ESCHERVICTORIA.COM Capital home | 25

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A

home in water & sky

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DALLAS DREAMIN' a Chinese board game sits on a small antique table, and in the distance a card-playing alcove was once a separate room before the owners removed the walls. All floors are wood now, except in the bathroom and front entry, and the windows have new curtains with mechanized sunscreens from Island Windows, to cut the sun but allow owners to see through.

A stunning residence in Shoal Point provides views of working harbours and ocean

By Grania Litwin Photography by Debra Brash

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DALLAS DREAMIN'

The impressive entry hall has a private elevator at right, charcoal walls, a “swooning couch” at the far end, slate floor and antique mirror. “One of the things that really appeals to us is the way the elevator opens right into our unit,” said Rob. “It’s like our own private entrance.”

S

tepping out of the private elevator onto the ninth floor of luxurious Shoal Point, a visitor enters a splendid, light-filled home in the sky, with an expansive entry hall stretching to right and left defined by deep charcoal walls, slate floors and a sumptuous-looking amber carpet.

At one end of the hall is an antique chaise longue that belonged to the wife’s mother, and such a fainting couch might indeed be needed, as the views are heart stopping and swoon worthy in every direction, taking in both inner and outer harbours. And wherever there isn’t a picture window to draw the eye outside, the owners have hung abstract expressionist canvasses to keep the eye entertained inside.

Among the most compelling aspects of this home are not just the distant panoramas of Juan de Fuca Strait and the Olympic Mountains, but the ever-changing

A hammered silver sink adds fizz to the professionallooking bar, where glasses are suspended from above, leaving lots of counter space

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Penrhyn by Alamode

Olivia by Cuddledown

Sarah by Cuddledown

Seascape by Daniadown

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Broadmead Village Shopping Centre ##380 - 777 Royal Oak Drive 250 744-1717 www.heirloomlinens.com Capital home | 29

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DALLAS DREAMIN'

The kitchen nook is a looker, totally glassed in on three sides and two storeys high, with expansive views that take in cruise ships, CFB Esquimalt, Westbay Marina, the Songhees lands and everything in between.

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fascination of a working harbour directly below, which is alive with sea planes, helicopters, Royal Canadian Marine Search Rescue vessels, cutters, fishing boats, an unending flotilla of cruise ship and ferries large and small, not to mention wandering buskers, seasonal concert performances and the occasional fireworks display.

One day the owners were amused to see a search and rescue crew carefully helping a very pregnant woman step off their boat, along with her basket full of newborn puppies.

The owners are never short of interesting sights and sounds, and never look into a black hole at night either, because the outdoor scene is lit up and animated in every direction. And the condo was designed to take full advantage of that, with large windows and five decks facing east, south and west, with glimpses to the north.

“It is a delightful place to live because there is so much to see, and it’s warm,” said Shirley, who asked that she and husband Rob keep their last name private. “When we moved here, people said we would be cold and we wouldn’t use the decks, but that’s not true. We use all five of them.”

And they love the constant buzz of tourists.

“When we leave the building there are always dozens of people needing directions,” said Shirley. “I like watching the cruise ships and, twice a year, a huge container ship arrives and unloads big yachts right here,” she said, pointing below. “The Harbour Master is always up for a chat and I love the fact there is a coffee shop in this building, as well as lots of opportunities to run into people because we have biking clubs, a pool, yoga, putting green and many potlucks.”

Rob agrees the location has a lot going for it: “While we used to have a wonderful house in Uplands with a great garden, I always wanted a view. I didn’t care if it was of water or twinkly lights, but I grew up in Vancouver’s west end where we could always see things happening.

“We basically look from Beacon Hill, over the cruise ship terminal, across to Esquimalt, around to the Songhees and there is a lot going on.

About four days a week in the summer there are as many as three cruise ships at Ogden point and they leave about 11 p.m. One of my favourite things is to sit out on the deck with a brandy and watch them go at night.

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Over the fireplace is a painting by Moreau, and at left, is part of Shirley’s glass collection. In the distance a work by Max Bates stands out on the dark hall wall. The fireplace is original but was retiled.

“Another reason we moved here was, we felt as we got older, it made sense to have a one-floor home. Many of the penthouses in this city are two storeys, so this was a rare find with 3,900 square feet on one level.”

The condo had been empty for seven years when they bought it, having previously been owned by a man from Alberta who planned to live there, but never did. The home had been exceedingly gently used, but was dated and not to their taste, so Rob and Shirley spent about $800,000 on renovations.

They converted one of three bedrooms into a bar and media room (the building has guest suites, so they don’t need spare bedrooms) and Rob did the design himself.

“It’s a combination of what I’ve seen, what we had before and what’s practical.

“I can’t draw a stick man, but I’m good on colours, conceptual things, moving floor plans around.” It also helps that his first job after university was doing bar management and training of bar managers for the Keg Restaurants in Vancouver, so creating a stylish bar was a slam-dunk.

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DALLAS DREAMIN'

The bespoke dining table was custom made by Modern Country Interiors in Duncan. Owner Kim Shockey, who has run the business for 18 years, said this large Cotswold style table, like much of their furniture, is made of western maple. (extended if needed) “We always try hard to use locally sourced materials wherever possible.” Stained a rich saddle leather brown, it has an antique black

base and matching ladder-back chairs.

The table mimics the wedged mortise and tenon style, an old shaker technique, and it has the company’s “distinctive and very popular, hand-planed finish, with and a light distressing for a beautiful rustic look,” said Shockey.

The chandelier over the table is from Mclaren Lighting and is so heavy the owners had to reinforce the ceiling.

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DALLAS DREAMIN'

Library space is maximized with shelves that wrap up and over the windows.

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“We took out all the cupboards and built the bar along one whole wall with a bar fridge on top of the wine fridge, at counter height. It’s much handier above the bar. I really like hanging glasses because that leaves the counter clear, and we installed a two-drawer dishwasher, which is great for entertaining.”

They gutted the kitchen because they didn’t like the flooring, the cupboards, the counters, the appliances, the layout or the tiny island in the middle, which they felt impeded traffic flow.

“Our daughter came up with the idea of putting shelves along the outside of the counters which is perfect because I have a million cookbooks,” said Shirley, adding she and Rob don’t like to sit on stools. Besides, they have a breath-taking kitchen nook that juts out from the building and has glass walls reaching two storeys high on three sides.

The kitchen now has top-of-the-line appliances — a big Sub Zero fridge, a twodrawer dishwasher, Wolf gas range and

oven, a stack of ovens including microwave and warming drawer — and a large pantry.

“Innovative Kitchens and Bath did a great job… they are amazing,” said Laura Steel from New Space Design, who helped with some of the technical details and provided the trades.

“Stone Age Marble did the counters and everyone was bang-on with their estimates and delivery dates.”

