vancouver island's butchart gardens

I love to garden.  There is just  something about digging in the dirt that calms me.  I love the anticipation that comes after the initial sowing and finally the satisfaction with the final output.  And here's the thing. Gardening is forgiving.  You can always try again next year.
 
As much as I love gardening, I love to look at other people's gardens even more.  I have a friend in the Manitowoc are that spends a lot of time in her garden and it is truly fabulous.  I've been lucky enough to wander around Monet's garden in France and Kew Gardens outside of London.  Every single garden walk inspires me.
 
On Vancouver Island, about a 30 minute drive from Victoria, you can find the Butchart Gardens. I missed the opportunity to see this, but it's always in the back of my mind to check out. It's on the National Historic Sites of Canada and consistently rated among the world's most beautiful garden sites.  Hint: many Alaska cruise itineraries feature a stop here.  
 
- Cindy -​

destination of the week
butchart gardens in victoria, british columbia

Butchart Gardens were birthed as a labor of love. Jennie Butchart aimed to recreate the natural beauty of the area on the barren site of the remains of her husband’s mined-out industrial quarry.    Jennie envisioned a lush garden in its place. She arranged for horse-drawn carts to haul in soil from nearby farms as she worked. Between 1904 and 1939, she laid out multiple formal gardens including more than 900 different plant varieties.  The depleted limestone quarry became the iconic Sunken Garden and for decades she welcomed tens of thousands of visitors to marvel at her creations. 
Just a few of the words that have been used to describe The Butchart Gardens include “breathtaking,” “astonishing” and “peaceful.” Nestled in Brentwood Bay, it’s about a 30-minute drive from Victoria on Vancouver Island. A designated National Historic Site of Canada, over a million visitors are drawn here every year.
Often named among North America’s best public gardens, the grounds come to life via a variety of expressions from spring through the holiday season. No matter what time of year you decide to come, it is highly recommended to return to witness the beauty of the seasonal changes. There’s no such thing as too many visits to this world-class botanical garden. In fact, many locals take advantage of the 12-month pass, visiting monthly if not more often.
 
https://www.butchartgardens.com/

travel tip of the week
spring at the butchart gardens is spectacular

​Spring is the very best blooming season, making it the ideal time for your trip to Butchart.  This is when you can witness the hard work of the talented staff come to life. There will be thousands of flower bulbs, shrubs, and trees bursting forth from winter’s slumber. That includes cherry and plum blossoms, over 28 varieties of magnolia trees with some dating back to Jennie’s original plantings, and more than 160,000 tulips.

​virtual vacation of the week

​Butchart Gardens is a famous botanical garden in Brentwood Bay, British Columbia, Canada. It is located near Victoria on Vancouver Island and receives over a million visitors each year.
Video by Choose Your Own Adventures and found on YouTube

​what's next on your bucket list?

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