Pierre - Our Arborist - Always up a tree!

Pierre's Kind words in our Guest Book

The Class just hanging around - Glad they had knot practice first!

These are no small trees he was climbing!
You can see Surrey Central / SFU in the background.

Oh to be skillful and not afraid of heights!

Pierre Our Arborist Guest:

Pierre arrived April 19, 2009 for 4 weeks.

It was a pleasure having Pierre stay with us at The Guest House while he was attending His Arborist course.
Pierre arrived in Surrey on April 19, 2009 to take his course for his current job in Cranbrook, BC.
The Course was held at Green Timbers Park (5 Minutes away) and he spent most of his days up a tree! when he arrived he was uncertain about the area and his only contact with the lower mainland was a school friend who now lived on Vancouver Island. After 4 weeks in our big city and spending time with his new friends from school he found his way around Vancouver and the Island very well.
He made many friends from class & they spent time together visiting what Vancouver has to offer. White Rock was a hit as well as Stanley Park and the Vancouver Aquarium.
I know his wife missed him terribly and we were happy to make sure he felt at home In The Guest House and that he stayed in contact with his family back home.
I enclose the kind words he wrote in our Guest Book and I wanted to share some of his pictures his buddies took of him at school!
I am sure his employer will be happy to have him back especially now he has all this extra experience climbing our West Coast Trees!
We made sure he took a hearty lunch with him each day to keep up his strength while climbing. (I heard through the grapevine that some of his buddies were drooling over the hot lunch he had most days!) His Lunches were included as part of his 2 MEALS per day. He decided he would rather take a hot lunch than have an English Breakfast each day. (We are very flexible at The Guest House and each guest can tailor their specific needs during their stay with us!) His buddies staying at the local hotel had to venture out each day or remember to buy something on their way in - I made sure his lunch was ready to go and tasty each day! I think some of his buddies wished they had booked with us and not the motel down the street!
Tigger will miss him terribly as she had quite a Kitty Crush on Pierre and sat and waited by the door each day for him to come home from school - I am sure it had something to do with the kitty treats he fed her when he got home - but she will never tell.
We hope he comes back again to stay with us and this time brings Nikki with him!

Thank you for stopping in at "The Guest House".
Send all inquiries to:
guesthousehomestay@gmail.com

Bear Creek Park - Walking Distance from The Guest House

The History of Bear Creek Park

Which way to go? There are so many things to do & see

Bear Creek Gardens

Established in 1996 in association with the City of Surrey, Parks, Recreation and Culture Department. The Bear Creek Park Train features Eddy the Engine and Chough the steam locomotive operating on a 15 inch narrow gauge track. The Bear Creek Park Train is owned by Eddy the Engine and Friends Enterprises Ltd.
It is a licensed narrow gauge railway that operates according to the Railway Act of British Columbia. The train brings family
fun and awareness of railway transportation to the public.

Bear Creek Park - Walking distance from The Guest House is Gorgeous any time of the Year!

See how close we are to the park? Go from "A" to "B" and you are there. Enjoy your walk around our quiet neighbourhood or get there in a few minutes by car.

View Larger Map

The Garden in Bear Creek Park is one of Surrey's finest, filled with horticultural treasures that offer new interest throughout the year. Located within Bear Creek Park on 88th Avenue, east of King George Highway in Surrey, the 5-acre gardens along with other park facilities are open from dawn to dusk daily. Surrounded by a second-growth forest of Cottonwoods, Alders and Western Red Cedars, the garden site was originally cleared and seeded in 1973. The following year, three bridges and footpaths were constructed. Original plantings included a Rhododendron Bed, Heather Bed, Conifer Bed and several mixed horticultural areas. Little expansion took place until 1989, when funds became available to proceed with a Native Walk featuring plants of the Pacific Northwest, a watercourse and pond. Framing the garden entrance from the main park area is a massive gateway constructed of Western Red Cedar. Its style is taken from that of the Coastal Indian Longhouses. A bridge crosses King Creek leading to a kiosk that details the various planting areas within the gardens. The collection of plant material is divided into various groupings including Rhododendrons, Azaleas,

and Heather and Heaths. Other plantings include a Woodland Bed, Cottage Garden, Ornamental Grass Collection and a Shade Garden. Annual bedding and bulb displays add additional colour and interest during the spring and summer months, although the gardens diversity provides enjoyment year round. The gardens have become especially popular with wedding parties, while a small 'chapel' is provided for those wishing to marry in the gardens.

