The beauty of Spring in Bloom at The Butchart Gardens located near Victoria, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, one of the world’s premier “not-to-be-missed” floral show gardens with over a million bedding plants!
We’re springing forward this Sunday with the arrival of Daylight Saving Time across the U.S. with the exception of Arizona and Hawaii.
As we’re springing forward this weekend, I’m taking you with me to see spring in bloom at The Butchart Gardens located near Victoria, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
I had to fall back into the archives of 2012, when I originally shared these photos so they will be new to some of you. If you’ve been around long enough to remember this post thank you! For those of you who may remember being an armchair traveler with me, I hope you’ll enjoy a return visit and dose of spring from the The Butchart Gardens!
The Butchart Gardens were on the “not-to-be-missed” list when we took our first trip to visit the Pacific Northwest and Vancouver, accessible by float plane or a ferry ride away in Victoria.
If you have a chance to visit, I highly recommend it. . . even the trash cans are beautiful and blooming!
Jennie Butchart began to shape this landscape into one of the world’s premier floral show gardens in 1904.
In the style of the grand estates of the period, she established several distinct gardens to evoke a range of aesthetic experiences.
A little background:
Robert and Jennie Butchart moved to Vancouver Island to build a cement plant on a rich limestone deposit at Tod Inlet in 1904. As cement production exhausted the limestone deposits, Jennie envisioned a grand garden in its place. Little by little, the quarry blossomed into today’s Sunken Garden, which includes 5 acres of gardens and took 9 years to create. It contains 151 flower beds with 65,000 bulbs planted each spring.
An even more amazing accomplishment and feat, when you consider that tons of top soil had to be brought in by horse and cart!
Between 1906 and 1929, the Butcharts expanded The Gardens, designing the Japanese Garden on the seaside, the Italian Garden on their former tennis court and the fragrant, overflowing Rose Garden.
Gifted The Gardens on his 21st birthday, grandson Ian Ross transformed them into the world-renowned attraction we know today, adding outdoor concerts and night lighting in the summers, and the Magic of Christmas in the winters.
Through successive generations of the Butchart family, The Gardens have retained much of the original design, and continues the Victorian tradition of seasonally changing the outstanding floral displays.
Today, The Butchart Gardens is a National Historic Site of Canada. You’ll find over a million bedding plants in over 900 varieties, ensuring uninterrupted bloom from March through October throughout The Gardens.
Over 300,000 bulbs bloom for a symphony of spring in The Gardens.
The public area of The Butchart Gardens covers 22ha (55 acres) with much more, for the most part, “off stage.”
Twenty-six greenhouses covering almost 2 acres, along with trial growing areas, a plant and a tree and shrub nursery help to keep The Gardens in prime viewing condition.
“Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.”
~ Luther Burbank
Thank you for your visit! Sharing with:
Between Naps on the Porch,
Gorgeous!
Thank you so much for sharing this post. It lifted my spirit.
Mary. I so enjoyed this the second time around. There is a fire hydrant in front of my house that is almost entirely covered by snow. These pictures remind me that spring is around the corner. Thank you so much!
My husband and I had the privilege of visiting the Butchart Gardens one summer. It is magnificent. We are forever grateful for the care and planning to maintain the beauty there. My husband returned there in the fall, and his photos of the fall plantings are equally as beautiful. Thank you for sharing~
I visited the gardens in the early 90s, when it was deserted…we were the only tourists I saw. It’s an amazing place to note which varieties you like and want to add to your list. As there are many spring-blooming bulbs that must be planted in fall, it’s busy for the gardeners virtually all year (especially with their mild winters). I planted 330 bulbs last year, and it almost killed me…I can’t imagine the scale of their work!
What a delightful virtual tour of the gardens. Have never been there but this was second best. Another gloomy rainy day here in Greensboro but they promise a break next week. Need to go shopping for some tulips or daffodils to brighten my home inside. Stay dry and warm and keep thinking spring.🐝
Truly magnificent and breathtaking. On my list of places to go!
We had the pleasure…no, honor of visiting Buchart Gardens 18 years ago and I still get WOW moments looking through this wonderful book THEY SENT ME because I wrote on their guest book it was our 30th Anniversary!! Just a “class act!” franki
Thank you for bringing me back to this spectacular garden that my husband and I toured several years ago. It will forever be one of the highlights of our travels. With only grocery store flowers inside our home at the moment, I look forward to the first sign of spring in our yard.
Mary, your photos are stunning. We were there in June of 2016, they are magnificent gardens and definitely a must see!
This is on my bucket list now! Beautiful gardens and thanks for sharing again!
Thank you so very much, Mary, for sharing so much beauty with us! We were in Victoria a number of years ago with not enough time in port to view the beauty first hand. Spectacular photos! Such a treat! Thank you!!!
How beautiful! Don’t know if I was around for the original posting, but I’ve been around a long time, and you always inspire me!
Wow, love it.
