Last week we took a trip to beautiful Victoria, BC. I invited my mom so we could spend some quality mother-daughter time and The Butchart Gardens was at the top of our list of places to visit. Though it was early March, there were some Spring flowers already in bloom and the special Spring Prelude display, their beautiful indoor garden, was simply beautiful. The weather was gorgeous, full blue skies and sun, and we thoroughly enjoyed our walk around the gardens. The beauty and serenity of The Butchart Gardens cannot be overstated. We were so impressed that I wanted to tell you all about this magical place!
Join me for a Four Seasons Virtual Tour of the gardens, a walk through Spring Prelude and the Historical Display, and pull up a chair and join us for High Tea!
Named one of the Top 10 Magnificent Gardens in the world by National Geographic, ranked #3 Top 10 Best Public Gardens by USA Today, and numerous other accolades by Condé Nast Traveler, CNN, TripAdvisor and more, The Butchart Gardens is one of Victoria’s most visited tourist destinations, attracting almost a million visitors every year. In 2004, The Gardens was designated a National Historic Site of Canada.
The Butchart Gardens is a total of 135 acres, 55 acres of which are fully manicured and planted. During peak season The Butchart Gardens employs a staff of 550. The Gardens has 50 full-time gardeners all year round and during peak season they employ up to 70. Each year over a million bedding plants in some 900 varieties give you uninterrupted bloom from March through October.
Originally owned by Jennie and Robert Pim Butchart who was a pioneer in the cement industry, the Butchart’s came west from Ontario, Canada because of the rich limestone deposits and there he built a cement plant. In 1904 they established their home near his quarry. In 1909 the limestone quarry was exhausted and Jennie Butchart, not feeling terribly inspired by the sight of the barren pit, set about to transform it into what would be called the Sunken Garden. It took her 12 years and it was finally completed in 1921.
The Sunken Garden (also pictured at the very top) is so beautiful, peaceful and serene.
In 1926, the Butchart’s tore out their tennis courts and replaced them with an Italian garden. Next, in 1929, they transformed their vegetable garden into a large rose garden. During this time frame they also completed the Japanese garden. Even by this time, more than 50,000 visitors came to see the gardens each year.
Ten years later in 1939, the Butcharts gave the Gardens to their grandson Ian Ross on his 21st birthday. Ross saw its potential as a major tourist attraction and after his service in WWII worked to promote the gardens for the next 58 years until his death. The gardens remain in the Butchart family and are now owned and managed by Ian Ross’ sister, Jennie and Robert’s great-granddaughter, Robin Clarke.
We arrived at The Butchart Gardens about twenty minutes before our reservation at The Dining Room for High Tea. So we spent that time touring the Spring Prelude, their indoor garden display that runs from January 15-March 31. I had read about it online but it was more impressive in person than I had imagined. Like a gigantic greenhouse on steroids, it’s literally bursting with color and fragrance.
Our walk through Spring Prelude was the perfect segway to High Tea.
We were seated at a table in the corner of the dining room where the cheery sunlight came through the windows and potted flours sat on the floor and window sill. It was such a charming atmosphere!
Our waiter brought us the High Tea menu with an overview of what would be served.
Our meal started out with tea and some candied ginger scones with whipped vanilla Devon-style cream and strawberry preserves. The scones were absolute perfection.
I would have been perfectly happy with a couple more of these and then just skip to dessert!
The food arrived and the presentation was gorgeous. The three-tiered tray consisted of savory pastries at the bottom (which is what you start with and work your way up), followed by a variety of sandwiches, and dessert on the top.
The next day we had Afternoon Tea at the Fairmont Empress and I have to say, in terms of the food itself, the selection at Butchart Gardens was better. Not to mention it’s significantly less expensive (if you’re visiting the gardens anyway – admission is required). The servings were more generous and included savory pastries, something The Empress doesn’t include. The pastries included Cornish pasties, caramelized leek and aged cheddar quiche, and chicken and mushroom vol-au-vent.
The sandwich fillings were also more flavorful (eg, smoked salmon rolls, Moroccan chicken salad). While the desserts weren’t quite as dainty or fancy as at The Empress, they were more enjoyable. The Battenberg cake covered in marzipan and shortbread lemon bars were scrumptious. For our tea we chose Lemongrass & Ginger. The lemongrass flavor was subtle and not overpowering, and the tea was delightfully refreshing.
The staff was very friendly and professional and the atmosphere was lovely. The Dining Room is small, cheerful and cozy and we really enjoyed our experience.
Incidentally, The Dining Room serves both High Tea and Afternoon Tea depending on the time of year. High Tea, which is what we had, is served during the cooler months and includes warm savory items.
