The Butchart Gardens is open year round and is located on fifty five acres of floral wonderland, the garden was originally begun by Jennie Butchart in 1906 when with the help of Isaburo Kishida she created a Japanese garden. In time the kitchen herb garden was transformed into a rose garden, and by 1939 they gave the gardens to their grandson who cared for it until his death 58 years later.

Today the garden is as well cared for as the woman who started it took care of it, along with the 30 foot totem poles that will be found, the birdhouses that were a favorite of Jennie’s husband who collected them and carved birds.

During the time that Ross’s son Christopher was in charge of the garden, from 1944 through 2000, he introduced some new and interesting things for visitors such as the evening symphony concerts that were hosted weekly, and today the electric mix of bands that play between July and August and at Christmas. The December Christmas lights and other seasonal decorations that adorn the gardens and the ice skating rink that is still operational today.

The gardens are a place where the visitor can take in all the beauty while taking a relaxing stroll among the paths through the Butchart Gardens or take in a concert on a warm July or August evening. The gardens that can be viewed include the Japanese garden and the Italian garden that were both started by Jennie Butchart. There is also a sunken garden, waterfalls and Star Pond that are not only beautiful but relaxing as well for the visitor to the garden.

The flowers that can be seen are thousands of different blooms, each blooming at a different time like Acanthus, Crocosmia, Dahlia, Fuchsia, Hebe, Ligularia, Phlox and more.

Discover the Pacific Undersea Gardens, Victoria Royal BC Museum, Victoria Conference Centre, Victoria Government Parliament Buildings, Butchart Gardens, Victoria Miniature World IMAX Theatre and the Victoria Whale Watching tours.