More than a century ago, Jenny Butchart began creating what is now a floral show and one of the world's masterpieces of landscape design.
The Butchart Gardens is a national Historic Site of Canada of world-renowned importance that has been open to the public since 1904. It is located on the Vancouver Peninsula, approximately 21 km north of Victoria, British Columbia.
The amazingly beautiful park is located on the territory of a former quarry and is a landscape with plant compositions of various garden styles, fountains and statues against the backdrop of centuries-old trees and shrubs, connected to each other by a network of paths and bridges. The floral rainbow of colors changes with the seasons, and the scents of the flowers are simply irresistible.
Jenny Butchart's bold vision
The foundation for this splendor of natural colors was laid at the beginning of the 20th century, by a man named Robert Pym Butchart and his life partner Jenny. This wonderful married couple moved to the city of Victoria in connection with Robert's business, which was engaged in the production of cement, and lime reserves were found nearby, and soon his cement plant began operating here.
The couple settled in Victoria, built themselves a house, and when a few years later the limestone deposits were depleted, Jenny Butchart decided on a stunningly bold plan: to plant a beautiful garden on the site of the former quarry.
Tons of fertile soil were brought here, the bottom of the quarry was leveled, and soon the Sunken Garden grew here. The Butchart couple, returning from a trip around the world, with the help of Japanese designer Isaburo Kishida, created a new garden, called the Japanese Garden.
But the Butcharts didn’t stop there either; first, an Italian Garden appeared on the site where they used to play tennis, and in 1929, a wonderful Rose Garden.
Helping his wife arrange the garden, Robert Butchart brought birds from all over the world from his trips.
Thanks to this, various species of ducks appeared in Star Pond, peacocks began to walk on the front lawn, and parrots took up residence in the house.
Robert worked a lot with pigeons and placed many birdhouses around the gardens.
Butchart Gardens The Butchart Gardens - part two
Today we continue our acquaintance with the Butchart gardens. Start in the previous article: “The Butchart Gardens - heavenly beauty on earth!”
As I already said, we didn’t spend much time in these gardens because we were tired during the day. But in general, of course, we gained some impressions.
I myself, as an amateur florist, can imagine how much work was put into this beauty. But many simply admire this piece of paradise without thinking about extraneous things.
There are not only flowers, of course, but also various waterfalls, fountains, ladders, gazebos and everything else that makes up the beauty of the garden. Landscape design, in short.
But the main thing is, of course, the flowers. The fragrance is such that you can simply faint. It’s a pity that the smell still cannot be transmitted over a distance via the Internet!
Well, now let's look at the pictures. My wife made them, and at that time I was filming a video, which will also be released, but a little later. Admire!
A very bright, sunny day. The paths in this garden seem to wind like a snake, gradually rising up the mountain. This creates several levels.
Here are the shops and garden offices that I wrote about in a previous article. But we are already above them, looking a little from above. Look how beautiful the flower beds are!
And these flower beds are more modest, not so brightly beautiful. But still, it’s nice to look at.
In this photo there are some houses, probably service ones. Imagine the view from the window in these houses!
These are not roses yet, but begonias. There are a lot of begonias here, as I noticed. They look simply beautiful, in a variety of shades. Decorative varieties, I have a few of these at home.
And in this photo the flowers are more modest, so discreet. But that didn’t make them any worse! Take a closer look at them. Lovely, isn't it?
And then again begonias. There are a lot of them here, and they are all bright and beautiful!
Sometimes you come across these, like, gazebos or something, with hanging baskets and posts covered with ivy. Look how great it looks!
And here in the baskets there are mainly begonias.
But there is something more. I think it's fuchsia. Just over my head!
