[caption id="attachment_123" align="alignleft" width="225" caption="Qualicum Beach Rhododendron Days"][/caption] The Perfect Day Trip from Nanaimo for Couples, Seniors and Families

Rhododendron Days at Milner Gardens & Woodland Thursday, April 30th, 2009 - Sunday, May 10th, 2009 10am-5pm (last entry at 4:30pm) The garden is a sensuous delight. Old growth Douglas firs and cedars frame breathtaking views of the Strait of Georgia. The garden lawns slope gently to meet a precipitous bluff which plunges to the beach below. Beyond the strait, the Coast Range Mountains of the British Columbia mainland can be seen. To the north, Denman, Hornby, Lasqueti and Texada Islands are visible. Bald eagles patrol the beach head and circle above their feeding grounds, their distinctive cries carrying across the forest. Blue herons fish the shore, while the dappled shade of the garden shelters songbirds. Purple finches and wrens nest in the camellias near the house. The garden features 500 varieties of rhododendrons, whose colours and textures grow against the majestic forest trees. Blue-green hostas, fragrant honeysuckle, and delicate lace-cape hydrangeas soothe the eye. The forest shelters wildlife. Come and enjoy the named and labelled collections of Rhododendrons and other spring flowering plants. Open 10 am to 5 pm daily, last entry at 4:30 pm. Relax with a cup of tea and a fresh baked scone in the drawing room or on the verandah of the 1930's cottage-style Milner House. Rhododendrons and a large selection of propagated material will be offered for sale. You might want to make a weekend or a mini vacation around this event, taking in the natural beauty that defines central Vancouver Island from Nanaimo to Qualicum Beach Village - and then top it off with an overnight stay in a family room at the Painted Turtle Guesthouse!