The famous Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island is a popular tourist destination. Growing up, it was a favourite place to take our overseas visitors. Last month, July, my mom had friends visiting and she arranged for a van to take us to Vancouver Island for lunch, wine-tasting, and a visit to Butchart Gardens.

Early that morning, we rode out to Tsawwassen Terminal for the 1.5-hour sailing. Depending on the time of year, there are multiple departure times to choose from. We arrived early and went to browse the terminal shops, where I purchased a wide-brim hat for the day. I also picked up some food, even though the ferry had food outlets.

More info : BC Ferries

Not particularly a morning person, I found a seat by the window on the ferry. I draped myself in a large scarf and put on the earphones for my iPod and drifted off. As the sailing was not long, I did not nap too deeply.

After we disembarked at Schwartz Bay, we headed first for lunch at Church and State Wines Brentwood. I did some quick research and chose this one as it also offered wine tasting. We also celebrated my mom’s birthday here with her friends. Our table was out on the patio, facing the vines. It was cool under the shade and we enjoyed our meals. My mom and her friends spent this time catching up.

Church and State is the largest vineyard on Vancouver Island. Also being only fifteen minutes from downtown Victoria, it is a popular place. The restaurant was quite full and reservations are recommended.

After lunch, we drove to the beautiful grounds of Devine Distillary. No one was too keen on gin-tasting so they enjoyed their beautiful garden instead. My mom bought a couple of their small-batch and beautifully labelled bottles.

Church and State Wines is located at 1445 Benvenuto Avenue, Victoria, British Columbia. It is about a twenty-minute drive from the Schwartz Bay Ferry Terminal and six minutes to Butchart Gardens.

Devine Distillery is located at 6181B Old West Saanich Road, Victoria. It is just a few minutes from Church and State Wines.

Butchart Gardens

This 55-acre property began when Robert (1856–1943) and Jennie (1866–1950) Butchart moved west to Vancouver Island in 1904. They had a cement business in Ontario and came to build their cement plant on the island because of limestone deposits here. The Gardens were greatly expanded, adding the Japanese, Italian, and Rose gardens, before 1930. In 1939, they gave it to their grandson, Ian, as a gift for his 21st birthday and he turned the Butchart Gardens into a destination and what we know it as these days. Ian Ross (1918–1997) remained involved until his death. Ownership of these gardens remains with the family today.

• 1904 Garden open to visitors
• Garden Designer Isaburo Kishida from Yokohama, Japan built the Japanese Gardens under commission
• 1921 Completion of Sunken Garden
• 1926 The Italian Garden replaced the tennis courts
• 1930 Ian Ross received the gardens as his birthday present
• 1953 Underground wiring made night illumination possible, which was to celebrate the 50th anniversary night
• 1964 the Ross Foundation was made to celebrate the 60th anniversary
• 1994 the Butchart Gardens was granted a coat of arms
• 2004 to mark its 100th anniversary two totem poles were erected
• 2004 Designated as a National Historic Site. (more info : Parks Canada)
• 2009 Children’s Pavilion was opened; inside is the Rose Carousel, which includes 30 animals hand-carved from basswood.

After the driver parked, we walked over to the entrance and the group scattered as each person went at their own pace. Here and there, I caught a glimpse of some of the ladies. We all naturally congregated in the Blue Poppy Restaurant. It was hot and we all needed a break from the heat, and to grab a bite to eat and a drink.

For many the highlight is the Rose Garden. According to the Butchart Gardens website, about 250 varieties of roses bloom each summer, with about 2,500 plants including Hybrid Tea, Rugosa, Rambler, and the standard. You can also find out what’s blooming in their Garden Updates blog posts. During my visit, some flowers were the Snapdragon, Giant Lily, St John’s Wort, Blue Poppy, Geranium, and Wisteria. July is a beautiful time to visit the gardens.

Before sitting down with the group, I had walked the gardens to search for the newest addition. I investigated any signs and labels I could spot. Initially I was unsuccessful. After I bumped into a lady visiting from the US, together we went to the information centre to get more information. With slightly better instructions, we managed to find the elusive bloom, the Calycanthus ‘Aphrodite’.

Also known as strawberry bush, the Calycanthus is a hardy deciduous shrub that is sizable and known for its fragrant flowers.

‘Aphrodite’ is a hybrid between the West Coast species and the Chinese species, xSinocalycanthus. The blooms are deep-red cupped flowers that look like magnolia.

This is a hybrid by Proven Winners. Perhaps you have a green thumb for it?

Here are photos of other flowers I saw on my visit to Butchart Gardens. While a tourist destination, even locals appreciate beauty.