A new moon with one of the lowest tides of the year — down to 0.04 metres at its lowest — has created perfect conditions for a Moon Walk hosted by the CRD Parks department on Wednesday.
You don’t have to travel to the moon, but to Coles Bay Regional Park in North Saanich, where park naturalists will lead a search for the shy moon snail. Along the way, the group will also encounter other marine life, such as crabs and sea stars.
“The beach is a fascinating place to look for sea creatures. CRD Regional Parks puts on a variety of free marine events throughout July, which are great for all ages,” said Kim St. Claire, manager of visitor services and community development. “While the tide is out, we’ll be along the shores looking for crabs, sea stars and the elusive moon snail. Join us at Witty’s Lagoon, Island View Beach and Coles Bay Regional Parks this summer.”
Wednesday’s event runs from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Meet at the kiosk in the parking lot off Inverness Road. The program includes wading in the water, so be prepared for wet feet and clothes.
The natural history program is one of about 200 offered during the summer by CRD Parks. Events taking place just in the next seven days include:
Forest to Seashore: A walk for visitors eight and older. Participants will walk along a water course to the sea, from Bilston Creek to Witty’s Lagoon. Along the way, they will learn about the legend of Sitting Lady Falls, watch for herons and learn of edible summer plants. The program runs from 10-11:30 a.m. today. Meet at the Nature Centre of Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park, off Metchosin Road.
Early Evening Canoe Adventure: A guided paddle for participants five and older. Paddlers will hit the lake on the lookout for eagles, herons, turtles and other lake residents. Canoe and paddling instruction is included and no experience is necessary.
Wear sandals or other beach shoes because your feet will get wet.
The activity costs $20 (plus GST) for people 15 and older; and $10 (plus GST) for people five to 14. It runs from 6-9 p.m. tonight at Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park. Call 250-478-3344 to register.
Evening Campfire at the Beach: Campfire stories for all ages. Bring a camp chair to join a park naturalist for an evening of games, stories and s’mores. The event takes place from 7-9 p.m. Saturday at the campfire ring at the Island View Beach Regional Park campground, off Homathko Road. This event is wheelchair accessible.
Sensational Seaweeds: A guided walk for people eight and older. Attendees will have an opportunity to taste seaweed and learn about the importance of marine algae to humans and sea creatures. The event runs from 10-11:30 a.m. Monday at Island View Beach Regional Park. Meet at the grassy area adjacent to the public shelter off Homathko Road.
All programs are free. Be prepared to get your feet wet. Try to arrive 10 minutes before the start of the program. Please leave pets at home. For details, go to crd.bc.ca/parks.
Evening a colourful time to visit the Gardens
The weekend fireworks display has returned for the summer at Butchart Gardens and will take place every Saturday evening until Sept. 5. The dazzling show, which includes aerial and ground effects, is choreographed to the sound of music.
The shows, which began in 1977, are one of the most popular draws at the well-known tourist destination.
A viewing lawn on the property is the ideal place to enjoy the show. Guests should remember to bring warm clothing and a blanket or cover to sit on.
There is a designated area for lawn chairs.
Guests are also encouraged to linger a while after the show to enjoy a half-hour live recital from a rare Aeolian pipe organ situated in the loft of the Organ Pavilion. Visitors can also wander the gardens, given a vastly different look when illuminated by thousands of lights of varying intensity and colour.
Guests are asked to refrain from using their electronic devices during the show and selfie sticks are prohibited for safety reasons.
Due to the show’s popularity, there can be delays at the admission gate, so you should plan to arrive early.
Admission will close entirely once the parking lots are full.
The show is included in the price of regular admission. The show starts at 10 p.m. Saturday.
Show times vary from week to week during the season (as sunset arrives earlier). Check the show’s schedule on the company’s website. The gardens are at 800 Benvenuto Ave., Brentwood Bay.
For details, go to butchartgardens.com.
Enjoy lunch with dozens of corgis
Revel in the charms of one of the oldest herding breeds as the local Pembroke Welsh Corgi Association hosts its annual Corgi Picnic on Sunday.
As many as 30 corgis are expected to attend the event, which is in its 46th year. Dogs come from Victoria, the Lower Mainland and the U.S.
There will be lots of games for the dogs and door prizes for the owners. Attendees are encouraged to bring dog-related items for sale.
Pack a lunch, a lawn chair and shade. The club will provide free dessert, coffee, tea and cold drinks.
People without corgis are welcome to attend, but no other dog breeds. Visitors are reminded not to use retractable leads.
Admission is free for dogs, $5 for adults and $3 for children. The picnic runs noon to 3 p.m. on the Saanich Fair Grounds, 1528 Stelly’s Cross Rd.
For more information, call Helen Moulden at 250-656-7695.
Life is a bowl of berries in Saanich
Dig into a bowl of local strawberries and ice cream for only 50 cents at the Saanich Strawberry Festival on Sunday.
This event began as a celebration of the agricultural roots of Saanich and has blossomed into a grand festival with an old-style family picnic on the beach and a wide range of free family activities.
Activities include face-painting, pirate school, pony rides, relay races, a pie-eating contest, model boats and more.
The O’Briens and the Commodore Big Band will perform.
The serving of strawberries and ice cream runs from 1-3 p.m. Tickets are for sale between 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. at the booth near the main stage area.
There will also be information booths and food concessions.
Admission is free. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Beaver Lake Park, Beaver Lake Road. There is limited parking. A shuttle bus service runs from Saanich Commonwealth Place between 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. The recreation centre is served by B.C. Transit to the Royal Oak Transit exchange. For details, go to saanich.ca.
Eat hot dogs with your neighbours
Meet your neighbours and make new friends at the Cook Street Village Activity Centre Community Barbecue on Saturday.
The event is an opportunity to tour the activity centre, meet instructors, view programs and engage in fun games and activities for all ages.
Visitors can enjoy hot dogs, burgers or select items from the centre’s cafeteria menu.
Admission is free, but donations are welcome. The barbecue lunch is $5.
The event runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the centre, 380 Cook St.
For details, go to cook streetactivitycentre.com.
Garden tour helps children in Africa
Enjoy local water gardens and help kids in Africa at the For the Love of Africa ninth annual Water Garden Tour on Saturday.
The self-guided tour features 11 water gardens and outdoor spaces with fountains, waterfalls, ponds and streams. The water gardens provide a pesticide-free environment for wildlife and a soothing and relaxing atmosphere for humans.
The gardens are simple to complex, and amateur to professional.
Each garden will have at least two volunteers on hand to guide visitors and answer questions about the society, a charity that helps build infrastructure for education and provide health care for vulnerable children. Proceeds from this year’s tour will go toward building a trade school in Tanzania.
Some of the gardens will have volunteer musicians and light refreshments will be served at one of the gardens.
Tickets are $25. The tour runs from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at various Greater Victoria locations. Tickets are available at Marigold Nurseries, Dig This, Gardenworks, Elk Lake Garden Centre and Wildwood Outdoor Living Centre.
For details, go to watergardentour.ca or call 250-891-0762.
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