Butchart Gardens

April 7th, 2007

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Butchart Gardens in Victoria - the British Columbia's provincial capital. It lies at the southeast end of Vancouver Island, 90km southwest of Vancouver. One of the ways to reach Butchart Gardens is from Seattle, purchasing a Victoria City and Butchart Gardens Tour on the Victoria Clipper. Butchart Gardens has an area of approx. 20ha/50 acres. The Garden was started in 1904 by Jennie Butchart to beautify the quarry pit resulting from her husband's cement business. Still operated by the family, the grounds are maintained year-round by a team of gardeners. The floral attraction is the beautiful sunken garden with its green lawns, trees and exquiste flower arrangements that create a whirl of colour. The other Gardens include, the Rose Fountain, Rose Garden, Japanese Garden and the Italian Garden. An average visit is about 1 and half hours, in time to catch the 7.00pm boat trip (about 3 hours) back to Seattle - on a day trip ticket.