And should you find yourself unable to finish everything on your plate and don’t want to take the leftovers home with you, as part of Butchart Gardens’ environmental initiatives, all food waste and coffee grounds from the restaurant and kitchen are composted for the gardens. That’s efficiency!
And if you’re interested in creating your own High Tea at home, be sure to check out my recipe for Mini Victoria Sponge Cakes, a finger-food version of a quintessential British dessert!
After High Tea, before taking a walk through the gardens, we took a tour of the Historical Display. From January 15-March 15th visitors are invited to visit the Butchart Residence to see how the family lived in the early 1900’s.
The Butchart’s traveled the world and were avid collectors and there are a lot of photographs and memorabilia on display. The staff was very friendly and eager to answer our questions.
And now let’s head outside to the gardens!
One might think that the Butchart Gardens is a place to visit in the Summer. And it most certainly is. But in fact Butchart Gardens does a world-class job of featuring all four seasons, including a special Christmas display.
Come take a four-season virtual walk around the gardens! The following photos are courtesy of The Butchart Gardens.
Wasn’t that simply breathtaking? I look forward to eventually experiencing each of the four seasons at The Butchart Gardens!
In addition to The Gardens themselves, there are several other activities available at Butchart Gardens, including boat tours (a 45-minute history and wildlife cruise around Tod Inlet and Brentwood Bay), Living Fossil Walk, the Children’s Pavilion and Rose Carousel, the Family Walk (a great way to get your kids involved), a Greenhouse Tour (they have 26 of them!), Ice Skating in the Winter, the Night Illumination, and Fireworks. The Butchart Gardens has several eating options, a Gelateria (yes, please!), and gift shops.
A trip to Victoria simply isn’t complete without a visit to The Butchart Gardens. You will love it! We look forward to a return visit.
For more information on The Butchart Gardens, visit their website: The Butchart Gardens
The Butchart Gardens: 800 Benvenuto Ave, Brentwood Bay, BC V8M 1J8, Canada, +1 250-652-4422
Disclosure: We enjoyed a complimentary visit to The Butchart Gardens. All opinions, as always, are entirely our own.
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Sandra says
I am absolutely blown away!! This is seriously the most visually beautiful article I’ve read online in ages – thank you!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thank you, Sandra, I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Katherine Thorne says
WOW! I’m just speechless. I have never been to Victoria, have always wanted to visit, especially the Butchart Gardens, and now I am more determined than ever to go! Thank you for sharing your experience and such a thorough, informative, and BEAUTIFUL article!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thank you, Katherine, and you’re very welcome! It really is a pleasure sharing such beautiful places with my readers. Some things are just far too amazing to keep to ourselves, and The Butchart Gardens is one of them! :) I hope you make it there!
Cori Landon says
This is simply awe-inspiring! I’ve always wanted to visit Butchart Gardens ever since my sister visited and couldn’t stop talking about it for several weeks after :) Hopefully my husband and I will make it up there this year!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
I hope you do, too, Cori! You guys will absolutely love it!
[email protected] ChristinasCucina.com says
Although I visited The Butchart Gardens about a year and a half ago, and also enjoyed afternoon tea there, your post has made me want to book a flight to Seattle or Vancouver again, right now! I am in awe that the gardens look as alive and beautiful as they do in mid-March!
I didn’t have afternoon tea at the Empress, because of the cost, but agree that the Butchart tea was not only impressive to look at, but absolutely delicious as well–and definitely very generous in the amount of food they served.
Absolutely lovely post (loved seeing the photos throughout the different seasons) and I cannot wait to return, maybe next time it will be in autumn! Thanks, Kimberly!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thanks so much, Christina! I know, it’s so hard to choose which season to experience The Butchart Gardens because they’re all so beautiful! The Autumn does look especially beautiful though, doesn’t it? I’ve always loved those Fall colors. And then there’s the Christmas display which looks just magical! My kids would LOVE to see that! Fortunately for us Victoria’s just a ferry ride away, so we really have no excuse not to visit more often. Doggonit! ;) Hope you make it back for a return visit, Christina!
Nat says
Oh my goodness WOW!!! BEAUTIFUL!! And High Tea looks so neat, love the atmosphere and how all the food looks!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
It’s such a beautiful place, Nat, and High Tea was such a charming experience.
