My mother loved travel and gardening, so a visit to Butchart Gardens in Brentwood Bay, British Columbia, was one of her favorite vacation destinations.
I still recall the summer we drove our station wagon from Oregon so my mom could walk the paths of beautiful flowers, shrubs and trees. Until her death at age 96, she often talked about the gardens because they held a special place in her much-traveled mind.
I recently visited Butchart Gardens for the first time in many years while on a cruise. Despite time having passed, little has changed. The colorful blooms, water features, sculptures, and exotic shrubs mean as much to me as they did to my mother.
In 1909, Jennie Butchart transformed a worked-out limestone quarry into a breathtaking flower garden after her husband’s cement plant depleted the site. She brought in soil by horse and cart to provide a rich home for her flowers.
The transformation of the quarry is considered one of the first large-scale reclamation projects in North America and Mrs. Butchart collected plants from around the world to create a unique landscape for visitors.
As you walk the winding paths of this special place, you are first drawn to the Sunken Garden, aptly named because it is below the rest of the site.
The Japanese Garden, designed by landscape architect Isaburo Kishida, opened in 1912. He also designed the Italian Garden, which replaced the family’s tennis court, and the Star Pond which replaced the family’s swimming pool. In 1929, the family converted their kitchen vegetable garden into a large rose garden.
In 1939, the Butcharts gave the Gardens to their grandson, Ross, on his 21st birthday. He remained involved in the operation and promotion of the gardens until his death 58 years later. The beautiful Ross Fountain marks a remembrance for the man who loved the flora of the gardens.
In 2004, Canada designated Butchart Gardens as a National Historical Site. Ownership of Butchart Gardens remains within the Butchart family.
I was disappointed that I missed the summer season concerts held at the gardens from June through August, which provide a wide range of local entertainment from jazz to classical music. After learning about the holiday season and the Twelve Days of Christmas lights that draw visitors each year, I may have to brave the winter weather and travel there again.
I am so glad that the memory of my mother’s love of Butchart Gardens brought me back to this awe-inspiring place. Whether you go by station wagon or cruise ship it will impress you with its beauty and splendor and create a quiet place in your mind for reflection. Thank you, Mrs. Butchart, for giving me a memory of my mother and the time she spent in your beautiful gardens.