The designer noted Rob has a passion and a gift for design — “He loves the process and is good at visualizing” — and acted as general contractor on the project. “This condo was a great choice for both of them because it is onelevel living, very open, great for entertaining and it has gazillion-dollar views.”

The reno also included creating not one, but two totally separate walk-in closets and two master bathrooms. The former master bathroom, now Shirley’s, used to be dark and pink. It has been transformed into a calm and restful retreat, with soft greeny-blue accents

that echo the watery tones outside.

“I’m really drawn to this colour, but you don’t want it everywhere,” she said. In his bathroom, Rob removed a big tub and built a roomy shower instead “with all the bells, whistles and sprays.”

Some friends were aghast when the owners said they were painting their master bedroom black, but the room has huge windows facing east and west so there is no shortage of light, and the results are dramatic. While not overly large, the room is glamorous and sophisticated, especially with the added impact of a tall headboard designed by Steele and upholstered in pearly-silver fabric.

“I love black in a bedroom, dark colours at night are so relaxing, but you’ve got to have a little contrast,” said Shirley of the light accents.

Off the living room, a small room with a big view was turned into a small library with shelves climbing up and over all the windows, while a similar small room on the opposite side of the >38

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The all-white kitchen was given new wood floors and granite countertops.

It used to have a less functional layout with a small island in the middle.

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DALLAS DREAMIN'

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living room became an alcove for card games.

“We didn’t need another little room, and I like playing poker,” said pragmatic Rob. “So many people will build a house thinking about resale, but we built a home that worked for us.”

Shirley loves to cook and both of them like entertaining so the flow of the condo is important, too, and is greatly enhanced by five decks which total 1,600 square feet. “We had a cocktail party for 130 people recently and there was lots of room, with people on all of the decks,” said Rob. He and Shirley also enjoy sit-down dinners for 12 at their bespoke round table made by Modern Country Interiors in Duncan. The owners were so delighted with the company’s custom work they ordered a Welsh dresser, armoire, bedside tables, kitchen table and chairs, and a desk for Rob’s office.

“They are an unbelievable furniture manufacturer, right here on the Island, and they did a lovely job making exactly the pieces we wanted,” said Shirley. “We are so lucky to have such brilliant trades and crafts people here.” CH

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DALLAS DREAMIN' Black walls and a tall white, quilted headboard designed by Laura Steele add drama to the bedroom, along with antique lamps and Persian style carpet.

Floor-to-ceiling windows on both sides of the room ensure there’s more than enough light from east and west

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ECHOS OF BEAUTY

Landscape...

seen from forest... The owners hope their home, which has a small creek beside it, will soon meld into the landscape

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y b n r o H Island

n e v a H

BY GRANIA LITWIN

Photography by Lance Sullivan

Architect and Artist build dream cottage on a beautiful island in Salish Sea

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ECHOS OF BEAUTY

T

ucked into the bucolic shore of Hornby Island and facing almost due west where it can soak up the last rosy rays of the setting sun, this cottage was completed just one year ago and the owners wistfully admit it has not become truly Hornbified yet.

“Hornby houses have a way of becoming encrusted with Island life,” explained owner Keith Hemphill who looks forward to the metamorphosis. “Moon-snail shell collections are de-rigueur, as is the incorporation of driftwood, beach glass, Japanese floats and all kinds of other interesting things including local art and crafts. The house is still too new to have acquired that patina of Hornby, but it is inevitable. Our first bit of driftwood décor is a hat rack.”

Hemphill and his wife, Carole Arnston, look forward to the day when more driftwood has crept up from the beach and the works of myriad local artists are displayed inside and out. They certainly feel it won’t be long before the landscape, including a little creek that trickles down the side of the property, reverts to wildflowers, native grasses and the house “settles back into the ground.”

Both Arnston and Hemphill are architects. Married 36 years, they met on the steps of UBC School of Architecture in 1978, and while her husband is a principal in the Vancouver firm Rositch Hemphill Architects, she chose a different career trajectory 20 years ago and became a full time painter.

With abstract impressionism at her core, she creates dreamy landscapes using a voluptuous palette and, needless to say, one of the bedrooms in their cottage is also a studio where she can be inspired by the forest and ocean landscapes.

They designed their 1,650-square-foot seasonal home together and explain its West Coast modern style was influenced by the mid-century modern homes of Palm Springs. They admire desert modernism — with its clean lines, expanses of glass, sloped roofs, open plan and indoor-outdoor ethos — but adapted it to the less balmy weather of the Gulf Islands.

The result is an elegantly informally and stylish getaway that embraces the environment while protecting itself with generous roof overhangs, including a large glassed one over a side terrace.

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ECHOS OF BEAUTY

Spacious...

A spacious wooden deck leads down to two loweR patio levels of flagstone pavers — none of the terraces required railings as each descent is no more than two feet.

The owners adore their island home although they had to overcome some major hurdles along the way. One unexpected expense was finding out they could not install a conventional septic field because of the location of their well and the configuration of the property. A treatment plant cost them about $30,000.

Building on a semi-remote island added another 20 per cent to the construction, estimated Hemphill, due to travel costs that included taking two ferries each way. Luckily they were able to put their Victoria crew up in a rented house for the six-month build, and it was during the winter, not high season.

But the biggest challenge was dealing with the suspicion their property might harbour important archaeological remains, as it is near Shingle Spit, “a site once used by natives as a waypoint,” he said.

“You have to be sensitive to these things and we had of a team of archaeology students who spent hours shovelling and sifting earth, “through a mesh that looked like a big swing set.” They were on site during the excavation, monitoring things, and at one point there was

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A big tree trunk and clerestory

Flooring...

Hard wearing ceramic tile floors are warmed by radiant electric heat. They first wanted slate but because it is prone to breakage opted for a tile that evokes the look of streaky bands of sand created by tidal changes.

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wi

clerestory

windows add drama to the kitchen.

The home was designed by owner architects Keith Hemphill and Carole Arnston, who originally thought of having one great room, “but you can feel a bit lost in a space like that,” he explained.

So they put a peeled tree trunk in the middle and organized spaces around it, dividing the room into quadrants for dining, living, cooking and entry.

Great Room...

Tree Trunk...

Stripped, yellow cedar tree trunks support beams that resemble limbs stretching out from a tree. All the cedar was milled in Parksville

The glass-covered patio is a great place to sit in rain or shine. It is conveniently located behind the living room.

Patio...

a flurry of concern because some bones were found, but it was a false alarm as the remains turned out to be dog bones.

“It’s a tough one because, in a lot of cases, you spend a fortune and at the end of the day find nothing,” he said, adding the process involved plenty of paperwork, permits, and tacked another $35,000 onto the bill. Hemphill is still awaiting a final report from B.C.’s Archaeology Branch.

