From alyssum to wallflower, both English and Siberian, the flowering plants, shrubs and trees at The Butchart Gardens are an alphabet of beauty.
Here, in this gorgeous formal garden just north of Victoria on
Vancouver Island, April showers most definitely are giving way to May flowers.
The 55-acre property is bursting with color.
“The common word is, ‘Wow,’ ” said Graham Bell, a spokesman for the gardens.
One of the more spectacular May blooms is meconopsis, a Tibetan blue poppy.
“There may be a few tucked away that have started to open,” Bell said.
The exotic poppy is a big burst of rich azure and stands out against the late-blooming tulips, daffodils and hyacinth.
What Skagit Valley has with an abundance, The Butchart Gardens has in formal and deliberate eye-appealing displays.
The garden was created after Jennie and Robert Butchart moved to Vancouver Island at the beginning of the 20th century. He built his concrete fortune, she concentrated on the garden.
It started in 1908 with a Japanese garden. Later an Italian garden and a rose collection were added.
By the ’20s more than 50,000 people made their way to see the already renowned plant collection.
Today all that’s left of the concrete foundry is a chimney. Gardeners tend more than 1 million plants nearly matching the annual number of visitors.
It takes about two hours to leisurely stroll the gardens, taking time to sit and absorb the surroundings. There are three restaurants, making it easy to enjoy lunch, afternoon tea or dinner surrounded by the beauty.
For my money, with adult admission tickets at $27 Canadian (that’s about $30 U.S. right now), head there first thing in the morning to avoid the crowds.
Bell said the gardens are busiest around noon when tour groups arrive by ferry from Vancouver, Anacortes and Seattle. It gets quieter again after about 2 p.m., he said.
While the manicured landscape is the main attraction, the natural beauty of Vancouver Island is easy to reach from the gardens.
Beginning May 21, the gardens will offer short cruises through Tod Inlet and Brentwood Bay aboard a 12-passenger electric boat.
It’s common to see otters, eagles and seals, plus the resplendent scenery. The tours cost an additional $17.25 Canadian for adults, $13.25 for kids ages 13 to 17, and $10.50 for children 5 to 12.
There’s also an old-fashioned carousel and a family garden tour.
Like Snohomish County, Vancouver Island has endured a cool, wet spring, Bell said.
That translates to later blooms in the garden.
“We have a nice display, but its staying longer,” Bell said. “If we could combine that with warm, sunny weather that would be even nicer.”
Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3447; jholtz@heraldnet.com.
Butchart Gardens
The gardens are 14 miles north of Victoria on Vancouver Island. Get there by taking car ferries from Anacortes or Tsawwassen, B.C. There’s also the Victoria Clipper, the high-speed passenger-only ferry from Seattle.
Shuttles or taxis can provide a lift to the gardens.
Admission through June 14 is, Canadian, $27 for an adult, $13.50 children 13 to 17 and $2 for children 5 to 12. Remember that the U.S. dollar is a bit weaker than Canadian currency. Check exchange rates before you leave.
There are plenty of hotels and guest houses in Victoria. It is also possible to book a trip to the gardens on the high-speed Clipper out of Seattle and make it a long day trip.
For more information, go to www.butchartgardens.com.
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