The Butchart Gardens

The Butchart Gardens www.butchartgardens.com
We offer 22 ha (55 acres) of wonderful floral display located in Greater Vic Jennie Butchart became the company’s chemist. As Mr. Mr.

Robert Pim Butchart, a pioneer in the thriving North American cement industry, was attracted from Owen Sound, Ontario to Canada’s West Coast by rich limestone deposits. In 1904, he developed a quarry and built a cement plant at Tod Inlet (on Vancouver Island) to satisfy Portland cement demand from San Francisco to Victoria. Close to the quarry, the Butcharts established the family home complete wi

th sweet peas and rose bushes. Butchart exhausted limestone deposits, his enterprising wife Jennie, made plans to create something of beauty in the gigantic exhausted pit. From farmland nearby, she had tonnes of top soil brought in by horse and cart and used it to line the floor of the abandoned quarry. Little by little, the quarry blossomed into the spectacular Sunken Garden. Between 1906 and 1929, the Butcharts created a Japanese Garden on the seaside, an Italian Garden on their former tennis court and a beautiful Rose Garden. Butchart took great pride in his wife's remarkable work. An enthusiastic hobbyist, he collected ornamental birds from all over the world. He kept ducks in the Star Pond, noisy peacocks on the front lawn and many elaborate birdhouses throughout the gardens. The only surviving portion of the original cement factory is the tall chimney of a long vanished kiln still seen from the Sunken Garden lookout. The plant stopped manufacturing cement in 1916, but continued to make drain tiles and flower pots until 1950. Some of the original flowering cherry trees which extended from West Saanich Road to The Gardens’ entrance may still be seen. The renown of the family owned gardens is widespread. Each year over a million bedding plants in some 900 varieties give you uninterrupted bloom from March through October. Almost a million people visit annually for spring’s colourful flowering bulbs; summer’s riot of colour, entertainment and Saturday Fireworks; fall’s russets and golds; the Magic of Christmas’ decorations; and winter’s peacefulness.

Our Begonia Bower hanging baskets are overflowing with lush Begonias and Fuchsias, bringing bold blooms, soft draping co...
06/17/2026

Our Begonia Bower hanging baskets are overflowing with lush Begonias and Fuchsias, bringing bold blooms, soft draping colour, and a gorgeous glow to this shaded corner.

The Rose Garden is filling in beautifully, blooming from the outside in. Sweet peas line the pathway and welcome you int...
06/15/2026

The Rose Garden is filling in beautifully, blooming from the outside in. Sweet peas line the pathway and welcome you into the space, while tall Delphiniums encircle the garden from within, creating layers of colour and charm. It's the perfect time to wander through and take in the early summer charm.

10 of our mischievous gnomes have escaped from The Seed & Gift Store and are hiding out in the gardens. From Friday, Jun...
06/13/2026

10 of our mischievous gnomes have escaped from The Seed & Gift Store and are hiding out in the gardens. From Friday, June 19, to Sunday, June 21, families are invited to take part in our Children's Garden Gnome Hunt. Explore the pathways, enjoy the beauty of the season, and see how many of our missing gnomes you can discover tucked among the flowers and foliage.

Find more information at butchartgardens.com/events/childrens-garden-gnome-hunt/

Blue Poppies are still blooming outside The Blue Poppy Restaurant, but only for a limited time. Their rare, electric‑blu...
06/11/2026

Blue Poppies are still blooming outside The Blue Poppy Restaurant, but only for a limited time. Their rare, electric‑blue petals make the perfect backdrop for a relaxing lunch with a view. Come enjoy the blooms while they last.

butchartgardens.com/restaurant/the-blue-poppy-restaurant/

A quick update for our visitors: The Rose Carousel is currently undergoing repairs and will remain closed until further ...
06/10/2026

A quick update for our visitors: The Rose Carousel is currently undergoing repairs and will remain closed until further notice. We know it's a favourite spot for many, and we're sorry for the inconvenience. We'll have it back to its magical self as soon as possible.

June draws us deeper into the garden, where sweet scents, unfolding blooms, and a century of cherished beauty remind us ...
06/10/2026

June draws us deeper into the garden, where sweet scents, unfolding blooms, and a century of cherished beauty remind us why this place continues to inspire.

Read about what's in bloom in the garden this month in our June Garden Report. butchartgardens.com/blog/june-2026-garden-report/

There's nothing quite like a Sunday stroll through the June garden. Time seems to slow as you wander through the lush gr...
06/07/2026

There's nothing quite like a Sunday stroll through the June garden. Time seems to slow as you wander through the lush greenery and early‑summer blooms.

The Gardens are glowing this week with the fluttering petals of Poppy (Papaver rhoeas ‘Shirley Mix’), tall Delphiniums, ...
06/05/2026

The Gardens are glowing this week with the fluttering petals of Poppy (Papaver rhoeas ‘Shirley Mix’), tall Delphiniums, charming Foxgloves, and the bright faces of bedding Dahlias. Every corner feels like a little burst of colour.

Early blooms are opening in the Rose Garden, a welcome preview before July's full splendour.
06/03/2026

Early blooms are opening in the Rose Garden, a welcome preview before July's full splendour.

June marks the beginning of our summer season here at The Gardens, a time when the landscape shifts from the freshness o...
06/01/2026

June marks the beginning of our summer season here at The Gardens, a time when the landscape shifts from the freshness of spring to the full vibrancy of early summer. With longer days and warmer evenings, the gardens take on a new rhythm, inviting visitors to explore at a leisurely summer pace.

Our gates are now open from 9:00am to 5:00pm, with viewing until 6:00pm on Mondays and Tuesdays and from 9:00am to 10:00pm, with viewing until 11:00pm from Wednesdays to Sundays, with Night Illuminations. The first of the Roses, perennials, and early annuals now begin to define the landscape, each contributing to the richness of the season.

June is an exceptional time to visit, with lush plants, warm weather and seasonal transitions. butchartgardens.com/summer/

Address

800 Benvenuto Avenue
Brentwood Bay, BC
V8M1J8

Telephone

866-652-4422

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