The second time around is even better! On my bucket list and with a granddaughter living near Seattle, it hopefully will be a dream come true. Love the Forget-me-nots surrounding all the Tulips! My south garden floor is covered in Forget-me-nots in the Spring, so now I’ ll have to make it a point to add more Tulips! So beautiful. Thanks for the spring ahead reminder. ⚘🌾⏰
Your pictures are gorgeous and quite motivating! I was just thinking earlier this week as to what might be some new additions to the garden this year, particularly honing in on scented flowers. Now, we just need the rain to stop around here so we can get to some spring gardening! Thank you for sharing the much needed bursts of color and inspiration!
Absolutely stunning. Thank you for sharing!!
Thank you so much for sharing! I had no idea this even existed! Will be on my bucket travel list! Gorgeous photos and thanks for the history!!
Your photos are magical, Mary! I may have already told you that my late beloved and I visited Butchart Gardens as an excursion on our cruise ship. I’d really love to go back because it was nearing dusk and it was hard to see all the beauty. Maybe one day, I can return! Happy weekend to you.
We have visited the Butchart Gardens at different times of the year and it is always a visual feast. Your photography is amazing! Thank you for sharing.
Beautiful gardens & the history is interesting. Thanks for sharing. We were in port a number of years ago but chose to explore the city as there were special events that particular day at the Parliament bldg which didn’t disappoint. This is now on our bucket list as it’s a must see. Clara🌹🌷
Thank you for taking us on a journey through Butchart Gardens., it was most enjoyable. The gardens are lovely, however your photography shows it off to it’s very best.
What a special treat. It has truly made my day. Thank you for sharing these magnificent pictures.
Goodness you need to show this photos every year at least…simply gorgeous photography. Love your camera eye!
Oh wow, that place looks amazing. I love the Asian garden and all the wonderful color contrasts they have implemented in the flower beds. I’d love to go see it but I may never leave!
Oh my goodness, this post is amazing. Your photos put a smile on my face…can’t wait for Spring flowers. We are already getting some here in Arizona. Thanks for sharing these gorgeous photos.
Thanks I needed that, so cold it may snow tonight, I AM CRAVING COLOR! This, and kuekenhoff, are my most favorite displays in the world, ok, schrieners iris gardens too! It’s breathtaking to wander these gardens, I was just a little girl the first time I went, it’s always left a HUGE impression. Thanks for the memories and such gorgeous pics, and yes, I remember your original debut 😉
I love this place! Haven’t been there in forever. In fact, the last time I went I wasn’t really a gardner. Now, I can appreciate the labor and beauty so much more.
Lovely to look at.
Marilyn
Simply gorgeous.
Joan
Beautiful flowers.
Marion
Absolutely beautiful! I enjoyed this post so much as I just love gardens and everything to do with nature. Thank you for sharing. Enjoy your Sunday!
Blessings,
Jill
Spring will be here before we know it Mary! It just ~felt~ different when I walked outside yesterday:@) Happy Sunday!
Mary, Thank for sharing your beautiful photos and trip to The Butchart Gardens, hey’re on my bucket list now. I’m thrilled to be a winner of a beautiful umbrella, It will definitely help with making April Showers more colorful!
CONGRATULATIONS KATHY AND BETSY!! 💐🌸🎉 Those gardens are beyond beautiful!! WOW!! 💐💐💐
Thank you for the revisit to this incredible spot Mary, I do remember these photos and have pinned some for future paintings! So much eye candy for flower lovers!
Jenna
I forgot to mention that as soon as you featured those incredibly cute umbrellas for your giveaway, I immediately hopped over to Amazon and ordered one…mine is black & white polka dots and I LOVE it! Congrats to the lucky winners and I LOVE the watercolor clock! Happy Sunday…
Mary, my “winter” eyes – used to shades of grey- almost couldn’t take the explosion of color! Your photos are gorgeous and a nice reminder that Spring is on the way.
Absolutely beautiful!
Thank you for sharing, I grew up in the Fraser Valley outside Vancouver and visited the gardens so much as a child. My parents would take any visitors we had (mostly relatives from the prairies) and we spent an action packed day touring Victoria.
It was so nice to see somewhere I have been and love.
Beautiful!💕
We visited the gardens in 2011. I really enjoyed their high tea! It was a beautiful summer day.
I live about three hours north of Victoria, and your beautiful photos of the gardens remind me I have to get down there to see the spring flowers before there gone. Thanks for reposting.
I sure would like to come and visit the Garden. Wonder how many days would a person send there??
Lovely reminder to get my girlfriends together for our annual spring visit to the gardens and lunch, truly inspiring with amazingly gorgeous sights and scents, each and every year. Easy for us as we live only 45 minutes away! Do visit when you have the opportunity!
WOW! JUST…WOW!
Beautiful! A spot of heaven on earth!
It’s been almost 40 years since I’ve been there…time to revisit. Thanks Mary for the beautiful photos and history.
Looking forward to seeing these gardens this summer.
We went there in the summer of 2016. So gorgeous. Now I need to go back to see spring and fall there too. Time for another trip to the PNW!!!
Mary, if I ever get married again, this is where I want to honeymoon. When would you recommend the best month of the year to visit? Thanks for always motivating me.
Thanks so very much for sharing these beautiful gardens of flowers, trees & waterfalls!! I would have never had a chance to view this otherwise. Beautiful!!