All I can say about the Rockway Gardens in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada is that they are worth taking the time to go and take your time to see it all. I still have not seen it all as I noticed heavy clouds coming in and I did not want to get rained on. However I did finish the complete length both ways of the gardens before I headed home.
This is the same spot that I left off on my last writing about the Rockway Gardens PhotoWalk, so I decided to just keep on with the journey through this beautiful spot almost in the heart of the city. I wish I could name every flower and foliage that I saw, but I can't so if you want to know what they are, just look them up online, or ask a horticulturalist.
The fence behind these flower beds makes for a beautiful backdrop for some of the flowers.
These beds are just so attractive that I had to capture a lot of photos of them. I saw pink, yellow, and red Calla Lilies throughout the gardens, but these were the most prolific in bloom and quantity.
I didn't know what these pink flowers were until I asked somebody who seemed to be in the know about them. They apparently are hibiscus too.
A closer shot of the yellow Calla Lilies. They seem to be a bit past their prime, but still very beautiful and attracting to the eye, even if the sky is a bit overshadowed with clouds.
In the centre of the Calla Lily bed there was this large pedestal with flowers in it.
There was a butterfly that kept fluttering by and actually landed long enough for me to capture a shot of it. I was not quick enough to catch it in flight, and if I got too close it just fluttered close to me as if to tease me and say, "Catch me if you can."
There are spots into the flowerbeds that have benches and other ornamental displays in them. This was just one of many of those spots.
This would make a beautiful spot to have a picture taken with all the foliage around it.
The Rose of Sharon were still blooming, although they seemed to be past their prime too.
Another flower that I don't have a name for.
These Dahlias remind me of my Mother's garden where she grew a lot of different coloured ones. Her's used to grow as tall and taller than me as a young girl. I do remember that she staked them so they would not fall over.
Another spot for some photo shots using the bench. Because it was overcast off and on all day it would have been tricky to get perfect shots, but I didn't care as I was just out to enjoy the freedom and beauty that is so readily available.
I love the brilliance of the echinacea here, especially agains the wooden fence. It really makes them stand out.
I don't recall seeing a lot of these flowers, but this one was very bright in the flowerbed.
I don't know if this was the same butterfly but it fluttered by me again and landed. By the time I had it in focus and did a quick snap, it flew off to another spot further down the flowerbed where I had just been.
A lady came and asked if I would like her to take a photo of me with the flowers. So I picked this spot, not realizing that I would look so lopsided. Because my right leg is shorter than my left, the slope of the ground here emphasized the fact as I tried to keep my balance and not fall over. It is always nice to get photos of myself where I have been, other than selfies.
After that shot, I went back to where I had left off and got some excellent shots of some of the flowers and greenery along the way.
This one is taken toward the spot that I was standing when I had my picture taken.
I have no idea what these flowers are...
...or these either. The centres of these remind me a bit of the Ferrero Rocher candy. lol
These flowers take me back to the flowerbed along our lawn and the laneway on the farm. We used to eat the blossoms, but we knew Mom would not spray them with insecticide so we were safe doing that.
Above: There was a huge bed of red Calla Lilies, and even though it was overcast at the time I was in this location, they still showed off their beauty.
Below: I noticed that just ahead there was another area that I had to make a decision whether I would explore it while I was here, or come back another time to venture up into that area.
There are not a lot of roses here, but I did capture these while I was here.
And some more of the Hibiscus.
I'm still trying to decide what I will do about that other area...
Another angle of the roses.
These purple blooms look great against the new board fence.
A couple closeups of the red Calla Lilies.
At the Horticultural building there were some flowers hanging and also in beds.
The cement tiles in the upper lefthand corner are for some construction that is going on the other side of the gardens on King Street East.
One more glance back at the yellow Calla Lilies, before moving forward and making my decision about which way I will go on the grounds of the gardens today.
On the lefthand side of this photo you can see some writing, but I decided to get the quote that is there and put it in this photo.
I WILL come back and explore that area ahead, but another time. Meanwhile I am going to investigate the lower level this time.
There were two ladies working in the flowerbed, just to my left as I took this photo, so for their privacy's sake, I didn't take a shot of them.
Along this side of the Gardens there is a lot of rockery and I'm guessing that is one of the reasons the gardens were named Rockway. It would not be fair to compare this rock garden with the RBC Rock Garden in Burlington. However, this one, for me at least is much easier to get to. And it has its own beauty and memories of childhood visits, as well as wedding photography taken here just over 20 years ago.
A view of the Dorothy Elliot Gazebo from across Floral Crescent where I was taking photos of the rockway area along the side of the hill.
When I turned around from taking that photo of the gazebo, this is what I saw.
Some wild roses were up the precipice of the rock wall.
My all-time least favourite flower to see anywhere is golden rod. I was horrified to see it there as I am highly allergic to it. Thank God that there was only the one place I saw it, or I would have packed up and missed all the rest of the garden that I still had to explore.
Sometime I'll have to come here in the evening after dark to see the street lamps when they are turned on.
More rocks and foliage.
It doesn't seem like a big place till you get out here and see if for yourself. But oh the beauty to see.
...And hidden spots for photoshoots.
This rocky centrepiece was covered with different cactuses and I could have spent a lot more time there, but I knew I still had quite a distance to go.
As I was approaching this flowerbed that jutted out like this I was wondering what was beyond it. But I enjoyed all the myriad of colours and flowers that were between me and what lay on the other side.
Some closeups of the flowers that were there.