But despite these expensive and frustrating setbacks the owners adore their island retreat and say it has much more enjoyable than their former cabin on Savary Island, which was difficult to access. “We had to take a water taxi over and, because Savary is off the grid, we had to take everything we needed with us. Here the trip takes about 4½ very pleasant hours, and we can drive door-to-door,” said Arnston, noting their new home has power, ferry service, a co-op, hardware store, and an award winning recycling centre.

A big attraction for her is its large and artistic community. “It’s a win-win situation,” she said, adding they used to camp on Hornby when their two daughters were young, so they jumped at the opportunity to buy a waterfront lot when it came up for sale.

Having turned 60, both owners were interested in one-level living and they managed to achieve entry at grade on both sides of the house, despite it being built on the edge of a bank.

“We had to really work at making that happen on the water side, but we now come in from the road on the east, go through to a big wooden deck, take a few steps down to a flagstone patio and then down again to another patio and down to the beach,” he explained. On the ocean side, they took advantage of the slope to create a partial basement to store a small boat, kayaks and wet weather gear.

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ECHOS OF BEAUTY

Master...

Minimal furnishings keep the contemporary interiors looking sleek and uncluttered, while a custom niche for a chest of drawers eases traffic flow. Natural sisal and wool carpets add warmth as the owners used durable porcelain tile throughout.

Baths...

A real rock, vessel sink stands on the second bathroom counter. “We bought the sink while the house was still under construction, thinking it was a real Hornby statement,” said Keith Hamphill. “Then we found out it was made in Bali.”

the master ensuite has an oval freestanding tub, large walk-in shower, oval mirror,

They built their home in an L-shape so they could preserve a huge arbutus and two ancient apple trees, and also made island firemen happy by offering the old pre-existing house as a training burn.

Echoing the beautiful surroundings, the island home’s finishes are as local and natural as they come, with cedar siding and hemlock soffits that flow right inside and become interior ceilings. “It’s a natural coloured wood that keeps the interiors light,” said Hemphill. Peeled, yellow cedar tree trunks were used as columns inside and the front deck is tightgrain Brazilian Balau, “A hardwood very similar to teak which weathers well. Once it’s there, it’s there forever and becomes a silvery colour like cedar. And it’s very comfortable to walk on because it doesn’t splinter.

“That was one of our extravagances, something we really wanted as we see other islanders having to treat or re-stain their decks every few years,” said Hemphill.

The roof is low maintenance metal with substantial overhangs to protect the walls, and part of the house on the west side, where the weather hits harder, is clad in corrugated, galvanized metal that creates a bold contrast with the wood. Because of

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exposure to the elements, all the wooden windows are metal clad on the outside, too.

The sloped roof rises from about three metres to five, which allowed them to install high clerestory windows on the west side, “and as Carole is very sensitive to the amount of light, we have two skylights in the living room.”

All the living space on the west side of the house opens onto the patio and descending terraces, thanks to a sliding wall system that opens up to more than five metres and a double, oversized French door off the dining room To the left of the front entrance, they used more glass to create covered, all-season patio and nearby is an outdoor shower where they can rinse off watching the waves. “That is a tradition we brought with us from Savary where everybody has an outdoor shower,” said Arnston. “It’s handy because in the summertime our life revolves around the beach and we don’t want to bring all that sand indoors. It’s fabulous having a hot shower outside in January ,too. We make all our guests do that and they love it.”

They admit that building on a Gulf Island was challenging, “But our builder was absolutely beyond our expectations,” she said. “With this kind of building, there is not a lot of room for trimming over mistakes. It’s contemporary, with a straight-line look. We interviewed five contractors and the GT Mann team was head and shoulders above everyone else in terms of quality commitment — especially Jason Fast.”

Jason Fast was the project manager. “He ran the show for us and did a great job,” said Graeme Mann, noting the cottage was built in less than six months, which was remarkable given its remoteness and the fact that everything had to be brought over from Vancouver Island.

“We had to be very smart with things like concrete, because of the long trip.

“The biggest challenge was travelling time and remembering to take everything we needed, so we wouldn’t be spinning our wheels. We took over a big trailer at the start and I would order stuff for the next steps well ahead, and go through it all carefully to see if something was missing.

“It was a fun project and great working with Keith, who is such a prominent architect. To see his and Carole’s vision to fruition was very satisfying … and anytime you can do an architect’s personal home it’s special. The lines of this house are beautiful and everything had to be done perfectly. We really had to be on point and thankfully we were.” CH

Design...

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a

arbutus

ECHOS OF BEAUTY

Deck...

The deck is seven metres above high water and flows out to a slate patio, then down to a lower patio and the sea.

and old apple trees. An outside shower is at left.

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B&B owner enjoys the old-world

Water W rld

village life at

Fisherman’s Wharf

BY GRANIA LITWIN Photography by Darren Stone

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FLOATING FANTASY

Carene Robertson front window is a view to her floating neighbours, casual kayakers, seals and otters and the buzz of activity on Fisherman’s Wharf in James Bay. After a lifetime of wandering from places such as South Africa, Australia, South America and Vancouver, she laid anchor in the tight-knit floathome community where she enjoys an active, healthy lifestyle.

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FLOATING FANTASY

Carene Robertson lives on the top floor of her float home and operates a bed and breakfast below, where renters enjoy passing eagles and a working fishing fleet and are just steps from downtown.

L

iving on a float home moored at bustling Fisherman’s Wharf in downtown Victoria is everything Carene Robertson dreamed it would be. The environment and quality of light is glorious and ever changing; her building is precisely the right size for her; and the community is welcoming and cheerful. “As they say: Living on a float home is a marvelous adventure, romanticized by many, but realized by few … sometimes I have to pinch myself,” she said with a gleeful look.

Not only does Robertson love the watery world that constantly laps at her door, the eagles, herons, seals and otters that are her neighbours, but she also relishes the fact there are no outside chores: no weeds to pull, lawn to mow or hedges to trim. “It’s not an expensive building to maintain, but what I really like is it’s so easy to rearrange things because it’s built like a matchbox, with no interior weight bearing walls. I don’t have to run and get approvals every time I want to change something.”

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Not having excess storage room — no basement, garage or attic — means she had to skinny down her possessions when she moved in three years ago and keep a constant lid on purchases. But how many pairs of boots can I buy anyway?” Interestingly, she’s found it liberating to have fewer possessions, “I don’t spend money on stuff that is not important anymore,” and her lifestyle is healthier, too.

“I have time to play tennis, pickle ball, go for walks.” She recently hired a physical fitness trainer who came to the wharf for a year and a half and led group classes on a nearby grassy slope for any resident who wanted to join in.

“We split the fees.”

Robertson acknowledges hers is not a typical decision. “When I told my daughter I wanted to be mortgage free on the sea, she thought I was loosing my marbles, but I am ecstatically happy about the choice I’ve made to reduce my overhead and make my life simpler. And besides, I’m a cancer, so being by the sea calms me down, ” she said with a chuckle. Other women clearly agree with her: of the 33 float homes at Fisherman’s Wharf, 18 are owned by single women.

