"I had daisies - the first was brought to Victoria by Captain Mouat from California in a little garden pot and I paid one dollar for it -The single daisies were imported from Scotland by Douglas in seed - and the shamrock by Mr. Work - the thistle was an accidental coming - but no one supposed that the daisies or the thistles would have become the troublesome critters they now are. I recollect the first one that grew in my garden accidentally - it was looked on with great favor - probably came in the grass or other seed from the old country.

(VCA Helmcken)

At this time I was a great gardener - worked hard - up at 5 or 6 o'clock digging &c. Indians cleared out the stumps and so forth - into some sort of shape - and I planted with sods the grass plot as it now stands. Looking back the whole seems to me ridiculous an and awful waste of time -if I had spent the same time with patients or other pursuits it would have been better. . .I wanted black currants and the Californians sent me red - with black labeled on the small bushes(BCARS: ADD.MSS. 505, v.12)

(BCARS EB 124A)