And then I saw this flower, but not sure what it is, I had to take a photo of it. It stuck out among the other colours as it nestled in among the green foliage of the other flowers.
What a mixture of colour and beauty.
Another angle of the gazebo with a light pole in front of it, and the evergreens backing it.
There was a white car parked with someone sitting in it just to the right of where I ended this shot. It had been there most of the time I was in this part of the gardens and just left before I did.
I caught five of the six flags that are posted by the raised floral bed.
I'm not sure what these are but I'm thinking they may be hollyhocks.
Again I took a shot across Floral Crescent and captured the entrance to the Eagle Bridge.
And some flowerbeds.
That bench is not directly in front of the hibiscus bush as I had first thought.
There are steps that lead up to the upper level that I have never explored.
In this shot you can see the meandering path that the steps take, but I would not be able to navigate them with my walker.
Another shot of the Eagle Bridge.
And about this time I realized that I had forgotten that there is a pond where there are water lilies. What I didn't see this time, that I recall from past visits is the gold fish. Nevertheless it was beautiful and peaceful.
There is a pine tree that had an interesting shape, but I forgot the name of it. So I just had to capture a shot of it.
There were water lilies in abundance in this pond. Some of them hid under the leaves.
The pond is made by a miniature waterfall cascading down the side of the hill behind the foliage in the pond.
Here I captured it.
More benches and flowers.
I have been getting thirsty and am anticipating taking a seat when I get to the table in the background and can have more of my coffee.
But before I can arrive there, I have to make sure I don't miss anything along the way. lol
I love the way they have tiered the flowerbeds here all the way up the incline of the rock face.
And some interesting trees are here to add to the scenery.
Just ahead I see many different coloured Joseph's Coat plants. That sparks another memory of my Mom. She had many varies of this plant all around the house on the window sills. Plus Begonias, Geraniums, Gloxinias, Busy Lizzies, African Violets, and many other house plants were on every available space and window ledge. She had a way with plants that I didn't inherit. That is why I go where I can capture for my pleasure, photos of plants.
I didn't take this picture for the chimney, but the bench at the edge of the ledge above.
And I have finally arrived and can relax and have more coffee. While I do that, I can glance around to see if there is anything that i have missed on my way thus far.
It was so tempting to take some cuttings off the Joseph's Coats and take them home. But I resisted. {Big Sigh!}
There are some more steps here that one could get up to the bench up there.
Just feast your eyes on the many arresting colours that are in just this photo alone.
And I just rediscovered the other lily pond.
But before I get there I had to take a closeup of the Elephant's Ears.
It looks like the smaller fountain doesn't have water coming out the top. If it did, there would be water cascading into the bowl below...
...Like the larger fountain has.
This shrub was in the centre of one of the flowerbeds, but I could not capture the flowers on it from the other side.
I don't see any goldfish here either, but I see some white water lilies.
And at the far end is another red one. I didn't realize that I captured a reflection of the water lily here.
The water lilies in this pond are more hidden than the other pond.
It was like playing hide and seek in this pond.
And here you can see the water cascading down the hillside to fill the pond.
Looking up the hill I see the bench up there and in the foreground is the table I sat at a while ago.
Two white water lilies hiding under and behind leaves.
And then I spotted a red one under the leaves. Looks like it is playing Peek-a-boo.
Another white one.
Then I spotted a couple of red ones.
And another one.
And most of the pond.
I took a pano shot of the pond and cut the picture in half to get this shot.
This is the other half.
In the distance is the archway that may have been spotted in other photos throughout the course of all of these photos.
And there is beauty right at my feet.
Another bench and some more stairs. You may notice that up to now the stairs have been made of natural rock.
As I was taking photos I heard a plane coming in very low and was able to capture a clear shot of it. The Region of Waterloo International Airport is not too far from here and I'm guessing this was their flight path for planes coming in from the west as there were more but higher up.
The archway close up.
The benches in the archway setting and some of the view behind it.
I am getting closer to the west end of the gardens, but still a distance away as is evident in this photo. And still more colour and beauty.
Another angle of the archway.
...A side view.
Surrounding flowerbeds.
I love the red and white of the upcoming flower bed.
And another natural stone staircase.
Still more amazing colour and beauty.
One last selfie for today, at least till I get home.
And just ahead I see a path that looks like it comes from somewhere. lol
I think it is coming from up there.
More beauty.
A zoom shot of the archway, or at least what can be seen through the trees.
Ah, yes. I thought there were some manmade steps here somewhere. And this path goes right through the gardens to the Rockway Centre, or at least King Street East.
As can be seen in this photo.
One last glance at the fountain area, before I head to catch a bus home. The sky is turning darker and I am waterproof, but my camera is not.
When I came up to King Street I noticed this tree and the clouds behind it and could not resist taking a photo of it.
The clouds were whirling and hiding the sun as I approached the bus shelter in front of the Rockway Centre.
As I had a bit of time, I took a photo of this bike that is there to fasten your bike to while you are in the Rockway Centre. They have another one on the other side of the entrance.
When I was getting ready for bed that night, I was startled to see how much sun I had accumulated on my skin. As the sun was not out all the time and I also sought shade when possible I didn't realize that I had been burnt. It didn't hurt and that was why I just had to take a shot to show it to you.
It was a six hour day in the sun, and many years ago I did learn that you can get a sunburn if you sit in the shade all day. However, now I have restarted my tan and want to get back out to take more photos. This time of the Grand River again, by following some trails that have been too hot, or too wet to navigate.
