Pacific Northwest: Butchart Gardens Turns 100

From the entrance, Butchart Gardens promises a horticultural adventure. Seasonal beds and huge containers overflow with color. Beyond a tunnel of shade plants lies the Sunken Garden—spread below like Shangri-la.

This year marks the 100th birthday; gardens have never looked better. Over a century ago, this was a limestone quarry for cement. Resource exhausted, Jennie Foster Butchart (wife of owner Robert Pim Butchart) started a garden in 1904. With energy and pluck, she transformed scarred hillsides into a world-famous 55-acre garden on a 130-acre estate. Winter brings elegant deciduous forms, primroses, witch hazel, sarcococca fragrance. Fewer tourists mean you hear wind in trees and water in fountains. Coffee Shop offers hot chocolate or tea.

AS THE SEASONS TURN

Five distinct "rooms"—Italian Garden, Japanese Garden, Rose Garden, Star Pond, Sunken Garden—connected by walkways lined with brilliant seasonal beds. Wander freely or follow brochure route.

Spring: half million+ bulbs (daffodils, hyacinths, tulips). New cherry red tulip 'Jennie Butchart' debuts. New leaves like green lace on deciduous trees; ornamental cherries bloom.

Summer: roses bloom; brilliant annuals in grand sweeps. Saturday fireworks July 3–Sept 4 after dark.

October: Japanese Garden maples turn rich reds/golds; chrysanthemums and asters shine.

December: gardens shimmer with colored lights.

Gather planting ideas anytime. For plant ID, cultivation, variety availability, stop at Plant Identification Centre in old main residence building as you leave Italian Garden.

Open daily 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. through February (later in spring/summer). Admission $14 Canadian (~$11 US) through mid-March.