Butchart Gardens: Beautiful Gardens Open All Year

Butchart Gardens Web Site can help you plan your time there. While the gardens are beautiful all year there is something extra special about spring time. The gardens are full of colorful tulips and daffodills, and many of the trees have lovely spring blossoms. You can also see rhododendrons, magnolia trees and dogwood, which is the provincial flower.

The rose garden is wonderful from late spring until well into fall.

In addition the city of Victoria nearby has many blossoms and flowers of every kind. The blossoms can begin as early as February.

As well as the many sites to visit in Victoria, the gardens are close to the lovely town of Sidney. This town has a scenic waterfront for walks and a charming downtown with many interesting shops. Sidney also has accomodations as well as bed and breakfasts.

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, Canada
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Butchart Garden's history goes back over 100 years. Robert Butchart and his wife Jennie Butchart moved to Vancouver Island because of the rich limestone deposits necessary for cement production.

In 1904, they had their home near his quarry at the Saanich Peninsula, which is about 12 miles from the capital city of Victoria.

In 1906, Jennie started a Japanese garden there with the help of a Japanese designer. In 1909, when the quarry was exhausted, Jennie decided to turn it into a sunken garden. This breathtaking garden was completed in 1921. They named their home "Benvenuto" (which means "welcome" in Italian), and began inviting people to view their masterpiece.. In 1926, they replaced their tennis courts with an Italian garden and in 1929 the vegetable garden became a rose garden.

In 1939, the Butcharts gave the Gardens to their grandson Ian Ross on his 21st birthday. He remained involved in the operation and promotion of the gardens until his death 58 years later.

In 1953, miles of underground wiring was laid to provide night illumination. In 1964, Ross Fountain was added in the lower reservoir to celebrate the 60th anniversary. This fountain changes colors at night. In 2004, two 30-foot totem poles were installed to mark the 100th anniversary, and The Gardens were designated as a national historic site. The gardens added a carousel in 2009.

The main dining room is in the original Butchart home. It's well known for afternoon teas, and is open for dinner during the summer months.

Ownership of the Gardens continues within the Butchart family; the owner and managing director today is the Butchart's great-granddaughter Robin-Lee Clarke.

As you tour the gardens, there are pictures in the various areas that show you what it looked like before. It's really quite amazing to see what Jennie Butchart and others created, particularly with the Sunken Gardens.

Butchart Gardens has a great online store where you can shop for seeds, souvenirs, home decor, china, tea and coffee, garden sculptures and more.

The seed collection is extensive, and includes flowers that attract butterflies or hummingbirds, drought resistant flowers, special mixes and more.

The online store is available from their web site listed below.

One question people often have is how much time do you need to really see the gardens? Can you see them in half a day? Yes, you can, but here are a few things to consider.

If you want to come on a Saturday during the summer when it's fireworks night, you will need to get there extra early. At the beginning of July, the fireworks start at 10:15, with each Saturday starting 15 minutes earlier due to the days getting shorter. Since the fireworks are EXTREMELY popular and it takes awhile just to get to the gate you should plan to be there at least by 3 PM.

If you just want to see the gardens during the day, and aren't interested in eating there or spending time in the gift shop and gallery then you can see what you want in half a day.

Tulips in the Butchart Gardens, Victoria BC
Alison Wright
31x25 Fine Art Framed Print
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Fountains in the Italian Garden Butchart Gardens
Ruth Tomlinson
9x12 Photographic Print
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Butchart Gardens is beautiful at Christmas time too! At night the gardens are lit up with thousands and thousands of lights and displays. The Christmas light show goes from early December until a few days after New Years.

Butchart Gardens in Bloom
Tim Laman
9x12 Photographic Print
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