Robertson loves the hum of activity during the day, the happy laughter and ebb and flow of visitors, and notes tourists are typically gone by about 9 p.m., so there is no noise concern.

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FLOATING FANTASY

Bed and breakfast guests have fabulous views.

And having merchants on the docks selling everything from ice cream and sushi, to Mexican food and fish and chips makes entertaining a breeze. “It’s handy when family and friends visit. They just walk out and grab something if they’re hungry.

“And I love this area. It never snows here because we are by the sea and there is always something happening on the dock. We have potlucks all the time. The first thing that happened when I moved in was people arrived with casseroles, like they used to do at home,” said Robertson who was raised in South Africa.

Every Saturday morning, the ladies on the wharf meet

for coffee, “It’s an institution,” and she has made some very good friends. They eat together once a week, go for walks and split orders at Costco. “We also share inventory.

For instance, Jack has a paella pan. Judy has a wok. I have a picnic table. Three or four people have dinghies … we don’t all need kayaks. If anyone wants anything they just send out an email and in minutes they have it. It’s like living in a small village in the olden days, where you know everyone, greet everyone. I feel supported, totally safe.”

Robertson used to live in a five-bedroom house in Vancouver with “mountains of stuff,” much of which she had already “schlepped from South Africa to Australia, then back to South Africa, then to Canada in 1993.”

Lightening up was a conscious choice, both emotionally and physically.

“I can now go away whenever I want. I’m living exactly how I want to and even have a little ‘house’ downstairs churning out some income.” She inhabits the float home’s >64

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FLOATING FANTASY

A water taxi awaits passengers at Fisherman’s Wharf, one of Victoria’s most charming — and busy — destinations for tourists and locals alike, who frequent the docks for the famous Barb’s Fish and Chips and seafood retailers and an up-close look at harbour seals.

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FLOATING FANTASY 500-square-foot upper level, and enjoys the efficiency of her multi-use space with its pulldown Murphy bed and guest bed, which folds out of a sideboard.

Downstairs, on the water level, she has created two licensed B & B suites and is currently creating two small cantilever decks for them. She decided to outsource cooking and cleaning, because doing that would defeat the purpose of her new easy-care lifestyle. A maid does the cleaning and laundry, and rather than cooking breakfast for guests, Robertson gives them each a $10 certificate for breakfast across the street, at the organic Imagine Studio Café.

“If I were making breakfast I’d spend half the day doing that. Guests would probably want to go for a walk first, or a long run, wander in late and then they’d want to sit around talking after they’d eaten. I’d still be doing dishes at 2 p.m.

This way, I don’t feel trapped.” And she has time to do what she likes, which includes being a volunteer cook every Tuesday at James Bay Community Project’s family drop-in centre.

Business has been brisk because people are curious to see what’s inside a float home, and the idea of actually staying in one has great appeal. “It’s not like a hotel, it’s an adventure for people. It’s unique.”

And while she is not allowed to rent her own home, she can have a paying caretaker for up

Float homes feature simple, functional space.

Easy-care lifestyle in combined kitchen-dining area

No float home at Fisherman’s wharf is exactly the same — and colors range like a rainbow.

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FLOATING FANTASY

to six months a year, and last year she spent 2 ½ winter months in Ecuador. “I’m basically living rent free,” said the woman who has a master’s in psychology, describes herself as a serial entrepreneur and owned an IT recruiting agency for 22 years.

This isn’t the first time she’s rented rooms. “After my husband left I wanted to hold onto my big West Vancouver house, so I renovated the basement and made room for two home-stay students from other countries. I had to do something because I wanted to retire and having been self-employed I had no pension.” Occasionally she also rented her whole house for six months at a time, and went travelling.

For a while, she lived in a beautiful condo, but it was like a “morgue.”

“I liked the condo, but hated the strata. There were too many restrictions — no barbecue, no pets, you couldn’t drop a fork, you couldn’t sublet — so I went on the Internet looking for anything in Victoria under $300,000 that wasn’t

a condo. And then I saw this float home. The bones and structure were all here, I just had to make it pretty,” which she did by repainting everything in more subtle shades. “ The previous colours were a little weird and wonderful. I just made it a little more sane.”

Moorage is not cheap at about $850 a month and another $100 for parking, utilities and sewage, but she stresses that purchasing this kind of home is not a practical decision. “Float homes don’t usually appreciate in value as there’s no land, so this is an Neighbours and visitors are emotional buy, not a longa big part of the term real estate investment. lifestyle. Robertson loves the hum of It’s not for everyone.” CH activity, the happy Her website is fishermanswharfbedandbreakfast.com

laughter and the ebb and flow of tourists and the docks.

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S

g n i r . a . uthme Smeaseorn for Sh

Enjoy the outdoors with B.C. meats and cheeses, homemade baking, delicious spread and salad

BY ERIC AKIS

he most enjoyable picnics I’ve had have all been more casual, early evening gatherings of friends. Picnics where fairly simple, but divine foods were served and slowly enjoyed while sipping wine or a sparkling beverage and watching daylight turn into dusk.

When I say casual, I mean snacky, perfect-for-sharing food set out on a picnic table in a park, picnic blanket on a beach or any other suitable location. Some of the items for the picnic you make yourself. Others, because it is a casual affair, you buy ready to enjoy.

My picnic menu below was designed for such a meal.

On the buy it ready to eat side of the equation are B.C.made, artisan cured meats, such as salami, chorizo and ham. You can find a fine range of these items in Victoria at places such as The Whole Beast (thewholebeast.ca), Ottavio

ic u SummaerckPingicnM en Sn • Local Artisan Cured Meats • Rounds of B.C. Brie and Goat Cheese • Cherry, Olive and Walnut Tapenade • Baguette Crostini

• B.C. Smoked Salmon Nuggets • Sweet and Sour Cucumber Salad • Local Strawberries • Espresso Shortbread

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Eric AKIS Italian Bakery and Delicatessen (ottaviovictoria.com) and Choux Choux Charcuterie (chouxchouxcharc.com).

Depending on the style, you can buy these meats sliced, or slice them yourself. Because my picnic is a casual affair, I like to serve these meats right on the brown paper they were sold in. Because these meats are rich, but thinly sliced, I usually allow about six to eight slices per person.

Another B.C. made item I like to buy and bring to a picnic is cheese. On my menu I’ve chosen locally made Brie and soft goat cheese. I went for these styles because they pair well with one the items you make yourself for the picnic.

That is cherry, olive and walnut tapenade, an easy to make spread with sweet, salty, tangy and herbaceous flavours. It’s a wonderful combination that you can spoon on toasted bread and spread with the creamy cheeses I’ve chosen.

Speaking of that toasted bread, I’ve also included a recipe for homemade crostini. Like the tapenade, there are easy to make and can be whipped up the day before your picnic.