"Bear Creek Park offers a combination of quiet walks and outdoor activities that make it an ideal spot for family adventures or individual exploring. The park includes sports fields, a running track, picnic areas, shelters and a swimming pool. A special family favourite on hot summer days is the water playground. Walking trails wind through meadows and forest, across bridges and streams."

Just another amazing place to visit while staying at The Guest House!


Thank you for stopping in at "The Guest House".
Send all inquiries to:
guesthousehomestay@gmail.com

My Lilac Bush at The Guest House

Spring has arrived - Our Lilac Bush is in Full Bloom!

Welcome to The Guest House and take a look at our lovely Lilac Bush. It is a wonderful white color (Not many in our neighbourhood). It is our first spring in our new home and it is exciting every day seeing what comes out in the garden. All the daffs, tulips, poppies are full of color, but the Lilac Bush is wonderful. I can see it looking out my office window all day long. I watch the little birds sit in the branches. It is an old bush with moss on the branches but the flowers are still full of perfume.
I thought of taking some cuttings and bringing in the smell into the Guest House, but the buds do not stay alive for long and they bring so much joy to the neighbours and my view.
I may plant a purple one close by to keep this white one company & mix it up a little, but we shall see - the white one is doing well on its own.
I have waited since October for the bush to bloom. It held my Halloween trinkets and Christmas lights and the little hand made bird pine comb feeder through the snowy winter. Now it is spring and the bush is in its full glory. It was worth the wait.
If you have a chance to smell a lilac bush up close - take a minute and stop and smell the blossoms! nothing canned or candled matches the live version!


Thank you for stopping in at "The Guest House".
Send all inquiries to:
guesthousehomestay@gmail.com

A Visit to Salt Spring Island - one of the Southern Gulf Islands

Salt Spring Island in British Columbia is the jewel of the Southern Gulf Islands. It is nestled up against the east side of Vancouver Island. Take a look at the maps of Salt Spring Island to see where it is located. Salt Spring Island is about half way between Nanaimo and Victoria, the capital city of BC. The city of Vancouver on the mainland of BC is to the north.

There are over ten thousand human residents on Salt Spring Island, several thousand sheep and a sizeable deer population. From time to time, a bear is spotted, usually on the south end of the island, and there are also occasional reports of a cougar being seen, sometimes even close to Ganges. It is believed that bears and cougars swim across Sansum Narrows from Vancouver Island. Leave them alone and they will leave you alone, but don't attract them by leaving food or garbage out for them to find! There is far less chance of spotting them on Salt Spring Island than most other places in BC, but keep an eye on children. Don't trip over the deer, though!

Nearby Galiano Island is longer but sparsely populated with only about a thousand permanent residents. Galiano, Mayne and Pender Islands (North & South) are closer to Vancouver and the mainland than Salt Spring Island. Prevost Island is located between Salt Spring and Active Pass, which separates Galiano and Mayne Islands. There are also scores of smaller islands throughout the Southern Gulf Islands. To the south of BC's Gulf Islands are the San Juan Islands in Washington State. They are very similar to the Southern Gulf Islands.

Vancouver Island is bigger than some countries. It lies off the west coast of British Columbia and stretches for some 450 km or so along the coast — about a third the length of the entire province. Victoria, the capital of BC, is at the southern tip of Vancouver Island. Duncan, Nanaimo, Courtenay and Campbell River, all along the eastern side of Vancouver Island, are the only other sizeable communities on Vancouver Island except for Port Alberni off to the west of Nanaimo. Ucluelet, Tofino and Long Beach are "must visit" places on the west side of Vancouver Island. Bring your surfboard and your wet suit!

Salt Spring Island has long been known as a very special place in BC. For the population, there are a very large number of artists, sculptors and musicians living here. The community got together and raised funds to build Art Spring — a brand new community hall. Many well known musicians, both local and from afar, have performed here already. Even the pubs have a pretty good showing of local talent performing there.

Regularly scheduled bus service commenced on Salt Spring Island on January 7 2008.

To Learn More About Salt Spring Island - Click on the above pictures!



Saltspring Soapworks is one of MY MOST favorite Stores. I shop yearly in Victoria when we go over for John's Hockey tournament. I buy a years worth of soaps and bath balms. I believe you can order on-line and it is so worth it! If you like fancy soaps and pure products I thought you would like to see. Click on the picture to be directed to the web site.


Thank you for stopping in at "The Guest House".
Send all inquiries to:
guesthousehomestay@gmail.com or vjreynolds@shaw.ca