Road Trip 2025 - The Butchart Gardens Part 2

 
Part 1 of our Butchart Gardens tour took us through the Sunken Garden, Concert Lawn, and Rose Garden. Part 2 will now take us through the Japanese Garden, Italian Garden, and Waterwheel Square. 

Gateway to the Japanese Garden, July 2025, Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, BC

Everything in the Japanese Garden is there for a reason...to immerse you in peace and feed your soul. It's a quiet place. You barely notice the dozens of other people on the paths because they walk slowly and hushed, paying tribute to the peace. The sound of a soft waterfall, a sprinkling fountain, and what I call a bamboo water drop (shishi-odoshi), are natural sounds in the garden. 

Shishi-odoshi, Japanese Garden, July 2025, Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, BC

The shishi-odoshi is my favourite feature in a Japanese garden. I seek it out and wait as the closed bamboo tube fills with water, and then slowly...slowly...the bamboo starts to tip until finally, it releases a soothing stream of water. But wait---it's not finished yet because as the tube empties, gravity pulls the base of the bamboo back down where it hits the rock with a loud, hollow knock. And the process begins again as long as there is water to fill the bamboo tube.

Japanese Meditation Garden, July 2025, Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, BC

Another feature I appreciate in a Japanese Garden is the Zen Meditation Garden, often called a stone garden. It's purpose is not the digging and planting of a flower or vegetative garden, but one for meditation and reflection. The sea is represented by undulating lines of sand or gravel curving around large stones and natural elements giving the aura of rippling waves. The art of creating such a garden is skillful. The art of allowing yourself to sit beside such a garden is calming...if you allow it to be. Breath slowly and relax. Let the world slide by for a moment or two as you follow the waves of a dry sea.

Moss-covered Stone Lantern, Japanese Garden, July 2025, Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, BC

The cool Japanese Garden is filled with dappled sunlight which restricts growth, yet encourages moss. Moss abounds which helps deaden noise and allows for interesting, if somewhat subdued, views.  

Japanese Garden, July 2025, Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, BC

A lily pond is beautiful on its own, yet takes on an ethereal beauty when floating above an artistic stone floor that shimmers as lily pads dance above.  

Artistic river bed, Japanese Garden, July 2025, Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, BC

As we left the Japanese Garden, we felt the full rays of the late afternoon sun. We grabbed a quick view of the wide Star Pond before heading toward the historic Italian Garden. 

Italian Garden, July 2025, Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, BC

The Italian Garden was constructed alongside the residence of Robert and Jennie Butchart. It has the shrubbery and greenspace of most gardens, with the focal part being a large plaza with the Cross Pond.

Italian Garden with Cross Pond, March 1992, Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, BC

In the above photo from my 1992 visit, you can see the distinct cross-shaped pond in the centre of the plaza. Since it was March when I visited, there weren't many plants in bloom, yet it shows the promise of a spectacular display. 

Do you see the vine-covered pillar with the large round planter in front located to the right of the lattice-work gazebo? This next photo shows how we found it this past July.

Italian Garden Gelateria, July 2025, Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, BC

This vine has certainly flourished outside the Italian Garden Gelateria, travelling up and out from the pillar and hiding anyone playing hide-and-seek behind its beauty. Is it the same one I saw 33 years ago back in March 1992? I'd like to think it is, but I haven't done any research on it. 

Waterwheel Square, July 2025, Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, BC

It was late afternoon when we stopped for a breather at Waterwheel Square. Butchart Gardens is an outstanding example of taking something useless and turning it into something sustainable that holds beauty and meaning and the hope of tomorrow. 

Butchart Gardens is concerned about the protection of our planet and have implemented initiatives in the Gardens and departments toward sustainability. For more information, check out their Sustainability page.

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.

Road Trip 2025 - The Butchart Gardens Part 1

 

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.