Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC

When? 1909

Where? Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

Where specifically? About a 45 minute drive north of the capital, Victoria

Problem? An abandoned limestone quarry is an eye sore on your property.

Solution? Well, if you are Mrs. Butchart the answer is to create a garden in the quarry.

Fast forward to 2015 

Welcome to the Butchart Gardens

now a National Historic Site of Canada and one of Victoria’s top tourist attractions

Hint: Click on any photo to enlarge it.

Here we are overlooking the Sunken Garden. This was the original limestone quarry. Quite a change, eh?

Let’s head down. You can take the stairs just in front of you or you can take the wheelchair accessible trail.

Pretty down here, isn’t it.

Every time you turn your head you are met with another perfectly framed picture.

Continue following the paths here in the quarry and you will come to…

The Ross Fountain

Las Vegas water shows are nice, but this is just as spectacular!

Our visit is a springtime visit (late April) so there are lots of spring flowers to admire…

 

 

 

Lots and lots of tulips

Fields of tulips!

While admiring the flowers and flowering trees keep your eyes open for the totem poles…

and the Rose Carousel

Any age can ride the carousel. (I was on the giraffe!)

The gardens are designed so the eye is encouraged to look into the distance…

Aside: how do they get flowers to grow under the trees!

If you look far into the distance (remember you can enlarge this photo!)

you will catch a glimpse of Butchart Cove where the float planes land.

Within the Gardens there are specialty gardens.

My favorite? That would be the Japanese Garden.

To visit the Japanese Gardens, click here.

When on Vancouver Island, not matter what the season, do seriously consider a visit to the Butchart Gardens. Plan on staying a while.

There are numerous benches to rest on while you admire the scenery,

and contemplate the beauty in all aspects of gardening.

How to get to the Butchart Gardens?

If you have a car check out their official website for directions.

There are commercial tour buses which will take you to the gardens but it is much cheaper to travel by public transportation ($5.00 CDN round trip). Bus 75 is a direct (no transfers) ride. We traveled from the Legislative Buildings in downtown Victoria to the Gardens in about an hour.

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See more of the world with us….click here.

Happy Travels!