@Travelpanties says
How absolutely gorgeous!!!!! Wow! I have never been but these photos are so inspiring I can’t wait to plan a trip! The afternoon tea looks splendid as well! Amazing photos!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
It’ll knock your socks off, Travelpanties! Truly, when you make that trip to Victoria you’ve GOT to see The Butchart Gardens!
jesusan says
So glad you posted this. Butchart Gardens has been on my bucket list for a very long time. The gardens are clearly gorgeous, and remind me a lot – especially with the spring blooms – of Keukenhof Gardens outside Amsterdam. That’s another garden well worth visiting, though you have to plan your visit well because it is open only for very limited times.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
It had been on mine for a while as well, Susan, and fortunately for us Victoria is just a ferry ride away. I’m so glad we finally went and I really look forward to experiencing it during the other seasons also. I never visited Keukenhof though I’ve been to Amsterdam a couple of times. It does look beautiful. And then there’s the remarkable Keukenhof Castle which I believe dates back to the 1400’s, so neat. FYI, I don’t know if you’ve been to Victoria before but I’ll be posting a couple more articles on Victoria in the next few weeks that will include some more photo tours of places I highly recommend. But if you make that trip to Victoria, Butchart Gardens is an absolute must.
Annie Monson says
This is beyond amazing!!! I cannot WAIT to go!!!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
You’ll love it, Annie!
Candace says
BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!! You did such an amazing job with this post, Kimberly. I’ve never been, but would love to visit those gorgeous gardens and have high or afternoon tea there. The tea experience wouldn’t be my husband’s thing, but I think I could probably talk him into it, lol :)
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thanks, Candace! Yes, you need to talk that hubby of yours into doing it, you’ll both be happy you did!!
Anita Chu says
I went to Butchart Gardens all the time as a kid when visiting relatives in BC. It’s more beautiful than I remembered – I’ll have to go back as an adult now!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Some things are definitely more appreciated as an adult, Anita, I hope you make it back there!
Luxe Adventure Trvlr (@jdomb) says
I love the photos of all the different seasons and how different the gardens look. Clearly, a visit for each season is in order! While my husband wouldn’t much be in to looking at the various flowers, I would go with my mom just like you do. And the afternoon tea looks delicious! I always love indulging in afternoon tea when traveling.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
It’s such a beautiful place. My husband loves nature like I do and we both love going on walks, so we’ll be going together next time. The Butchart Gardens really is a place for anyone who appreciates beauty and the outdoors. You might be surprised at just how much your husband enjoys himself :) But yes, a mother-daughter trip is perfect way to enjoy the gardens.
Tiia says
So, so beautiful! Absolutely stunning photos. I really wish I had a teleport, I’d go right away and just leave work behind xx
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Well, if you ever get your hands on that teleport, Tiia, take me with you!
Michele @ Flavor Mosaic says
Spectacular! I was fortunate to visit Butchart Gardens a few years ago in the summer, and there are not enough words in the English language to describe the beauty of it. It fills the senses with the sight and fragrance of the beautiful flowers and landscaping. While I was visiting the local orchestra was playing beautiful music while we walked around the gardens. It was Heaven on Earth. Your pictures are beautiful, and make me want to go back. I was on a quick tour, and only stayed a few hours. So I did not get a chance to have High Tea or take a tour of the Historical Tour. Your post allowed me relive my visit, and it makes me want to go back to see all the things I did not have time to see during the first visit! Thank you so much for sharing!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Michele! Thanks for reading and for sharing such a beautiful description of your experience! I know, it’s only been a week since we were there and I’m already hankering for a return visit :)
Deborah says
Those gardens are simply stunning!!! And I’m not a big tea fan, but I totally want to go to high tea there, now!!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Deborah! Yes, a big part of High Tea is really just the “experience” – it was so nice.
Rachelle says
Wow! So beautiful to see all four seasons. I think autumn might be my favorite. And I had no idea they did high tea! What a perfect location for it.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
It really was the perfect setting for high tea, Rachelle!
pragati says
hello Kimberly,
These are beyond description. The flowers are pretty and so is the tea..Love it, absolutely!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Everything about it really was beautiful, pragati!
Sand In My Suitcase says
The Butchart Gardens are lovely – and your photos are lovely too :-). We just wrote about the gardens also in our post on Victoria’s top 5 gardens.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thank you! :) I’ll swing by and take a look!
Mary Helen Deakin says
We have been to the gardens a few times over the years and we never never want to miss it when we are in BC.Every season is so interesting and amazing.I love the story of it’s begining.
Looking forward to our next visit and this time we will make sure we have the Tea!!!!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
I agree, Mary, I can’t imagine visiting Victoria without paying a visit to Butchart Gardens. I hope to eventually be able to experience it during each of the four seasons.
Judy Caudill says
Hi, loved reading your comments about the High Tea. We have reservations for the High Tea and was wondering if there is a dress code. I believe there is one at the Empress.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thanks, Judy. There is no dress code for High Tea at Butchart Gardens (unless their policy has changed, which I doubt).
The Empress used to have a fairly strict dress code and even that has loosened up a lot. The last time we had afternoon tea at the Empress there were a surprising number of people dressed extremely casually. Still, it’s always best to play it safe and call to confirm.
Have a wonderful time in Victoria!