The Castle

This is Royal Roads. It was built for Robert Dunsmuir in the early 19th century read more here. and was home to a military college for 50 years and is now a University for Open Learning. My friend Irma and I go walking there once in a while to get Griffin and his brother Frank together. It is a meeting place somewhere in the middle for us since we both live out of town and in opposite directions...we like to go there because of the history and the beauty of the grounds...you can walk for miles through the property although some is off limits to dogs, there is much of it that makes for a good scramble on the beach or a walk in the woods...

     Here is Irma and the boys in front of one of many giant firs still standing.

There is this amazing aquaduct that flows through part of the property and I haven't researched it yet but I'm sure there's a good story behind the purpose of its zig-zaggy design..
On the edge of the Japanese garden (off limits to dogs) are some beautiful ponds and imported trees with the gorgeous fall colors that we don't have with our native trees..

 

Speaking of leaves and pretty things, you should check out Irma's gorgeous lamps that she makes...if you want some funtional art in your house, check out her website...http://www.geewillowkers.ca You can also see her shop on etsy under the name geewillowkers.