British Columbia Trip Part 2: Vancouver Island

After we'd spent a few days in Vancouver, we took a ferry to Vancouver Island and headed to Butchart Gardens. They were heaven on earth and made my garden at home look so pitiful I just want to rip everything out and hire someone else to do it for me (not happening). But John did buy me a few seed packets and they're sitting in my basement cellar waiting until next spring to be planted. Maybe then I'll have some glorious hollyhocks and delphinium of my own. My black thumb is doubtful.
My dream house has columns in the front, a wrap-around porch, plenty of climbing roses, and lily pond out back with big pink flowers like in the next photo. Basically picture Southern Plantation meets English countryside. I'm not asking for a lot here. ;)
After we spent the afternoon at Butchart Gardens we drove up the coast to Nanaimo and spent the night. The next day we went to Pipers Lagoon Park, which is basically just gorgeous rocky shoreline running up to evergreen forests. I loved it and could have stayed longer but everyone else was cold.
Not sure what was going on in this picture but I like it.
We spent the afternoon in Victoria. I loved seeing the British influence there, especially since I did a study abroad in London and I think Queen Victoria is fascinating. Our first stop was Fisherman's Wharf. 
These homes were all floating right on the water.

Everett was a champion eater on the trip and had fish for every meal (served with healthy portions of lemon and tartar sauce, because obviously he's my child). It almost makes me cry happy tears because one of my life goals is to raise adventurous, unpicky eaters (he's snacking on sharp cheddar as I write this because who needs string cheese when you can eat something that actually has FLAVOR).  John and Jared ordered a few types of sushi we'd never tried before and let's just say sushi by the ocean is always a good idea. 
After we finished at Fisherman's Wharf we explored downtown Victoria. We found a little boutique called Violette where John insisted on buying me the daintiest rose moissanite ring from Hart + Stone. It's such a sweet reminder of a beautiful city. I love that guy.
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