Tuesday, June 03, 2008

Butchart Gardens

While in Victoria, we spent a long morning at Butchart Gardens - it could easily have been a whole day except it absolutely hacked it down with rain all day...
A little something from the Butchart Gardens website - illustrated with some of cyberkitten's fabulous photos..... "The Butchart Gardens is one of the world's premier floral show gardens.
Jennie Butchart began to shape this magnificent landscape in 1904. She established, in the style of the grand estates of the period, several distinct gardens to evoke a range of aesthetic experiences.
An abandoned limestone quarry was transformed into the dramatic Sunken Garden, a reflection of the early 20th-century beautification movement and an exceptional achievement in Canadian gardening history.
Through successive generations of the Butchart family, The Gardens has retained much of its original design, and continues the Victorian tradition of seasonally changing the outstanding floral displays."
This is the seed nursery, where the baby plants are raised and cared for ready for planting out.
I was drawn to this wonderful fountain in the former quarry - it's called Ross Fountain! 'My' fountain! Isn't it spectacular!?! Hidden delights in the Japanese garden......How about some idea how wet it was? Here's Boo on her favourite stepping stones, 'vogue-ing' for cyberkitten, complete with Mum's jacket and the umbrella provided by the Gardens (excellent idea, btw!).More another time....

Please check out my side-bar to sponsor me or donate to Cancer Research for my 2008 Race for Life this month.

cq

11 comments:

Walker said...

It's amazing how the scenery changes from one partof the country to the other.
Once you pass the Rocky Mountains it's like flying into paradise compared to the rest of the country.
Great pictues

Bilbo said...

Those are some gorgeous pictures! Agnes and I were in Montreal back in 2002 for our 20th anniversary, and we went to the Botanical Gardens there, which were also beautiful. Glad you had such a good time!

OldLady Of The Hills said...

What a Spectaclar Beautiful Peaceful place, CQ.....And Cyberk's pictures are absolkutely devine and sublime! You had such a rich trip, my dear....!

Mike said...

Wonderful Pictures!!! They make me wish I could go there myself.

Michele sent me.

Tawcan said...

Butchart Gardens...just yet another tourist trap in Victoria.

Ok I'm kidding, the place is amazing if you like flowers. Love your pics, too bad the weather didn't look too good for you. It's amazing when it's sunny.

Here via Michele. She said hi too.

Jodi Cleghorn said...

'morning from overcast (and now dark Brisbane) and hello from Michele!

Thank you for the beautiful photos and the history lesson (I love history!) ... what an amazing and varied garden. Made me wish that I was there - rain and all. I'll put this on my list of places to visit when I finally get to Canada.

Anonymous said...

You made my day. Lovely pictures!

Got here from Michele after finishing reviewing a short story collection!

Pat said...

We loved these gardens and they are still as beautiful. Did you go to the aquarium and to sea to see the whales?
Michele sends her best.

Anonymous said...

Fabulous photos hon!

Even though I'm in Vancouver, I've never made it over to the Island. I think I might rectify that with my 30th coming up this August.

I am sorry it rained on you guys though. It's not ALWAYS like that lol. When Summer hits, the entire province is just awesome!

Jean-Luc Picard said...

Too bad it was rainy when you went. Good pictures though.

Michele sent me.

Shephard said...

Stunning photos... what a visit.
Michele was going to send me, but someone popped in front. I decided to say hi anyway!
~S :)