Stomping Ground Saturday: The Butchart Garden's Rose Carousel

The day of exploring my little corner of the world.

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Once upon a time, in 2009, a princess named Robin-Lee Clarke, the great granddaughter of Queen Jennie who conjured up a magical garden, said, "I'm going to create the most beautiful carousel."

And so she scouted throughout the land, and the lands to the south, and other lands, to find the right person to help her design her carousel.

She found that person in a land called North Carolina. Together they created and chose designs for her wonderful carousel.

They studied different woods from different trees consulting with experts and magicians to find just the right wood for the animals to be carved from.

The chose basswood which is perfect for carving and painting.

Princess Robin-Lee looked throughout the lands to find the few artists that existed who specialized in hand carving carousel animals.

When she found these wondrous carvers and artists, she commissioned them to make 30 beautiful animals and two mighty chariots out of the basswood.

The animals represented the different lands that people came from who visited the magical gardens, including the Killer Whale which can be found off the coast of Vancouver Island where the wonderful gardens are.

Children from all over and some adults, enjoyed climbing aboard the animals and going around and around while music played.

And while they rode they imagined what it would be really like to ride a frog, or a cat, or a wild horse.

The princess even thought about the people who wanted to ride, but wouldn't be able to climb on an animal.

She had the carousel painted with roses, and put it in a pavilion, so even on rainy days, people could enjoy the carousel.

Sadly, the carousel had to be shut down this year because of a dreaded disease throughout the land. But one day the carousel will open and children will laugh and play on it once again.

And in the meantime, children of all ages can enjoy the Rose Carousel colouring book which can be purchased from the Butchart Gardens Seed and Gift Store.