The Butchart Gardens

The Butchart Gardens began when Canadian businessman Robert Pim Butchart began quarrying limestone and manufacturing Portland cement at Tod Inlet Vancouver Island in 1904.

He and his family established their home there. His wife Jennie was upset by the bleak pit left by the quarried limestone and set about reclaiming the land. She ordered topsoil from nearby farmers, had it brought in by horse and cart and lined the floor of the abandoned limestone quarry at Tod Inlet. This became the Sunken Garden.

Brake for Butterflies Bumper Sticker by naturegirl7div>

The Tod Inlet plant stopped manufacturing cement in 1916, but continued to make tiles and flower pots as late as 1950.

The only surviving portion of the cement factory is the tall chimney of a former kiln seen from the Lookout in the Sunken Garden. This lonely chimney now overlooks the reclaimed quarry.

Robert and Jennie celebrated their travels abroad by creating a Japanese Garden at the Butchart Gardens in 1908.

Later they created an Italian Garden and replaced a vegetable patch with the Rose Garden in 1929.

Mr. Butchart enjoyed his wife's work and contributed by collecting ornamental birds from all over the world. He kept ducks, peacocks, and a parrot in the main house.

He also trained pigeons at the site of the present Begonia Bower. He was very proud of Jennie's work and built elaborate birdhouses throughout the gardens.

While I was at the Butchart Gardens I bought a beautiful crystal hummingbird for my Mum from the gift shop. It has since triggered an interest in Swarovski hummingbirds. The gift shop at the Gardens has a lovely selection, but if you can't get there, you might like to look at these.

Large Hummingbird Swarovski Crystals Blue Green Teal Aqua Hummingbird Jewelry Trinket Bird Box Flowered
This is the hummingbird I bought for mum! It is actually a trinket box and she loves it.

Blue Hummingbird Decoration Set with Swarovski Crystals, Flying on Yellow Flower FREE SHIPPING
I would have been tempted by this hummingbird decoration, but I am glad I chose the hummingbird trinket box.

Hummingbird Pin Brooch 24K Gold Swarovski Crystals White Red Amber Green Jewelry, $1 Shipping!
Hummingbird brooches are adorable and very feminine. They are also very collectible!

FREE SHIP! Swarovski Crystals 24K Gold HUMMINGBIRD COMPACT MIRROR 2.5" Round Picture Photo Frame
This would make a pretty gift for anyone who loves hummingbirds too!

3D Hummingbird Pin Swarovski Crystals Brooch Purple White Three Dimensional Figure! 24k gold! FREE SHIPPING! Wings really move!Fascinating hummingbird brooch with moveable wings!

Platinum-Plated Swarovski Crystal Hummingbird Design Brooch/Pin
This is just adorable! I hope this little purple Swarovski hummingbird will one day make its way into my jewelry box!

News of Mrs. Butchart's gardening spread. By the 1920s more than fifty thousand people came each year to see the gardens.

Their estate was christened "Benvenuto", Italian for "Welcome", and flowering cherry trees were purchased from Yokohama Nursery in Japan. These were planted from West Saanich Road to The Butchart Gardens' entrance. (This is not a cherry blossom from Victoria - sadly I missed that display!)

The Butchart Gardens is still a family business and a premier West Coast display garden, with an international reputation for its display of flowering plants all year round.

Close to a million people visit each year, and also over 1,000,000 bedding plants in 700 varieties ensure uninterrupted bloom from March through October. Entertainment and lighting displays are presented each summer and Christmas.

Ian and Ann-Lee Ross purchased The Fountain of Three Sturgeons and the bronze boar in 1973. Pietro Tacca, created the marble statue of the Boar in 1620. It is displayed in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.

This rare bronze casting has a shiny snout form visitors giving it a rub for good luck! It is called Tacca after the original sculptor and is dedicated to the children and dogs who visit the Gardens!