The South Riding RV Travels

333

27th July 2007 - Charlottetown PEI and Iona PEI

We went into Charlottetown and went to Sandland which is just behind the visitor centre. Here is a collection of sand sculptures which are remade every year. They are sprayed with silicone to keep the water in which enables them to keep their shape despite the rain. The first exhibit is this map of PEI.
The island has strong connections with Scotland which are represented by the piper. It is also famous for its lighthouses with their characteristic design.
This diorama shows some of the fathers of the Canadian Confederation arriving in 1864 in a dory, a common local type of boat. In the background is one of the sculptors at work on another sculpture.
Agriculture is a major part of the economy as shown by this tractor ploughing another field for potatoes.
Over 60% of the crop is processed into a value added product like chips, crisps and dried potato products.
Music and dance are important leisure activities and often traditionally took place in the kitchen - the ceilidh. The scene is quite a challenge for the sculptors.
Each of the sculptures is sponsored by a different group. This one commemorates the boat builders. Between 1800 and 1900 the island built 4500 boats, more per capita than anywhere in the world except Britain.
We moved on to the village of Iona, well a crossroads really but it is the home of the Red Lane nursery which specialises in day lilies (hemerocallis). It is a mail order supplier but open to the public for three weeks of the year during full bloom. They stock over 1000 different varieties but this is a tiny fraction of the total.

I could give you the name and cost of each, and they ship abroad, but here are a few that we particularly liked, just to enjoy the wide variety of colour and detail.

They also have some Japanese iris with some spectacular shades of mauve and purple. They were really huge and we were very tempted but we've no chance of getting them home. For more photos and information go to http://www.redlanegardens.com