Another store-bought item on menu is smoked salmon nuggets, ready to eat, bite-sized gems of hot-smoked salmon. They are sold at most supermarkets and standalone seafood stores. Two nuggets per person are plenty, and you can cut them in half if larger than bite-size.

Cucumber salad goes well with those nuggets and I’ve included a simple recipe for it.

You also see local strawberries on my menu, which you can enjoy with the cheese or at the end of the meal. Bring as many as you like as they are low-cal and a treat.

To finish things off, the last item on my menu is a bitesized dessert, espresso shortbread.

The recipe for it comes from my book, Everyone Can Cook Everything, and it’s a lovely cookie that’s sweet, buttery and comes with a caffeine kick. You can make the cookies a few days before your picnic.

My menu should serve six. Other items you will need for the picnic are small forks and knifes for the cheese, salad and for spreading, small cheese board, napkins, small serving spoons, cutlery and glasses. See picnic wine suggestions on Page 73. You may also need a picnic blanket or tablecloth, depending on where you set your picnic up.

Cherry, Olive & Walnut Tapenade he sweetness of the dried cherries used in this divine spread balances the sharp taste of the olives. Those two tastes are richly enhanced with nuts, olive oil, garlic, balsamic vinegar and basil.

I like to serve this tapenade with a creamy cheese, such as Brie and goat, as the two tastes mingle beautifully when set on crostini.

Preparation time: 10 minutes, plus soaking and chilling time Cooking time: A few minutes Makes: About two cups 1 cup dried cherries (see Note) 2 cups cold water 1 cup pitted Kalamata olives 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar 2 medium cloves garlic, chopped 1/3 cup walnut pieces 1/4 cup coarsely chopped basil

Place the cherries in a pot, cover with cold water and set over high heat. Bring to a boil, and then remove the heat and let the cherries plump up in the water 15 minutes.

Drain the cherries well and place in a food processor. Add the remaining ingredients and pulse until well combined and finely chopped, but not finely pureed.

Transfer tapenade to a serving bowl and cover. Refrigerate for fours hours or overnight to allow flavours to meld.

The tapenade, if kept in a tight-sealed jar, will keep in the refrigerator for at least a week.

Note: Dried cherries are available in bulk food section of many supermarkets.

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Eric AKIS Sweet & Sour Cucumber his summery, bright green salad is easy to make and pairs well with such things as smoked fish.

Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: None Makes: six servings

3 Tbsp. rice vinegar 1 Tbsp tsp granulated sugar 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste • pinch ground white pepper 3 cups thinly sliced English cucumber 1 1/2 Tbsp chopped fresh dill

Combine the vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper in a bowl and whisk to combine. Add the cucumbers and dill and toss to combine. Cover and refrigerate salad until needed. It can be made a few hours in advance. Toss again before serving.

Baguette Crostini

U

se these small, toasted pieces of bread to top with cheese, tapenade or sliced, cured meats. The length of your baguette will determine how many crostini you get. Mine was about two feet long and yielded about 60 crostini. Bring what you will need for the picnic and keep those you don’t for another time.

Preparation: 15 minutes Cooking time: seven to eight minutes, per sheet Makes: About 60 crostini 1 baguette, cut into about 60, 1/4- to 1/2inch thick slices (see Note) • extra virgin olive oil or olive oil spray • fresh parmesan cheese, to taste Preheat the oven to 400 F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.

Divide and set the baguette slices on the baking sheets. Brush or spray each baguette slice lightly with olive oil. Now sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on each baguette slice.

Bake the crostini, one sheet at a time, for seven to eight minutes, or until lightly toasted.

Cool crostini to room temperature and keep in airtight container at room temperature until needed. Crostini will keep up to a week.

Note: The baguette used for this recipe was about six- to sevencentimetres wide. Do not use one much than wider than that or you won’t get bite-sized crostini.

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Pack the perfect picnic basket

eakis@timescolonist.com Eric Akis is the author of eight cookbooks. His latest is The Great Rotisserie Chicken Cookbook (Appetite by Random House). His columns appear in the Times Colonist Wednesdays and Sundays.

Espresso Shortbread hese espresso bean-shaped cookies have a pleasing coffee flavour and are nice treat to enjoy at the end of a picnic. It is imperative that these cookies are well chilled before baking. Doing so will help set the butter and ensure the cookies hold their shape once in the hot oven.

Preparation time: 20 minutes, plus chilling time Cooking time: 15 to 18 minutes Makes: 20 cookies 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 cup cocoa powder 1/2 cup butter, at room temperature 1/2 cup icing sugar 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract 2 tsp. finely ground espresso beans Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour

and cocoa until well combined.

In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter, sugar, vanilla and ground coffee until lightened and well combined. Mix in the flour and cocoa, scraping the sides of the bowl, as needed, until a pliable dough forms.

With your hands, roll the dough into 3/4inch round balls. Now shape each dough ball into a 1/2-inch thick oblong and place on the baking sheet, leaving 2-inch space between each cookie. Using the dull side of a dinner knife, score a deep line lengthwise down the centre of each cookie. Refrigerate cookies 20 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 300 F. Bake cookies for 15 to 18 minutes, or until slightly firm to the touch and just cooked through. Cool cookies to room temperature, and then store in airtight container at room temperature until needed.

Cookies will keep up to two weeks.

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Synchromesh 2014 Drier Riesling: This vibrant, aromatic and very expressiveon-the-palate wine is as playful as the picnic itself. It’s rich with green apple and mineral flavours and will be enjoyed right through to the espresso shortbread.

Cassini 2015 Pinot Noir: This medium-weight B.C. Pinot Noir is more like something you would find from Burgundy, but for a fraction of the price. It has earthy, dusty and cherry-like flavours that can be enjoyed over a long, leisurely meal.

It’s a lovely pairing for the picnic’s charcuterie, salmon, crostini and cheese.

PICNIC PAIRINGS Joie 2014 Rose: Re-think Pink is what this winery believes and I say they are right!

Rose is often overlooked and thought to be sweet. But if you find one that is just off dry it can match many foods. That’s why this wine is perfect for the picnic.

Terravista 2014 Fandango: This fun Okanagan wine is a blend of two varietals commonly found in Spain — Albariño and Verdejo. It is crisp, clean, has beautifully balanced acidity and is great companion to the many tastes in the picnic, such as the goat cheese, tapenade, salmon and salad.

