Garden Photo of the Day

GPOD on the Road: Hatley Castle

Visiting a grand estate garden

By GPOD Contributor
Hatley Castle

Today Cherry Ong is taking us to visit Hatley Castle in Victoria, British Columbia.

This estate garden at the Royal Roads University in Victoria, British Columbia, is magnificent, regal, and majestic. You may recognize the castle from the movies or TV, and I will leave it up to you to figure out where you’ve seen it. The castle has an amazing view of the Esquimalt Lagoon and the Olympic Mountains, I think the view of the formal Italian garden from the terrace of the castle is the best of all.

View of the formal gardensThe formal gardens were designed in a very classic, traditional style: crisp, geometric lines with trimmed hedges.

entrance framesI love the way this entrance frames the view and guides the eye down the path to the next gate in the distance.

beautiful stonework of the castleThe beautiful stonework of the castle makes a great contrast to the softer textures of the plants.

hedgesThe neat hedges and formal lines contrast with the wilder, more informal growth of the plants around them.

potted plants near the arch ways Potted plants soften the lines of the architecture.

Cup and saucer vineCup and saucer vine (Cobaea scandens, Zones 9–11 or as an annual) is a fast-growing vine with beautiful, unusual flowers.

FoliageFoliage in the shades of burgundy makes a dramatic statement.

Fading peonyFading peony (Paeonia hybrid, Zones 3–9) foliage lines this walkway leading to an enticing shade nook.

dusty millerA frothy sea of dusty miller (Jacobaea maritima, Zones 7–10 or as an annual)

castleHere’s a look at the castle itself.

Click the link for more info on the Italian Gardens.

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

Black and Decker 22-inch Cordless Hedge Trimmer

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Quick and easy to put into operation and is less noisy and lighter in weight than gas-powered hedge trimmers.
- 38 x 7 x 7 inches
- 6.9 pounds
- 1 Lithium Ion battery required (included)
Buy at Amazon

DeWalt Variable-Speed Cordless Reciprocating Saw with 6-Piece Saw Blade Set

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

You can fit a variety of blades to this saw to cut fallen branches or prune larger limbs from trees in a pinch. It’s fast, tough, easy to use, and extremely versatile.
- 18.31 x 6.13 x 4 inches
- 1-1/8-inch stroke length
- Variable speed trigger with 0-3000 spm
- DW4856 Metal/Woodcutting Reciprocating Saw Blade Set, 6-Piece
Buy at Amazon

Scotts Cordless Grass-Shear/Shrub-Trimmer Combo

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

With a built-in 7.2-volt lithium-ion battery, this little guy weighs less than 2 lb. and can zip through all your minor pruning tasks quickly and easily.
- 13.5 x 3 x 5 inches
- Uses a 7.2-Volt 2Ah high-capacity built-in lithium-ion battery; Includes a fast charger
Buy at Amazon
X
View Comments

Comments

  1. gardendevas 12/03/2021

    Wow! A feast of textures - thanks for sharing. I never thought to use Dusty Miller en masse, but now I am imagining where I can do that…

    1. perenniallycrazy 12/04/2021

      Glad you love it too!

  2. User avater
    simplesue 12/03/2021

    OMG such beauty! The plants the garden walls and paths etc.
    What a dream this house and garden is!

    1. perenniallycrazy 12/04/2021

      Yes it is. Been back in dreary November when most of the annuals have been removed and it is still beautiful.

  3. btucker9675 12/03/2021

    Wowza! This place is gorgeous... I thought the same thing about the dusty miller planting - wonderful. Thanks for sharing this great location.

  4. User avater
    vanhatalosuomi 12/05/2021

    Nice photos of a great garden. On the list should we ever travel again.

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Related Articles

The Latest

Design
Episode 172: Focal Points with Susan Morrison

Susan Morrison, owner and principal designer at Creative Exteriors Landscape Design, has created hundreds of gardens in California’s East Bay area. Her designs incorporate comfortable outdoor rooms into landscapes of all…
Design
Join Us for a Tour of Gorgeous Gardens in Somerset County, UK!

Join us for an enchanting tour through the rolling hills surrounding southwest England, where you'll experience some of the finest private gardens and innovative landscapes at the heart of this…
Design
Finding Common Ground with Fido | Letter from the Editor

Do you remember the Pandemic Puppy phenomena of 2020? A large swath of the country was under lockdown thanks to COVID-19, and folks took in dogs left and right. In…

Video

View All Videos
Design

Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be careful when you enter the backyard of garden designer Jeff Epping—not because you’re likely to trip on something, but because you might be dive-bombed by a pair…
Design

4 Midsummer Favorites From a Plant Breeder's Garden
Podcast: Let's Argue About Plants

Episode 171: Deer-Resistant Plants  
Design

Garden Tour of a Sustainable Native Plant Oasis Bursting with Fall Color
Podcast: Let's Argue About Plants

Episode 170: High-Impact Native Plants with Uli Lorimer