Mom-Day at Finnerty Gardens - We Got the Pink Memo - and a Wee Shop

Welcome back, my friends and here we go with another Mom-Day Adventure at Finnerty Gardens up at the University of Victoria (aka UVic). We last visited here in December 2024 and what a difference five months makes! 

Mom and I both wore pink today. "You got the pink memo," she said when she saw me. 

I sure did! Gotta style up this pink jacket so that it's not so bossy.

This outfit felt much more harmonious to me - I had tons of compliments on my skirt as we walked around, and while I had my wee shop post-lunch. 

• Jean jacket - Talbots, consignment; first seen here in March with wooly grey
• Tee - SPRZNY Eames Chairs, thrifted; last worn here in January for a Mom-Day at home
• Skirt - Maeve for Anthropologie, consignment; first seen here in March with a bulky sweater 
• Sequined sneakers - Converse, consignment; last worn here (2nd outfit) in September 2024 for brunch in neon and jungle

I picked a graphic tee to calm down the bold pink of the jacket and big floral of the skirt.

My Eames chair tee felt like a good contrast. 

It's oversized, so I knotted it to make a waist. 

The skirt's waist is very snug (no elastic) so I need something to both cover and define.

Nice big pockets! I stashed my phone in one. 

I loved having pockets in the jean jacket as well. 

This was a much more successful styling of it. 

Wearing it in spring just feels right. 

Incognito.

This is how most people saw me. 

Until I was finally walking home and started getting sweaty.

Tie it around your waist! 

The stuff: 

These sparkly sequined sneakers felt awesome all day, even after walking for a couple of hours. 

• Purse - Roots 73, thrifted

Rhinestone bling: 

Three brooches on the jacket. 

• Bee brooch - consignment
• Moth brooch - vintage fair
• Frog brooch - thrifted
• Silvery bracelet - Coro, vintage 70s, Mom's
• Fulvia Ring - Wendy Brandes
• Crystal cuff - Swarovski, consignment, gift from L
• Necklace - Sherman, vintage 50s, thrifted
• Earrings - Betsey Johnson, gift from L

Ready for some pictures? We arrived at the Interfaith Chapel and the gate to the gardens.

There were workers all through the gardens, cleaning things up and doing maintenance. 

We immediately noticed that there was a dominant colour, just like the "follow the pink" from a previous visit (this one here from July 2024).

Rhododendrons and azaleas were in bloom, particularly the red ones. 

Follow the red! 

The colour almost feels fake, it's so saturated. 

We arrived at our favourite pond. 

No ducks this time. 

Just the fish sculpture. 

Did you notice the photobombers? There were a lot of folks in the gardens, including a group of cyclists (walking their bikes, as is the rule) that we chatted with. 

Every time we came into full sun, we just stood with our faces up. 

Pink camellias and glorious hot sun.

I see red through the trellis.

I guess we're going to have to go that way.

Some red tulips.

I love the euphorbia beside them - the tops remind me of "atomic age" prints. 

A gorgeous camellia. 

So many ruffled petals! 

More red! 

The woman in the pink dress had a chuckle with us. "I see you got the pink memo too," said Mom. 

These rhodos towered over our heads. 

So pretty. 

The air was full of birdsong, but we didn't see too many actual birds. 

More red rhodos, with purple camas in front. 

A lush green lawn looking very inviting. 

Do you see the single red tulip? 

More red just beyond the "dry" creek. 

Yes, very dry. Hardly wet at all aside from the mud. 

These blooms are as big as my hand! 

And you get a look at my bling in situ.

The bench on the left beckoned. 

The red rhodos watched over us. 

Such a hideous view! 

It was very still with only a light breeze. 

It was so peaceful and calming. 

Just what we needed. We sat for a while, chatting and taking it all in.

Sending a selfie to the fam. 

And you get a good look at Mom's shirt with the pink roses and leopard print. Her pants were white dot on black (excellent pattern mixing).

A sequoia.

I'm sure I've taken its picture before. 

Some twisty branches of a rhodo that hasn't yet bloomed. 

The underbrush was all shamrocks and low green growth, full of tiny flowers. 

"Ducks!" I hissed at Mom.

These two mallards were engrossed in plunging underwater for plants to eat. 

We walked past the bamboo grove. 

Looked back across the pond. 

Some flower close-ups.

"I don't have those narcissus," mused Mom. Yeah, I'm not digging up any plants for you! There will be no flower shenanigans. 

More camellias. 

I took these with my phone for the portrait feature. 

Wee forget-me-nots. 

I don't know if I've ever seen these in the wild before.

Another glimpse across the pond. 

So lush! 

These flowers fooled us for a second. 

Those aren't rhododendrons! 

They are a different type of camellia.

Classic yellow-white next to them. 

I took a bunch of pictures of this gorgeous purple azalea.

Remember when my hair was that colour?

And time to go have lunch! 

It was cool when we started our walk, but by the late afternoon it was up to 18 degrees. 

We had our usual for lunch at Christie's: salmon burgers with a salad. 

Thanks so much for such a wonderful day, Mom! I love you! 

I had to go buy Yvonne's birthday gift card from Turnabout, so I headed down Oak Bay Ave after lunch.

A La Mode Consignment had these wonderful sheer/floral socks for only $6.95 a pair. I liked them so much, I got four pairs. I did not buy the grey ones. 

When I got to Turnabout, I discovered they were all out of gift cards, so I'll have to sort that out. But since I was there...may as well have a look around, right??

This patchwork denim skirt came home with me - it's feels very early 00s (very Gaultier), as it sits below the waist. Not quite a mermaid cut.

Rear view. On me, this has a slight train - it's very fun to walk in! 

You know I love drama in my clothes! 

It snaps at the front with two big flat-hooks to secure it. 

Branded, so fancy. 

It's by We The Free. 

Their denim skirts run $118 to $168 US - this was $129.00 for me. 

I ripped off a small branch of lilac from one of the trees on my walk home. 

No little kitty chewing on it...but the smell is heavenly. 

Thanks so much for dropping by, my friends, and do stay tuned for Sunday tales of adventure as we have a super-fun event planned!