Butchart Gardens
Trip Start
May 10, 2011
1
17
55
Trip End
Jul 04, 2011
Where I stayed
Butchart Gardens, British Columbia, Canada
Thursday, May 26, 2011
The Butchart Gardens are a great example of what can be done with a disused quarry. The sunken garden in the heart of the old quarry is magnificent. The rose garden was full of promise - it was too early for it to be in bloom. The Japanese garden is not a formal one, but is an interesting composition of flowing water, pathways, ponds, trees, and shrubs. The Italian garden is small, and the Mediterranean garden is a little far from the main area and for which no time remained as the last bus back to Swartz Bay is at 1555.
Overall, the visit to the Butchart was worthwhile, but having only 2 hours in the Gardens out of a total excursion time of 10 hours was rather out of proportion. Butchart definately deserved more. An overnight stay on the island would have been preferable. However, the ferry boat ride through the small islands of the Sound between Vancouver Island and the mainland was very pleasant and formed part of the enjoyment of the day out.
