Stomping Ground Saturdays: Butchart Gardens - Built Upon a Rock or Jennie's Dream

The day of exploring my corner of the world. *****

Back in 1902 Robert and Jennie Butchart came to Vancouver Island in search of a rock quarry for Robert’s business.

They found one.

Jennie said, “it’s ugly. Let’s turn it into a garden.”

Robert said. “It’s a rock quarry. It’s supposed to be ugly.”

So it was a rock quarry for five years and then it wasn’t. Meanwhile Jennie had built beautiful gardens around her house.

When it was no longer a rock quarry, Jennie said “It’s ugly. Let’s turn it into a sunken garden.”

Robert rolled his eyes. But because Robert loved her and knew how brilliant Jennie was (the woman was a mother, an artist, a chemist, a gardener, a garden designer, and a visionary), he spent a fortune on dirt that was brought in to cover up the rocks.

Jennie’s impossible dream turned into one of the most famous and beautiful gardens in the world. Visitors from all over come to see the expansive four season gardens. The Butchart family made their money back on the dirt.

Even though it’s in Canada, the home of the frozen and the brave, the southern west coast of British Columbia has it’s own environment and climate that allows plants from all over the world to thrive and grow through all four seasons. While the rest of Canada spends winter in heavy parkas shoveling snow and thawing out their toes while drinking Tim Hortons coffee spiked with beer, Islanders post pictures of themselves wearing sweaters while standing under fully blossomed cherry trees showing off their Tim Horton's ice caps.

Although it’s on the same island I live on, there’s an ocean between us. It’s on a peninsula that requires me to drive south to Victoria, turn east for a little bit, and then drive north on the Patricia Bay Highway until I come to Brentwood Bay. Butchart Gardens requires further driving

on back roads while you wonder “how can a famous tourist trap be hidden away like this? I must be lost.” But you’re not.

Butchart Gardens has its own sea cove as well as the house and gardens. I would really like to see inside the house, but they don’t let visitors in.

There’s a large gift shop, a couple of restaurants, and a visitors center where you can pick up information. You have a choice to buy a one time pass, or a year pass (2 visits pays for that year pass). Dogs on leash are allowed. Costumes are not. Which I think it’s kind of sad that you can’t walk around the gardens in your Edwardian outfit, tipping your hat at people, tapping your cane or your parasol, and swishing your skirts. I don’t know why they have that rule.

I mean, even if they had that rule couldn’t they have special dress up days? Edwardian Day with tea and croquet and barbershop quartets and perhaps a cricket match on one of the fields.

I would really like to see people come in costume. You would think that especially on Victoria Day when people dress up in Victorian costumes it would be appropriate.

But I digress.

Make sure you have comfortable shoes, a camera, and your pedometer. You’ll get your 10,000 steps in easily. And do bring some money for the gift shop. These are not tacky souvenirs here. Yes, there will be coasters and mugs and pens with the Butchart logo, but they're really nice coasters and mugs and pens. They also sell clothing, china, Christmas ornaments, books, and knick knacks to help you remember your day there.

Butchart Gardens employs a lot of people. From those working in parking, to the service people in the shops, and all those gardeners, nipping buds with tweezers, and hanging lights, and vacuuming walks, and making sure the gardens look absolutely perfect all the time. All these pictures were taken during my autumn visit. So even though there's no showy flowers, it's still stunning. Oh, hold it! A few showy things!