While in the Victoria area of Vancouver Island, we visited the 55-acre Butchart Gardens which we'd passed a day earlier in Brentwood Bay after disembarking the ferry from the BC mainland. A few years ago, I'd written a blogpost about Jennie Butchart and her dream of transforming her husband's depleted limestone quarry into a colourful and imaginative feast for the senses. Jennie wasn't a gardener, yet she knew what she wanted and who to contact. As a testament to her faith in the project, the Gardens, which are still owned and operated by her family, were granted National Historic Site of Canada status in 2004.
 |
| Snail Pond, July 2025, Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, BC |
The Snail Pond is the first feature you pass enroute the Sunken Garden. It's one of many fountain sculptures and pond features highlighting the Gardens. The internet abounds with photos of the Butchart Gardens, yet most are views of the same statues, fountains, and garden designs. There were six of us taking photos on this trip and we were attracted to different things. This post shows the beauty, artistry and fun of our visit on that day in July, 2025.
 |
| Path to the Sunken Garden, Butchart Gardens, 2025, Brentwood Bay, BC |
In this land of beauty, even the drab holds surprises. Moss topiary sculptures hide in places sun-loving plants don't grow, and other surprising locations. There's one lying between the trees on the left side of the photo above. See it close up in the photo below.
 |
| Moss Topiary Sculpture, Butchart Gardens, 2025, Brentwood Bay, BC |
It's hard to believe the Sunken Garden was once a limestone quarry. The rock walls and ground are alive with natural textures. The pathways lead down, around, and wind up again, not straight lines, full of variety and hues to hold your interest with astounding vistas around every curve.
 |
| The Sunken Garden, July 2025, Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, BC |
Each year, over 265,000 annuals made up of 900 varieties are planted in the Butchart Gardens greenhouses. They are used in the beds and baskets that colour the Gardens. Add to that the 180,000 biennials, 300,000 bulbs, perennials, shrubs, etc that flourish under the loving hands of the staff who use a holistic approach to protect and enhance the plants under their management.
 |
| Nelson in the Sunken Garden, July 2025, Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, BC |
 |
| The Sunken Garden, July 2025, Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, BC |
We climbed out of the Sunken Garden and followed the path around the Concert Lawn. To the left was the Rose Carousel, as well as the Firework viewing area. Along our sun-drenched path, the dahlias grew almost as high as JJ.
 |
| JJ along the Concert Lawn, July 2025, Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, BC |
I took a lot of photos of the magnificent walkways, but it's hard to tell the height of the stems and blooms unless someone is standing beside them. In the photo's background, you can barely see a building hidden under a canopy of greenery.
 |
| Jessie, Nelson, and Monkey Puzzle Tree, July 2025, Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, BC |
We turned to look for the rest of our crew and I was thrilled to see a Monkey Puzzle tree (Araucaria araucana) entertaining two of my monkeys on the Concert Lawn.
 |
| The Rose Garden, July 2025, Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, BC |
We continued down the path, past the dragon fountain, and entered the allure of the Rose Garden.
 |
| The Rose Garden, July 2025, Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, BC |
The Rose Garden was breathtaking but admittedly, as we feasted our eyes on rows upon rows of roses, we didn't do it justice. The sun was draining our energy and we wanted to rest somewhere in the shade.
We continue our tour of the Butchart Gardens in Part 2 where we explore the cool and meditative Japanese Garden, the historic Italian Garden, and Waterwheel Square.
Check out a post I wrote in 2020 on The Butchart Gardens with photos and information of my 1992 visit.
Note: The Butchart Gardens Part 1 and 2 blogposts correspond with February's calendar page.
