Victorian1885

Victorian1885

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Butchart Gardens April 2013


Thank you for stopping in again to visit. I am sharing with you our Vacation to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. 
We try and visit Butchart Gardens every time we visit Victoria in the Winter or Spring as it is so beautiful.
Our Winters in Saskatchewan, Canada are long and we seem to need a little cheering up by February so we head to Canada's West Coast for some energizing.
At the end of my post I have added the details of Butchart Gardens so I hope you enjoy our photos as well. 



















































































My Sister In Law & I below as we wonder along the many paths in the gardens. Take care!

Hugs, 
Wanda



[edit]History

Butchart Gardens is located in British Columbia
Location of Butchart Gardens in British Columbia
Entrance to the Butchart Gardens
Robert Pim Butchart (1856–1943) began manufacturing Portland cement in 1888 near his birthplace of Owen SoundOntarioCanada. He and his wifeJennie Butchart (1866–1950) came to the west coast of Canada because of rich limestone deposits necessary for cement production.
The Ross Fountain
In 1904, they established their home near his quarry on Tod Inlet at the base of theSaanich Peninsula on Vancouver Island. [2]
In 1907, 65 year old garden designer Isaburo Kishida of Yokohama came to Victoria, at the request of his son, to build a tea garden for Esquimalt Gorge Park. This garden was wildly popular and a place to be seen. Several prominent citizens, Jennie Butchart among them, commissioned Japanese gardens from Kishida for their estates. He returned to Japan in 1912.
In 1909, when the limestone quarry was exhausted, Jennie set about turning it into the Sunken Garden, which was completed in 1921. They named their home "Benvenuto" ("welcome" in Italian), and began to receive visitors to their gardens. In 1926, they replaced their tennis courts with an Italian garden and in 1929 they replaced their kitchen vegetable garden with a large rose garden to the design of Butler Sturtevant of Seattle.Samuel Maclure, who was consultant to the Butchart Gardens, reflected the aesthetic of the English Arts and Crafts Movement.
In 1939, the Butcharts gave the Gardens to their grandson Ian Ross (1918–1997) on his 21st birthday. Ross was involved in the operation and promotion of the gardens until his death 58 years later.
In 1953, miles of underground wiring was laid to provide night illumination, to mark the 50th anniversary of The Gardens. In 1964, the ever-changing Ross Fountain was installed in the lower reservoir to celebrate the 60th anniversary. In 1994, the Canadian Heraldic Authority granted a coat of arms to the Butchart Gardens. In 2004, two 30-foot (9.1 m) totem poles were installed to mark the 100th anniversary, and The Gardens were designated as a national historic site.
Ownership of The Gardens remains within the Butchart family; the owner and managing director since 2001 is the Butcharts' great-granddaughter Robin-Lee Clarke. [3]
The representation of the Butchart Gardens at the Canada exhibit at Epcot Centre in Orlando
In 1982 the Butchart Gardens was used as the inspiration for the gardens at the Canadian pavilion opened at Epcot Centre in Orlando Florida.
In December, 2009 the Children's Pavilion and the Rose Carousel were opened. The menagerie includes thirty animals ranging from bears, to horses, to ostriches, to zebras and mirrors the world from which The Gardens draws its visitors. The designs were hand picked by the owner, in consultation with an artist from North Carolina. The carvings were done by some of the few remaining carvers of carousel art. Each animal is carved from basswood and took many months to complete. 

9 comments:

  1. Hi Wanda,

    Your photos of the Butchart Gardens are amazing and I love all the pretty tulips. On my travels in the 1980's, I went across with some friends to the Island and we visited the Butchart Gardens.
    Such gorgeous gardens.

    Hope you are enjoying the weekend
    hugs
    Carolyn

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  2. Wanda un bello lugar , regalo del Señor, que perfección de colores. ni el pintor más talentoso podía crear esos bellos colores, que bueno que disfrutaste.Besos.OLGA.

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  3. What an amazing garden Wanda! It looks beautiful with all those spring flowers. Love the tulips! From Holland ? :-)

    Happy new week!

    Madelief x

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  4. Beautiful garden! The landscaping and flowers are just gorgeous. Thanks for sharing such beauty with us.
    Gina

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  5. Beautiful! Just beautiful... I was reading some of the history and all I could think of was how cold it must have been where there house was! LOL.

    Thanks so much for stopping by my blog. Much appreciated!


    Jillian

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  6. Oh my those gardens are so beautiful. I enjoyed reading the history of them also.

    xo rachel

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  7. HI Wanda, Thank for popping by & your sweet comment!
    I have lived here almost all my life & my sister in law lives in Oak Bay, B.C., yet I have only been to Butchart Gardens once in my life!
    Your pictures are fabulous! I love all the sweet pink colours! I ned to take it all in the next time we are over.
    Great blog here! I hope you are enjoying some warm weather! We are having it so great we need to water the plants!

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  8. I would love to visit this Garden someday!

    Thank you for your kind words,I am happy you enjoyed the book.

    I am writing this from a tearoom in the Cotswold's UK!!!

    Carolyn

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  9. Wanda!! OMG!! What a beautiful place!! Stunning pictures!!

    Thanks so much for stopping by!!

    Hugs,
    Deb

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