I hope all my U.S. readers had a wonderful 4th of July! The party may be over, but the garden is just getting started.

We’re still making our way up the coast and stopped in Vancouver for several days. This stop threw us a curveball right from the start.

Vancouver

We normally anchor at the end of False Creek, where you can look out at Science World and Rogers Arena and feel like you have the best seat in the city.

This year, that wasn’t possible. The FIFA World Cup was in town, and security had tightened up, with no boats allowed to anchor in our usual spot.

We got lucky.

We found a dock space right across from Granville Island, tucked just under the Granville Street Bridge.

It turned out to be a wonderful spot. We spent days watching the aquabuses and party boats going back and forth across the water, which is always fun.

It rained a couple of days and was on the cooler side, but that didn’t really seem to matter. We had a great time.

E-bikes, Costco, and the Wicklow Pub

The first day was all about provisions. We loaded up the e-bikes and rode to Costco. This is a boat trip tradition at this point.

We stocked up, dropped everything back at Wildflower, and then rewarded ourselves with a stop at the Wicklow Pub, a spot we’d found on a previous trip.

It overlooks the water, and the atmosphere is casual.

The mac and cheese is absolutely fabulous. I’m still thinking about it.

Granville Island

The next day, we took the Aquabus across the water to Granville Island, which is always fun.

The best part? We could actually see Wildflower parked on the other side of the water the whole time.

The Public Market has everything… fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, cheese, bagels, homemade pasta.

We picked up pasta for dinner on the boat that night, and it was exactly as good as you’d hope for.

Of course, I couldn’t walk past the flower stand without stopping. V & J Plant Shop has been inside the market since opening day… over 40 years, three generations of the same family, still tucked in the south corner of the market.

For someone who grows cut flowers at home all summer, standing in front of buckets of beautifully arranged blooms from someone else’s garden is its own kind of joy.

After the market, we wandered through the nearby shops, which are some of the most interesting in the city.

The Granville Island Broom Company is a shop you have to walk through.

Two sisters make handcrafted brooms entirely by hand using traditional Shkaer methods, right there in the shop.

Everything from classic long-handled brooms to whicks and cobwebbers.

It’s one of those places that sounds quirky until you walk in, and then you completely understand why people love it.

Provence en Couleur had the most creative displays of lavender products I’ve ever seen.

The shop smells incredible.

The presentation is something else.

And at Maiwa, we found a beautiful tablecloth for the boat… the perfect souvenir.

Stanley Park

Another day, we rode our bikes through Stanley Park, which is our favorite thing to do in Vancouver.

The seawall, the trees, the mountains across the water. It never gets old, no matter how many times we’ve done it.

We stopped for a late lunch at Desi Indian Lounge, which has been officially put on the “Always do in Vancouver” list.

There’s a reason why they have a 4.7-star rating.

One thing that stopped us on our bike ride was this little yellow house completely surrounded by glass towers.

It turns out it’s the Leslie House, built in 1888 and one of the oldest structures in Vancouver. It’s a designated heritage site that has refused to move while the entire city grew up around it.

People online compare it to the house from the movie Up. I love that it’s still there.

Back Home: The Garden is Just Getting Started

The July garden doesn’t slow down for anyone. It’s starting to burst with color.

The Earthwalker sunflowers, red cherry marigolds, and nasturtiums are a combination I’ve started growing every season now.

The colors work so beautifully together.

The gladiolus are blooming, and they are one of my favorite summer flowers to cut and bring inside.

There’s nothing quite like a tall stem of gladiolus in a summer arrangement.

The hydrangeas are deepening in color by the day. And there’s been a real shift in the cutting garden this year.

This Week from Years Past: Making Lavender Wreaths

This same week last year, my friend Lori, who grows lavender on her farm, invited me over for a lavender wreath-making afternoon.

The whole place smelled incredible, and it was such a peaceful way to spend a few hours. Some of the best memories come from the simplest gatherings.

On the Blog This Week

My Favorite Inspiration Around the Web This Week

Try this effortless marinated burrata recipe.

You’ll want to check out this modern manor remodel!

Here’s a DIY project for all the flower lovers.

You’ll love this easy cast-iron triple berry crisp recipe.

This project from the House Seven Design portfolio is gorgeous.

Try this refreshing Lavender Limeade drink this summer.

5 simple ways to reset this summer.

The secret to lining drawers the cheap way.

This is an easy and refreshing chicken salad recipe.

A coastal cottage kitchen refreshed with painted floors.

This spaghetti recipe with zucchini.

Looking Ahead

More coastline ahead, more harbours, and a garden back home that’s clearly not waiting for us to catch up.

Until next week,