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Trip 297 -  September 1, 2023 (Friday)

Butchart Gardens Visit

Near Victoria, BC

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Butchart Gardens Location: Vancouver Island, Saanich Peninsula, about 20 km North of the city of Victoria, and 20 km South of Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal.

Liked: Excellent landscaping, fantastic plants and flowers, the smell of “Perfume Factory” roses in Rose Garden, interesting sculptures and fountains, wonderful gift shop, free parking.

Of Note: Limited shade, the gardens are very popular – would likely be packed on Summer weekends.

Vancouver Island, Victoria & Gulf Islands Backroad Mapbook (9th edition) Coordinates: Page 4 (Sooke) F1.

Related Website: Butchart Gardens - Official Website.

A visit to a much smaller (and now closed) similar Gardens near Chilliwack: Trip 039 - Minter Gardens.

 

Butchart Gardens is a huge well-landscaped area full of wonderful flowers, trees, plants, and fountains. Plus, there is an impressive gift shop. And a carousel. And an occasional concert. And fireworks. It's a great place to walk around for about 1.5 hours (regular pace) and give your camera a good workout, as there are numerous photo opportunities all over. The fame of Butchart Gardens attracts hordes of visitors, so try to visit on a weekday to avoid the (over)crowded conditions. It also makes sense to come on a sunny day to truly appreciate the beauty of this place.


34-35. Two info signs with the Rose Garden information.


Rose Garden Info Sign in Butchart Gardens

36. Rose Garden is very attractive with this natural mini-tunnel of sorts.


Butchart Gardens Rose Garden

37. A large green lawn in the middle of Rose Garden. You walk on the perimeter and smell the roses.


Rose Garden inside Butchart Gardens bear Victoria BC Canada

38. Arguably the best smelling roses are appropriately named "Perfume Factory."


"Perfume Factory" roses in Butchart Gardens

39. Next is Japanese Garden.


Butchart Gardens Japanese Garden

40. Japanese Garden info sign.


Butchart Gardens Japanese Garden Info Sign

41. Here is where we found a lot of Japanese people. Perhaps, this fine garden reminded them of the homeland.


Japanese Garden - Butchart Gardens - Vancouver Island BC

42. The Japanese Garden inside Butchart Gardens.


Butchart Gardens Japanese Garden

43. A fine place for sure.


Japanese Garden

44. Bamboo alley.


Butchart Gardens bamboo alley in Japanese Garden

45. Butchart Gardens visitors exiting Japanese Garden and approaching Star Pond.


Butchart Gardens

46. Star Pond features another fine Butchart Gardens fountain, with frog statues in the middle shooting water.


Start Pond in Butchart Gardens near Victoria Canada

47. Just a bit further is the entrance to a very impressive Italian Garden, where a tennis court used to be.


Butchart Gardens Italian Garden entrance

48. The Italian Garden info sign.


Butchart Gardens Italian Garden info sign

49. So pretty.


Italian Garden

50. Another angle.


Italian Garden - Butchart Gardens - Vancouver Island British Columbia

51. Looking back.


Italian Garden in Butchart Gardens near Victoria BC

52. Here is a map of Butchart Gardens with an arrow indicating the location of the Italian Garden.


Butchart Gardens Map

53-55. A store near the Italian Garden has amazing window displays.


Butchart Gardens Store Window Display

56. Past the store, we are close to finishing the loop around Butchart Gardens.


Butchart Gardens Province of British Columbia Canada

57. It's an open area with lots of people mulling around, sitting on benches, or visiting a cafe.


Butchart Gardens

58. The cafe is to the left in the photo above.


Butchart Gardens cafe

59. And immediately next to the cafe is this awesome Photo Window display.


Butchart Gardens photo window display

60-62. Inside the Butchart Gardens Photo Window display. Left to right.


Inside Butchart Gardens photo window

63. About 30 meters further, we have reached the end of the loop, close to the point seen in photo #9.


Butchart Gardens visitors

64. To the left is an amazing "Seeds & Gifts" store.


Seeds & Gifts store

65. There is an incredible amount of cool stuff inside that store.


Inside Seeds & Gifts store in Butchart Gardens

66. We were especially impressed with this colourful metal artwork.


Metal bear artwork

Here is our video of the views from Butchart Gardens.

More ihikebc videos are on our YouTube Channel.

Butchart Gardens is truly a great place to visit. Highly recommended.


BACK: Butchart Gardens Page 1 of 2    NEXT: Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park


Other Trips in Victoria BC Area:

BC Aviation Museum

 


Royal BC Museum Visit


 


Victoria BC Downtown

 

 

Dallas Road Trail

Coast Trail Hike


BC Parliament Visit


 


Elk/Beaver Lake RP


 


    

 

ihikebc.com Trip 297 - Butchart Gardens Visit (near Victoria, BC) Page 2 of 2