Ready for an afternoon stroll in the park?
It’s no wonder Playfair Park is considered one of Saanich’s best-kept secrets—right now, it boasts a sea of flowers you have to see to believe.
The grounds, sprawled over nearly four hectares just off Rock Street, feature a large grove of mature rhododendrons and azaleas with a Garry Oak meadow and a 300-foot perennial border.
“These beautiful displays are most impressive in the spring when the rhododendrons and azaleas start to bloom,” the District of Saanich explains.
Within the meadow, visitors will see shooting stars and other native plants best admired this time of year, including a spectacular display of eye-popping bluish-violet camas.
According to district officials, the meadow is one of the many restoration sites of the Garry Oak Restoration Project, stewarded year after year by a team of dedicated volunteers.
Sierra Club BC says camas are onion-like bulbs with plants growing over 60 centimetres tall. The six-petaled flowers vary in colour, from pale lilac or white to deep purple or blue.
And while it may be tempting to lie in the bed of flowers, Playfair Park-goers should remember to stay on the pathway and keep dogs leashed at all times.
Without further ado, here are 5 photos of Playfair’s camas now in bloom:
