Butchart Gardens is probably the best known Victoria attraction. They were planted in the early 20th century in what used to be a limestone quarry. While this sounded ‘nice’, I knew it would not be my best use of nearly $30, so I was going to skip it, but Mrs. H insisted on taking me there.
We had a wonderful time and I greatly enjoyed myself, more than I would have had I gone on my own since Mrs. H was able to tellĀ the names of a lot of the flowers.
My favourite gardens were the Japanese and the Sunken and my least favourite was the Italian. I like Japanese gardens because they feel very natural for all their formality, with soft ground covers, ponds with bridges, and rocky paths. The Sunken Garden was a formidable feat of horticulture; transforming the lunar landscape of a limestone query into a Technicolour world straight out of a fantasy. I don’t like Italian gardens because they are too stiff and formal, very hard with stone underfoot and statues all around.
These are the best pictures I took:
Mediterranean garden
Mediterranean garden
angeliques (type of tulip)
trillium (the provincial flower of Ontario)
the snail fountain
forget-me-nots
you walk along this dark path only to emerge…
in a whole new world! I was *awed*!
camelias
this chimney is all that is left of the cement factory that used to be on the property
camelias
pansies
these are wire animals covered with moss
checkered or snake lilies; the petals have a snakeskin pattern
more moss-covered wire animals
hyacinthes
a moss-covered wire frog
English daisies
seed field
look closely; this yellow tulip has a red petal!
the frog fountain
approaching the entrance to the Japanese garden
sturgeon fountain
the two ravens were breaking off twigs to build their nest
these lamps made me smile
moss-covered ground
a wall of bamboo
bamboo walkway
Butchart Cove
crane fountain
magnolias
another frog fountain, this time at the star pond
star pond
Mr. and Mrs. Mallard taking a nap in the star pond
entrance to the Italian garden
Italian garden
Visiting Butchart Gardens was a pleasant way to wile away a few hours, but it still feels way overpriced to me, impressed as I was by the way the old quarry was completely transformed.
It is overpriced, but my Grandmother, who visited them in the middle of winter felt they out-shined gardens of the Bahamas and Hawaii. Also, if you manage to go in the later day you can see the lights in the fountain (11 down on the right of your photos) – not sure if that is on special occasions, summer, or always.
I’m still not sure I’d recommend this place. š
Thanks for all the pictures, I enjoyed the flashback. I agree with you, $30 is a bit much for a garden.
I didn’t know you’ve been to Victoria!
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