Include these B.C. wines with the Eric’s snacking picnic menu

By Ame De Paoli

Ame De Paoli is a wine expert from Cook Street Liquor (cookstliquor.com)

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gers r u b o l l e b o Grilled Port Sauce Garlic o r t n a il C h it w ips & Tortilla Ch

Start to Finish: 25 minutes Servings: 4 For the sauce 1/3 cup low-fat Greek yogurt 3 tablespoons low-fat mayonnaise 3 tablespoons roughly chopped fresh cilantro 1 scallion, roughly chopped 1 garlic clove, roughly chopped 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce (or soy sauce, if vegetarian) 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1 tablespoon water, if needed Black pepper For the burger: 4 large portobello mushroom caps, cleaned and gills removed 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar olive oil in a mister Salt and pepper 4 slices gouda cheese (or other favourite melting cheese) 4 large slices of tomato, or 8 small slices 1 cup peppery greens, such as arugula or other peppery green mix 12 baked tortilla chips 4 whole grain hamburger buns (not oversized) To make the sauce, blend all the sauce ingredients in the blender until mixed, but with small flecks of green.

Pour into a small bowl and chill, up to 3 days.

Heat grill to medium high. Brush the mushroom caps with the balsamic vinegar, spray liberally with olive oil, and salt and pepper. Grill the mushroom caps for 3 minutes on the smooth side and then flip. Top with cheese and grill, covered, another 3 minutes, until mushroom is tender (but not floppy) and cheese is melted. Meanwhile, toast the buns for 1-2 minutes on the cut side, or until barely golden. Place peppery greens on bottom of bun and then tomato. Remove the mushroom caps from the grill and place directly on the tomato. Top the still-hot mushroom with a couple of tablespoons of the sauce. Top with 3 chips on each burger and then the bun.

Nutrition information per serving: 357 calories; 175 calories from fat; 15 g fat (5 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 23 mg cholesterol; 626 mg sodium; 45 g carbohydrate; 8 g fiber; 9 g sugar; 15 g protein.

——— Food Network star Melissa d’Arabian is an expert on healthy eating on a budget. She is the author of the cookbook Supermarket Healthy.

Online: http://www.melissadarabian.net

The Portobello

burger

Even carnivores will flip for this one

O

ur family’s burger bonanzas are a little legendary in our social circle (OK, so maybe with just my kids, nieces and nephews). The herby-garlicky sauce I make, called “magic” sauce by those in the know, is particularly popular. So when three of my extended family members went vegetarian, my burger-grilling game suffered. I did what any well-intentioned-but-misguided carnivore would do: I bought some frozen veggie burgers from the grocery store and called it a day. Now, to be fair, some of those veggie burgers are downright tasty. But homemade with love magic sauce worthy? Not so much.

So, I upped my veggie burger game. While I

By Melissa D’Arabian

do love the black-bean, quinoa or legumebased versions I’ve created over the years, the simplest veggie burger of all remains a family favourite: the giant portobello mushroom cap. Bonus: This dish is low-calorie (leaving wiggle room for cheese, sauce and a bun), and it’s nearly fool-proof — no falling apart and disappearing into the flames between the grill grates.

I used cilantro in this version because it pairs nicely with the baked corn tortilla chips (just a few go a long way to add satisfying crunch), but feel free to experiment with other herbs, such as basil, or mint. Even carnivores might be converted. CH

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Perfect Picnic Spots

Pack a basket and get outside

BY KIM WESTAD

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ALFRESCO ADVENTURES

12

P L AC ES T O E N J OY A P E R F E C T D AY Mayne Island Salt Spring Island Gowlland Tod Park East Sooke French Beach Willows Beach Fort Rodd Hill Mount Tolmie Saxe Point High Rock Point Anderson Hill Mount Douglas Park

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ALFRESCO ADVENTURES

A

ylard Farm is an easily accessible part of the 1,433-hectare East Sooke Park, with a fiveminute walk over rolling fields leading to a beach that is an ideal spot to set up base.

You will walk through second-growth trees (60-to 100-years old). There are also old-growth trees of more than 250 years in the park.

There are toilet facilities, a picnic area and a picnic shelter that can be reserved on a first-come, first-serve basis for the spring and summer. (Please see: www.crd.bc.ca/parks) And if you are feeling energetic, Aylard Farm provides access to some of East Sooke Park’s semi-wilderness trails where you can work off the brie. There are 50 kilometres of trails offering views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Olympic Mountains.

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P

icnics may have started in the 14th century as post-hunt feasts for the wealthy, but they’ve evolved into the most democratic of meals and activities.

Sure, those Downton Abbey picnics look enticing, with the starched linens, Mrs. Patmore’s cucumber sandwiches and Carson pouring the Pimms into crystal goblets.

But the basics of a good picnic are simple — a few tasty bites to nibble, a cool drink, something to sit on, a view and — voila — a picnic.

In a culture that prides itself on being busy, picnics provide a welcome time out.

You are not expected to do much else other than enjoy the food, the scenery and the company.

Want to laze on the grass or the beach and stare at the sky? That’s perfectly acceptable — let’s call it required picnic activity. Build a sand castle, read a book, look for four-leaf clovers, chat and share the day.

Bonus: bright sun makes phone screens difficult to read, a happy coincidence if you are missing actual face time with your children or spouse.

Southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands are jammed with lovely picnic spots. Here’s a sampling of some of our favourites.

If you would like to share yours (and we understand if you don’t; the ideal picnic spot is a thing to be treasured) please do so at localnews@timescolonist.com

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Lorie J Brown Photography

Georgina Park Park lighthouse is an ideal spot to spread a picnic blanket and watch cruise past Capitalhome 80 80| |Capital home

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ALFRESCO ADVENTURES A

Mayne Island

50-minute direct ferry ride takes you to this pastoral island with almost as many nice picnic spots as roaming deer. You can pick up your picnic food at several places, including Tru Value Foods (472 Village Bay Rd., where a percentage of all sales go toward community projects) or the Farm Gate Store (568 Fernhill Rd., www.farmgatestore.com), a grocery store-café-meeting place where much of the food and produce is from the Gulf Islands. Grab homemade samosas, sandwiches, soups, preserves, pies, hot and cold entrees — even a “One Sailing Wait” trail mix. If you have forgotten something to read, Miners Bay Books next door offers an excellent collection of new and used books. And the farmers market runs every Saturday until Thanksgiving, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Ag Hall, 430 Fernhill Rd.

• Dinner Bay Park is a place the whole family can spend an afternoon or day. On the southwest corner of Mayne Island, there’s rolling grass, picnic tables (some covered in case of rain), a Frisbee golf course, playground, small putting green with clubs, a volleyball net, horseshoe pitch — you get the picture. Public washrooms are also available, there’s ample parking and the green space is easily accessible for people with physical challenges. Access to the swimming beach requires walking down a short embankment.

It’s at the end of Dinner Bay Road, off Dalton Road.

A real treat is the nearby Japanese Garden. This beautiful tribute to the island’s displaced Japanese community is worth the trip itself.

The half-hectare garden is the work of volunteers in memory of the Japanese-Canadians who were early settlers on the island. Many were farmers who provided much of the produce for the Lower Mainland. They made up about one-third of the island’s population by the Second World War, when they were sent to internment camps.

