Butchart Gardens
Victoria - otherwise known as the “City of Gardens” - is home to a number of spectacular gardens that range from formal to heritage, exotic to west coast, and multi-themed to mostly rhododendron. Victoria are renowned for their floral displays and inspiring grounds: Both Hatley Park National Historic Site and Abkhazi Garden were named “Five Must-See Gardens in Canada” in 2009 by Canadian Gardening magazine. Butchart Gardens and Glendale Gardens and Woodlands were also named one of “15 Beautiful Gardens across Canada” in 2009 by Canadian Gardening magazine. Victoria , others are located in nearby communities and are accessible by car or transit. Vancouver Island Gardens and City Parks
Hanging Baskets and Flower Count One of the city’s most recognizable trademarks is its hanging baskets. Each spring more than 1,600 flower baskets hang from lamp posts in a medley of colour. Beacon Hill Park
Beacon Hill, Victoria’s oldest municipal park, accommodates both nature lovers and sports enthusiasts. Watch a game of cricket on the 100 year-old pitch or take in a soccer match. Pathways wind past manicured lawns, picturesque bridges, quiet lakes and ponds, and through fields of wildflowers and blue camas. Within easy walking distance of downtown.
Formal Gardens The Butchart Gardens in Brentwood Bay draws more than a million visitors annually to its 22ha/55ac of formal gardens. Explore the rose garden that contains more than 2,500 roses or sit by the lily-pad strewn pool of the Italian garden. Flowers bloom year-round: see daffodils, tulips and hyacinths in spring; perennials and annuals in summer; and red, russet and golden maples in autumn. Winter brings dazzling Christmas lights and displays. Located 30 minutes by car from downtown Victoria . Scheduled bus tours also run from Vancouver to Victoria and make a stop at the gardens.Heritage Gardens
Built in the late 1800s, Point Ellice House (a National Historic Site) features a restored Victorian garden where original plants such as lilacs, summer jasmine, moss roses and English hawthorn still flourish. Enjoy afternoon tea in the heritage house and see an impressive collection of Victoriana. Open from May – September; located five minutes from downtown.Hatley Park National Historic Site was once a 40-room mansion that belonged to the former Lieutenant Governor and Premier James Dunsmuir. Situated near the Pacific Ocean and surrounded by stands of old-growth forests, the 228-ha/565-ac property exudes a breathtaking beauty. Spend an afternoon relaxing in the Japanese, Italian and rose gardens or look for birds in the thriving sanctuary of the saltwater lagoon. Located 25 minutes by car from downtown.Abkhazi Garden is known for both its west coast design and history. Prince Nicolas Abkhazi and Peggy Pemberton-Carter were lovers separated by World War II when they finally reunited in Victoria and created this garden. The defining feature of this small 0.4-ha/1-ac property is its west coast characteristics: native Garry oaks, rhododendrons, rock and alpine plants, evergreens and weeping conifers are set on rocky slopes and surrounded by quiet woodlands. Open March - September; located 10 minutes by car from downtown. GardenWise magazine. Themed demonstration gardens such as Mediterranean, winter and heather showcase more than 10,000 varieties of plants. Stroll through the 37-ha/93-ac conservation park to see old-growth Douglas firs and wetlands home to a diverse population of birds . Located 20 minutes by car from downtown.Unique Gardens Finnerty Gardens , located at the University of Victoria, has a spectacular display of rhododendrons - many of which were planted with seeds obtained from famous explorers. Walk along a network of winding paths past ponds and other plants and flowers such as hybrids, perennials, ferns and vines. The rhododendrons are best viewed in April and May. Located 15 minutes by car from downtown. Victoria Butterfly Gardens in Brentwood Bay are home to around 2,000 butterflies that fly freely within a lush, tropical greenhouse. Wander among orchids, exotic plants, and colourful creatures such as flamingos. Located 25 minutes by car from downtown Victoria .
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More than a million people visit this 22-ha (55-ac) floral display garden each year. Begun in 1904, the gardens have grown to a world class scale and have been designated a National Historic Site. The gardens are spectacular at any time of year, starting in January with the indoor Spring Prelude display, through the magnificent spring and summer months, the dramatic colours of autumn, and culminating in the Magic of Christmas with tens of thousands of lights, a Twelve Days of Christmas display and an outdoor skating rink.
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Autumn Lunch & Admission at Butchart Gardens
2-course served lunch (appetizer & main course). Adult admission & lunch $37.80, plus GST.
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A National Historic Site and Canada's only intact Edwardian garden, Hatley Park National Historic Site features hundreds of heritage trees, a number of formal gardens, a salt marsh estuary and 100-year-old Hatley Castle.
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