Butchart Gardens, Victoria, B.C.

On a recent trip to Victoria, we visited Butchart Gardens, an oasis of all that nature produces and then some. It is more than just smelling the flowers; it is an opportunity to dream of gardens and visualize how we can incorporate nature into our own lives. And it is an opportunity to relax and enjoy the beauty of the many flowers, shrubs and trees that make up this garden wonderland.

We went in early August and the gardens were resplendent in all their many colors. The sunken garden, viewed from above, took our breath away with its beauty. And when we walked beside the vibrant flowers and lush lawns, a feeling of serenity and well-being settled upon us.

The Japanese garden is apparently at its best in the fall season but when we saw it in the summer with lily pads in shallow ponds and stepping stones across a stream, surrounded by lush growth and moss-covered rocks, it was beautiful. There seemed very little that could be improved upon.

The rose garden also was lovely but our walk beside the dahlia's was breathtaking. Each dahlia different from its neighbor and each more beautiful than the one before, if that was possible. The colors ranged from vibrant to muted to multi-coloured with flower heads ranging from small to impossibly large, all sitting atop tall, narrow stalks.

A new addition to the garden is the Rose Carousel, an old-fashioned carousel featuring many animals instead of only the traditional horse. I rode an ostrich and my granddaughter beside me rode a panda bear. There was a camel, a zebra and a cat as well as other animals, all having a particular significance to the Butchart family. There were also bronze sculptures, two totem poles, fountains and the Italian garden. During the summer there are fireworks and some free entertainment and in the winter there is a Christmas display.

Jennie Butchart began developing the garden in 1904 in the area of what is now known as the sunken gardens. When her husband had excavated the last of the linestone from their property, she had the remaining rocks rearranged and brought in topsoil to begin what has become the sunken garden. Over the years the gardens grew in popularity and by 1915, it was estimated that 18,000 people had already visited it. Over the years new gardens and exhibits have been added. The gardens are open year round for the enjoyment of the many visitors who come each season to view what it offers in the way of beauty and tranqulity. It is a garden that has been passed down through the generations and continues to this day to be managed by the Butchart family.

As a nature and flower lover, it is no surprise that our visit to Butchart Gardens was, for me, a great place to go to enjoy the flowers, beauty and nature where any worries are far removed.