• Georgina Point Park will be familiar to you if you have taken the ferry from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen. It’s home to the prominent lighthouse and outcropping of flat green grass you pass by midway on the trip to Tsawwassen. The point is part of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve and is a terrific spot to watch the ferries and see if they’re on time. There are benches and picnic tables, and it’s also a fine place to spread out on the grass. The ships are surprisingly quiet and picturesque as they drift by. And the next time you pass the spot while on the ferry, you will know it a little differently. A powerful telescope gives a close-up view of the often passing whales and the mischievous seals at play.

Access is easy, with parking at the end of Georgina Point Road on the northern tip of the island taking you within metres of Active Pass. Pit toilets are onsite.

You may recognize the lighthouse and inviting stretch of grass on Mayne Island as you sail by on a B.C. Ferry en route to the Lower Mainland. It’s about half way between Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen.

• You have to love an island with an ocean-view public library.

The log building in Miners Bay Park on Naylor Road has a lovely view of the ocean across a large grassy field that is an easy picnic spot. There’s a small pagoda, picnic tables and public washrooms as well.

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ALFRESCO ADVENTURES

RUCKLE PARK

SALT SPRING ISLAND

Find the perfect spot along seven kilometers of shoreline, or visit the province’s oldest continually operating farm Capital home | 83

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ALFRESCO ADVENTURES

A

t Ruckle Provincial Park, you can have your picnic with a water view, in a meadow, an orchard or even in a farmyard. All are accessible at this 486-hectare park, 10 kilometres west of Fulford Harbour at the end of Beaver Point Road. Its seven kilometres of shoreline, rocky headlands and tiny coves and bays have seen a lot of adventure over the years. Rumrunners were said to have frequented the area in the 1920s, as they tried to smuggle their contraband across the U.S. border into the San Juan Islands. The park’s mix of field, forest and shoreline make for as diverse a day as you choose, with wildlife ranging from sea lions and whale pods, river otter and, and tidal pools providing a science teacher’s dream.

The Ruckle family has homesteaded the land since the 1890s. The family donated most of the land to the province for a park in the early 1970s.

Family descendants still raise sheep on private land near the campground entrance, making it the oldest continually operating farm in the province.

Some of the buildings are open to the public.

Day use picnic tables are available just off the main park road past the campground turnoff to the day-use parking lot. If you don’t mind more informal seating, wander along the 15 kilometres of walking and hiking trails until you find your spot.

Ruckle Point is filled with history and natural wonders.

You might want to stay longer that just an afternoon.

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ALFRESCO ADVENTURES

F

rench Beach has it all — 1,600 metres of beach with whales and bald eagles cruising by, hiking trails through second-growth forests of Douglas fir, Sitka spruce, western hemlock and Western red cedar, ample lawn to sit on if you don’t want sand in your sandwiches. It even has a fascinating history.

The 55-hectare property was given to the province for a park by the French family, who divided their time between there and Saanich, in honour of their father, James George French. He was a naturalist from Bristol, England who loved animals. He first settled in Saanich, where he kept circus animals for the winter, including a lion, elephant and a bear. He married into a Sooke family, spending much of his time at what is now French Beach. The circus animals didn’t make it to French Beach, but local lore say he kept a series of cougars on site.

French Beach is 20 kilometres west of Sooke on Highway 14 and is well marked. The park is about 11 kilometres from Jordan River.

FRENCH BEACH

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ALFRESCO ADVENTURES

WILLOWS BEACH W

illows Beach is popular and for good reason.

Its shallow protected water makes it a good swimming beach for people of all ages. The 1.17-hectare park is an easy spot to set up for an afternoon, with public washrooms, change rooms, picnic tables, children’s park, an esplanade and walkway.

There’s a large parking lot, and the amenities are easily accessible for people of all physical abilities.

The fine sand beach is often crowded in the summer, but if you walk to the end in either direction, there’s room to spread out, collect driftwood and even build a fort.

And if the beach isn’t your thing, there’s a large grassy field that offers shade and space.

A concession called the Tea Room is run by the Kiwanis Club and offers basic and tasty beach fare: hot dogs, burgers, crinkly fries and ice cream. They also do a popular weekend breakfast.

Proceeds are given to charities.

Willows Beach is off Beach Drive at Dalhousie Avenue.

It’s hard to imagine the pounding of hooves at a race track in Oak Bay, but that’s where Willows Beach got its name. The Willows Fairground was built in 1891 about a kilometre inland from the beach, in an area rich with willow trees. It was home to Greater Victoria’s main horse-racing track during the early twentieth century.

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High Point Farm – 10 Acres Harmonious combination of formality and casual.

I

f you would like a bit of a walk, Uplands Park and Cattle Point are easily accessible via a set of stairs at the north end of Willows Beach. Cattle Point, just inside the Uplands gates, is popular with boaters and a good spot to watch fishers as they set out. Uplands Park (2900 Beach Drive) is across the road from Cattle Point and offers a bit of wildness in usually manicured Oak Bay. Although the natural area is bounded by residences on three sides, you can feel alone in its 30 hectares. The Garry Oak meadow is impressive at all times of year, as are its concentration of rare plant species. Informal but well-used trails meander through the trees. The park is behind the War Memorial, which was unveiled November 11, 1948. The three-metre sculpture shows Mother Peace standing looking down, her arms protecting the 97 names of Oak Bay’s 1939-1945 war dead.

cattle point

Enjoy living in this Plantation style residence with over 5,200 sq. ft. of living space.

With picturesque views over the Mount Newton Valley, incredible sunrises from over 1,300 sq. ft. of patios, decks and porches. Located on the end of a quiet cul-de-sac, the property is protected by wrought iron gates and fencing. The equestrian centre of over 4,000 sq. ft. with large stalls and bathing area for your favourite horse.

The estate includes a two bedroom suite above the barn. $2,690,000

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ALFRESCO ADVENTURES

mount tolmie

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icnics are about sharing and a sense of community. That’s to be found in abundance at Mount Tolmie, where a community volunteer association has worked decades keeping this little Saanich mountain as natural and accessible as possible.

Members of the Mount Tolmie Conservancy Association have given countless hours to removing invasive plant species and generally acting as stewards of the land. The group has also overseen the planting of Garry oak seedlings and several varieties of shrubs. The group was presented with an Environmental Achievement Award by the District of Saanich in 2008.

Their work has enhanced one of the most accessible and popular views in the region.

Mount Tolmie, with its 20 hectares of parkland, is located near the University of Victoria on Mayfair Drive, just off Cedar Hill Cross Road.

Picnickers can drive to the top, with its 360-degree panoramic views. On a clear day, you can gaze across to the Olympic Mountain Range and to Mount Baker in the Cascades. Or try and pick your house out of the Monopolysized houses below.

