What are the charming Butchart Gardens?
The beautiful and amazing Butchart Gardens is a must when traveling to Victoria or Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada. These world-renowned gardens have impressed visitors to Victoria since 1904 (55 acres). Butchart Gardens is located about 15 miles north of the harbor Indoors, carefully constructed by Jenny Butchart in her husband’s former limestone quarry, today more than a million people stop each year to meander along the flower-lined paths, which contain more than 900 different species.
The gardens were originally established by Robert and Jenny Butchart on an empty plot of land that now covers 130 acres (53 hectares), in 2004 this family celebrated its centenary and was honored as a “National Historic Site of Canada”.
Butchart Gardens is open every day of the year, with different activities and things available all year round, fireworks, concerts, boat tours, shopping and dining, these are just some of the shows that will keep even the most experienced visitor engaged, from young to old, too. For those who love gardening and are interested in the different types of plants that grow there, you will find a detailed brochure containing a number of flowers and plants.
Travelers describe the gardens as incredibly beautiful with great views and recommend bringing a camera as these stunning gardens attract over a million visitors each year, they also advise setting aside several hours to make the most of the experience.
What does Butchart Gardens contain?
Butchart Gardens boasts 22 hectares of beautiful gardens, hundreds of thousands of colorful and fragrant flowers, attractive fountains, a selection of bronze statues, a first-class restaurant, incredible views, even an impressive gift shop. Butchart Gardens is a flower lover’s paradise and a photographer’s dream playground.
Botanical attractions include the Rose Garden, the Japanese Garden, the Italian Garden, and most notably the world-famous Sunken Garden.
Best time to visit Butchart Gardens
The two best times to visit Butchart Gardens are: evenings in December when the place is lit up with millions of festive Christmas lights and Saturday evenings in July and August when Butchart Gardens hosts world-famous fireworks displays.
In December, the gardens are lit up with wonderful Christmas lights, nightly concerts and fireworks are held on Saturday evening, from late March until October there are millions of colorful flowers blooming, too, in the fall there are stunning fall foliage.
Other best times to visit Butchart Gardens include: any time between late March and mid-November (in late fall and winter there aren’t many flowers, which is reflected in lower admission rates), also from mid-April through mid-May, when the spring blooms At its best in July and August when the gardens offer evening outdoor concerts, most of which are free with general admission.
Butchart Gardens Annual Passes
Butchart Gardens Annual Pass If the visitor plans to visit these parks more than twice, an annual pass is obtained, costing approximately $63.65 for adults, $31.85 for youth and $6.00 for children, with children under five free.
Annual passes are good 365 days a year, although fireworks nights and special events are more expensive, for people who live in Victoria or plan to be there frequently, the annual pass is undoubtedly the best deal in town.
Butchart Gardens opening hours
The gardens open at 9 a.m. every day of the year, except for Christmas Day when they open at 1 p.m., closing times are 9 or 10 p.m. in the busy summer and Christmas seasons, and between 3:30 and 5 p.m. in spring, fall, and winter.
Butchart Gardens Instructions
- No Smoking: Butchart Gardens is a smoke-free environment, if the visitor needs to have a cigar or a puff of a pipe, there is a designated smoking area next to the car park.
- Dogs Are Welcome (On Leash): Dogs are welcome in Butchart Gardens, but they must be kept on a leash and cleaned afterwards. Dogs are not welcomed once during fireworks displays, as pets likely won’t appreciate being around the noise anyway.
- Accessibility: The lounge allows two wheelchairs to roam inside, people using wheelchairs cannot reach everywhere, but they can reach most places.
