Blossoms Blooming in Bodacious Bunches - Butchart Gardens

Take an abandoned quarry, add a woman with a passion for botany, sprinkle in the pride of a loving husband and generations of supportive relatives, volunteers and visitors and you will find yourself standing is the world renown National Historic Site – Butchart Gardens in Vancouver Island, Canada north of Victoria.

As described on the Butchart Gardens web-site:   Each year over a million bedding plants in some 900 varieties give you uninterrupted bloom from March through October. Almost a million people visit annually for spring’s colourful flowering bulbs; summer’s riot of colour, entertainment and Saturday Fireworks; fall’s russets and golds; the Magic of Christmas’ decorations; and winter’s peacefulness.

The gardens feature a Sunken Garden, Concrete Lawn Walk, Rose Garden, Japanese Garden, Italian Garden and Mediterranean.  We also were treated to a wonderful late evening fireworks display and I managed to sneak into the Seeds and Gift Store.

One additional highlight of our visit was a sumptuous dinner at the Fine Dining Restaurant in the former Butchart Family Home.   Anthony planned a very romantic meal with views of the private garden for us.  Anthony started his meal with Seared sea scallops and ordered an 8 ounce AAA Delmonico for his main course.  I had their delicious Artisanal gnocchi.  For dessert we shared both the Cornmeal honey cake and the Chocolate lava cake.

I realize I posted quite a few pictures above but the beauty and the photographic opportunities at the gardens are endless.  I could have taken hundreds and hundreds of pictures as there is a bounty of amazing flowers and hidden treasures around every bend.  The gardens are another must see in Victoria.  Take my advice and spend an entire leisurely day strolling through the gardens.  You will not be disappointed.

Butchart Gardens:  http://www.butchartgardens.com