BUTCHART GARDENS!!!!!

Sept 5, 2013

Last night we had this BEAUTIFUL sunset at our RV park in Downtown Victoria, BC on Vancouver Island.. It was just wonderful!

We woke up the next morning to pouring down rain and I was SO afraid we were not going to get to go to the Butchart Gardens as planned, but the rain quit about 3:00 in the afternoon and by 4:00 we took off for the Gardens! It was only about 25 minutes to get there, and here is just a PORTION of what we saw:

Even in the parking areas and all the way to the beginning of the different displays, there were wonderful sights to see!

I just LOVE these Cannas in this variety and just cannot seem to find them in our area of Illinois.  The leaves are striped reddish/green and they have orange flowers, some with orange and yellow in them....

 This Shrimp plant was HUGE and LOVELY!

And then we came to the walkways leading to the Rose Garden!  All along were assorted flowers planted in banks of color - Begonias, Azaleas, as well as Hostas in many varieties.

The Rose garden seemed to go on FOREVER!  Some were very petite, some very full and SO fragrant! and the raindrops were a beautiful touch - as the sun hit the various flower petals.

 And Guess what THIS one was named??? Guess??? Don't know??  Well LOOK under this picture!!!! LOL!

I was pretty tickled to see that (for SOME weird reason!!!!!!)

Love the raindrops on this one.

Don't know what this flower is, I suppose some type of bedding plant - it was a DEEP reddish/black flower and about 2 feet tall.. I have never seen this before.

And then we went around to the Japanese Garden.. This water sulpture/feature was especially wonderful.

Even the trees covered with moss were lovely and peaceful.

I loved this water feature, too... The bamboo tube fills with water, and is counter weighted on the base and when the tube fills it tips down and spills, and then 'clunks' back up to be filled again and again...  Very soothing!

Another very restful water feature with the herons and bubbling lily..

Walkway is lined with Dusty miller and begonias and impatiens.

And this picture of the water feature is for my sweet friend ANNA MAE!  She LOVES frogs!  These guys were so cute, spitting out the streams of water!!! LOL!  I was thinking of you when I took these!!!! 

A very serene setting of ferns, and several evergreen species, surrounding a lantern.

This stepping stone path took you to a gazebo surrounded by water...  Even the stones in the ponds here are rounded and 'soft looking'...

A single tree, moss covered rocks and raked sand/pebble at the base....

Much like waves of water, washing away from an island....

And this Hydrangea is one I have not seen before - with the pendulous blooms.

Border plantings again, in striking contrasting colors..

Not sure what this simple flower is, perhaps one of the geranium family?? Very pretty!

Love the Bark on this tree! Very striking to see, with all of the lushness surrounding it!!

And then in the transition area between the Japanese Garden and Sunken Garden, we saw a pair of HUGE Totems! They were carved and donated to the Butchart Gardens in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Garden's beginnings.  Mrs. Butchart's wish was that this would be a GARDEN to walk in and enjoy and to fill all of the Senses as one strolled through it - with the exception of the Rose Garden, almost none of the flowers/plants/trees have no identifying tags or signs...  She did not want it to be a "learning" garden, but one to "MERELY ENJOY"!!

The Totems are in an area where they shoot off fireworks on Saturday during July and August.. That is said to be the PEAK of the year for the Gardens flowers and shrubs.
This is also the area where a Concert Lawn and Stage are...

And near that area is the Children's Pavillion, with a Carousel housing 30 hand carved Wooden animals and 2 Chariots.  This was STUNNING!

Another little Vignette of a sculpture, Moss covered rock an various foliage perennials.

And Den MADE me get on this bronze horse named Annabelle!  Sure glad I didn't BREAK her!!

This is an overview of the BREATHTAKING Sunken Garden!
This garden was begun as a result of Mrs. Butchart wanting to beautify the worked-out limestone quarry which had supplied her husband's nearby Portland cement plant...  and Beautify it SHE DID!  Stunning is the word!

The water feature is at the far side of the garden and was designed by a grandson of the Butchart's in 1964, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Gardens.
It was such a treat to see the 'dancing' of the various settings of water spraying.

This Totem is to the far left of the water feature.  all by himself.....

The picture below is a sedum that was such a pretty shade of icy gray.

This is a pavilion adjacent to the home where the Butcharts lived for many years..  Very peaceful.  I can just imagine sitting out there on an evening, watching the sun go down and sipping my favorite wine.. with the scents of the roses filling the night time air..  Heavenly.......  I am sure..

And these next few pictures are of the Show Greenhouse with STUNNING specimens stacked to the ceiling of glass!

Loved the furry little pink (Bottle brush?) plant at lower right and left.

And I believe this is an "Oxalis" plant.

This was right next to the Gift Shop... and .... well.... I think I got lost in there for an hour... OK! So it was an hour and a HALF..... Honey was holding down a bench outside, very patiently.  Found a TON of purdy stuff!!!!

By the time we left there it was pitch dark and I was exhausted and we were starved!  So back to camp and a late dinner - light one....

I just can't thank Cuz Donna here in Vancouver for gifting me with tickets for us to go to this Wonderful place!  EVERYONE there was So helpful, when I asked them about different plants and also in the Gift shop, where the ladies working there were helping me find things!  They were SO sweet!

If you are at ALL interested in gardens, this place is a MUST see for anyone visiting the wonderful Provinces of British Columbia!

Off to the Lower 48 on Sunday morning....  Will take the Ferry to Port Angeles.  And then begin our trek down the West Coast to Albuquerque for the Balloon Festival in October!  We have a lot of area to cover before we get down there in less than one MONTH!

STILL to be CONTINUED!