An April Visit to the Butchart Gardens
I always love to visit the Victoria area in spring, especially if Calgary is still blanketed in snow. There’s nothing like arriving to a landscape of colour. On my wish list for my time on the Saanich Peninsula was an April visit to the Butchart Gardens.
I’d been before but there’s a timeless appeal to the Butchart Gardens and April is spectacular with all the spring bulbs in bloom. The fall is also a stunner of a time to visit too.
I took my mother with me and our first stop was the conservatory. We ate lunch – though we could have had high tea in a delightful setting. On the day we visited the Butchart Gardens in April, there was hardly a soul around so there wasn’t much of a wait. I can’t imagine what it would be like on Mother’s Day.
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History of the Butchart Gardens
The year is 1904. Mr. Robert Pim Butchart, the original owner, has been mining the limestone quarry for his Portland cement business. His wife, Jennie Butchart, who obviously knows a thing or two about design, has the brilliant idea of turning the quarry into a garden.
He obviously shares her vision and so begins the transformation of the quarry into one of Canada’s premier tourist attractions and a National Historic Site – though that didn’t happen until 2004.
Jennie Butchart was a gifted garden designer. She used the rock outcropping to great advantage. Then the bones, the permanent and structural components of the garden, like the trees, shrubs and walkways were so well thought out that they have survived to the present day.
Over the years The Gardens have been expanded to include the Rose, Italian, Japanese and Mediterranean Gardens. Plants from their travels – both rare and exotic, were added over time. On top of that thousands of bulbs, annuals, perennials and roses were added to create the stunning garden you see today.
By the 1920’s, 50,000 people visited each year. Today that number is closer to one million people per year.
A few cool facts about the Butchart Gardens
The Butchart Gardens cover 55 acres. To keep them looking so impeccable, it takes 50 full time gardeners, 12 part-time gardeners as well as 550 staff in peak season. There is never a weed in sight, or a blade of grass where it shouldn’t be.
One fact I read states that the Butchart Gardens are entirely self-sufficient with regards to their irrigation supply.
Every year millions of litres of rainwater are collected via runoff from the parking lots and stored in a number of reservoirs and wells.
How to make the most of your visit to the Butchart Gardens in April
There’s been a lot of thought put into how to manage people and get them moving in an orderly direction. When you buy your tickets you get a map and a guide with a suggested walking route. Follow it, because it makes sense and you won’t miss any of the gardens.
The average suggested time in the gardens is 1.5 hours – but if you’re a photographer or keen gardener I think you could easily spend a half day.
There are places to pick up coffees and snack along the way plus two restaurants near the ticket office. There’s even a Children’s pavilion and Rose carousel – and if I was a kid I’d be making a beeline right to the rides.
After walking through the Sunken Gardens and past the Rose carousel you can saunter through the Rose Garden and the Japanese Garden. Paths lined with gorgeous spring bulbs in great colour combinations lead the way.
From the Japanese Gardens you can do a quick side trip down to the waterfront. You might see the odd kayaker, seal or even a float plane landing with guests. Near the finish of the walk you pass through the Italian Gardens. In May they’re a colour coordinated delight of pinks, blues and whites.
I think this quote says it all. Bad Gardens copy, good gardens create, great gardens transcend. (Ken Wilbur)
The Butchart Gardens belong in the great gardens category!
Want to book a visit to the Butchart Gardens? Enjoy the Victoria and the Butchart Gardens tour with Viator.
Where are the Butchart Gardens?
The Butchart Gardens are located on the Saanich Peninsula near Brentwood Bay. They are about 20 kilometres from Victoria and a 20-minute drive from the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal.
Useful information about the Butchart Gardens
The gardens are open year round. In the summer (June 15-September 3) you can visit from 9 AM until 10 PM. Visit their website for information on the other months.
Spring time admission (April 1 – June 14) prices in 2024 range in price from $22.90 – $41.50 for adults, $11.45 to $20.75 for youth 13-17, and $3 – $5 for children 5 – 12. Plus tax. Prices vary depending on whether its low or high season.
Plan on a trip to see the fireworks in the summer.
Every night in July and August concerts are offered – from Jazz to Folk to Celtic to Vocal.
Further reading on things to do in the Victoria area
- 3 of the Best Gardens in Victoria, BC to Visit
- Hiking in Victoria BC – A Couple of the Must Do Trails
- Cycling in Victoria BC – The Harbour to Farm Tour
- A Hike on the Coast Trail in East Sooke Park, BC
- 9 Best Things to do in Sidney, BC
Click on the photo to bookmark to your Pinterest boards.
This is GORGEOUS! I love gardens, here in NYC the Botanical Garden in the Bronx is probably my favorite, they have a whole section dedicated to nothing but roses:-)
@Jess I’d also like to visit the Highline in NYC but the Botanical Garden would work too.
I have always wanted to visit Butchart Gardens, and, now after browsing your fab photos, even more so! Your blossom shots are outstanding. Looks like you were there at the very peak. Thanks for linking up to Travel Photo Thursday this week!
@Nancie I didn’t think I’d be there at a time with so much colour. I do think the blossoms last for the better part of a month – especially with cooler temperatures.
What a lovely collection of photos! Thank you for posting these. We are glad that you enjoyed your time at The Gardens!
@Butchartgardens I’ll be back. It was a real treat to see so much colour in early April – and I’m always astounded at how immaculately kept up the gardens are.
Funny, I grew up in Victoria and return every summer, but have only been out to Butchart Gardens once. Definitely going to make sure I return this summer. Thanks for sharing the beautiful photos!
@Robert I lived in Vancouver for 10 years and visited the Butchart Gardens for the first time ever three years ago. I would happily g back in every season.
@Lilli – i love it. I hear the Butchart Gardens are quite magical in winter when they cover the trees with white lights.
Our reports from home say it has been pouring rain in the NW, so I am glad to see it has at least resulted in some beautiful spring blooms. One of these days we will have to rendezvous in Victoria when you get out again.
@Jackie Hasn’t it been a great time for you to be away? I loved all the colour but still I find the grey clouds a tad depressing.
A welcome burst of color, Leigh. Love their attention to detail and the fact that they collect all the rainwater and recycle it.
@Marcia Very good to see such stewardship of the environment.
Gorgeous colors! Love all the colors and flowers you captured. I’m glad you got to thaw out from Calgary for a bit. I’ve only been to Butchart in November and would love to visit during Spring.
@Mary I think the gardeners at Butchart would still work their magic in November though you wouldn’t get the blasts of colour you get in the spring.
Love all the pink and the purple blooms here – so summery. I quite like Kew Gardens in London.
@Sophie Once I flew to London to go to the Chelsea Garden Show – but no time for the Kew. They’re on my wish list on the next visit.
Wow, this is so beautiful 🙂 There are still beauty like this that our planet can offer.
@Ben The west coast of Canada is fantastic in the spring.
I am so happy that you had lunch at the conservatory. It looks absolutely delightful. We visited the gardens which are beautiful but didn’t have lunch there. I do wish we had!