You can also walk up on the 1,500 metres of trails that criss-cross the hill leading to the summit (it’s only 120 metres high, so the walk on gravel paths can be as easy or challenging as you want to make it.) Picnic spots abound on rocky outcroppings or mossy pockets.

The summit has seen its share of adventure. In the 1890s, real estate developer J.H. Brownlee built a rollercoaster there. But it didn’t last long.

The wooden structure was destroyed by a brush fire in 1896. The summit was also the site of a coastal-defence building during the Second World War. It was used as an observation post.

A reservoir was added in the 1960s.

Wander among the camas in springtime or find a mossy pocket among the many rocky outcroppings. Either way, Mount Tolmie in Sannich affords plenty of privacy and natual wonders so close to home. The views of the region are top notch.

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mount

douglas park T

his 188-hectare park was the inspiration for Emily Carr’s last works. The artist returned to the park in the summer of 1942 after having a vision while visiting a friend in Vancouver. She felt the “forest had something to tell her.”

The park offers something for everyone. Various trails lead to the top (213 metres), with views over rural Saanich, Victoria, and the Olympic and Cascade Mountains in Washington State. Or duck into a grassy spot en route up for a picnic among the wildflowers. There are more than 21 kilometres of trails winding around the park.

Churchill Drive, the paved road to the summit, is closed to vehicle traffic every day until noon as well for those who want a smoother walk up.

The easiest access is via the parking lot at 4500 Cedar Hill Road, just at the end of Shelbourne Street.

Find your Zen moment regardless of the direction you face atop Mount Douglas.

TAKE TIME TO STOP AND SMELL THE MOUNTAINS.

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ALFRESCO ADVENTURES Pease Creek Cascade

GOWLLAND TODD PARK N

o need to go to Norway to see a fjord. Picnic at Gowlland Tod Park and gaze out over Finlayson Arm 400 metres below. Finlayson Arm is a fjord that only replenishes its marine waters once a year, creating a habitat for sea creatures that draws divers from around the world.

The 1,280-hectare park (955 hectares of upland and 325 hectares of foreshore) encompasses nearly the entire side of Saanich Inlet. It stretches from Goldstream to Brentwood Bay, offering spectacular water views as well as a chance to explore nature up close. More than 150 individual plant and animal species have been identified, including nine species at risk, such as the phantom orchid and Peale’s peregrine falcon.

I’m told by reliable young reporters (ages 8 and 11) that the hike is very doable for youngsters and that the turkey vultures flying overhead are fun, as are the many lizards to be found and the occasional geocache.

The park has three day-use accesses.

The Tod Inlet access is located near Brentwood Bay, off Wallace Drive.

Mackenzie Bight access is located off Ross Durrance Road, off Willis Point Road. The Caleb Pike access is on Caleb Pike Road, off Millstream Road in Langford.

All three areas have pit toilets. Only Tod Inlet and Caleb Pike have picnic tables. Parking lots are available at Mackenzie Bight and Caleb Pike.

ghost orchid Peale’s peregrine falcon the summit

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Red Barn Market is a locally owned Victoria business. We source Island Raised, Island Made and Island Grown first. We look to our local growers to provide us with the best seasonal fruits and veggies that our customers have come to expect. Our smoked meats feature a mouth-watering range of incredible flavours, all prepared in-house. We are proud to employ 280 staff at our 5 locations.

Our 6th location is set to open in Esquimalt Spring 2017.

Come support your Island Grown Everyday Specialty Store!

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T

saxe point

ry not to photo bomb the wedding shoots at this deservedly popular picnic spot.

Its large open green space with views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Olympic Mountains make it a top spot for wedding photography.

The 7.5-hectare property was designated as parkland in 1934, after spending years as a campground. The Esquimalt municipal archives show that the chief of police and town council would give permission to families to set up a tent for the summer. Sometimes families moved only a few blocks to experience waking in the morning to the ocean view.

Saxe Point has numerous benches and picnic tables and forested trails and beach access.

Access it at the end of Fraser Street, with footpaths off Munro and Bewdley Streets.

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ALFRESCO ADVENTURES ANDERSON HILL

T

he 2.7-hectare natural park is easy to access off the 500-block of Island Road in Oak Bay and provides spectacular views of Mount Baker and the Olympic Peninsula. Spread your picnic out on the rock outcrops under the Garry oaks and listen to the wind. It’s hard to believe you are in the middle of a city. Dogs on leash are welcome year round.

C

HIGH ROCK PARK

limb to the highest point in Esquimalt (71 metres) at this seven-hectare park nestled in a neighbourhood. The point is marked by a cairn, leading to the park often called Cairn Park.

The cairn was erected in 1962 for Esquimalt’s 50th anniversary.

You will have 360-degree views of the capital region, downtown Victoria, the Sooke Hills and Olympic Mountains.

You can enter from Cairn Road off Old Esquimalt Road, Highrock Place off Rockheights Avenue or from Matheson Avenue off Rockheights Avenue.

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ALFRESCO ADVENTURES FORT RODD I

HILL & FISGARD LIGHTHOUSE

t’s a rare picnic site where you can tour through bunkers that were used as a West Coast artillery fortress, see what it would have been like to be a solitary lighthouse keeper a century ago and then picnic looking out at Esquimalt Harbour. This picnic site has it all.

Fort Rodd Hill is an artillery fort built in the late 1890s, with the job of defending Victoria and the Esquimalt Naval Base. Now, it’s a National Historic Site that provides a wide-open waterfront park The Fort includes three gun batteries, underground magazines, command posts, guardhouses and barracks.

Interpretative signs and audio-visual stations and real staff help you understand the life that was.

A short walk away, you can pretend to be a master mariner inside the Fisgard Lighthouse, the first lighthouse on Canada’s West Coast.

It was built by the British in 1860, before Vancouver Island was even part of Canada. There hasn’t been a keeper there since 1929 when it was automated, but visitors can view two floors of exhibits and watch a video about the life of a 19th century lighthouse keeper.

And to relax afterwards, grab one of the 12 picnic tables or picnic on the flat grassy area or the beaches that offer expansive views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Olympic Mountains. Most of the area is wheelchair accessible. It’s an easy place to spend the day for people of all ages.

Fort Rodd Hill is off Ocean Boulevard in Colwood.

Resources -Municipal websites all have links to local parks, most with maps. B.C. Parks also provides detailed information. (http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/) The website www.amongnature.ca also offers a comprehensive guide of local parks that double as fine picnic spots.

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COMING UP

NEXT ISSUE of Capital Home

J

oin us for the next edition of Capital Home magazine this fall. We’ll be featuring more fabulous Island homes and plenty of ideas on how to remodel and spruce up your own living spaces. Watch for handy tips from professionals on room renovations and how to transition your yard from summer to fall. As always, our food expert, Erik Akis, will have some surprises. Travel writer Kim Westad will also take us on a trip to New Orleans.

Watch for it in mid-September.

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