Butchart Gardens Ltd., The

When you stand at the railing and look into the Sunken Garden, imagine Jennie Butchart standing there in the early 1900s looking out into a wasteland. She wondered what she could do to turn an old limestone quarry into something nicer to look at. With determination she and following generations have built a privately owned floral show garden now visited by close to a million people each year.
Small strategically placed signs show photos of time past to help you step into the past. From January 15th to March 15th several rooms of the former home of the Butchart family display artifacts and memorabilia.
The privately owned (by family descendants) gardens were designated a National Historic Site in 2004.

• Restaurants

Butchart Gardens Ltd., The Meeting Facility

• Total Sqft.: 8,408
• Reception Capacity: 400
• Description: Enticing visitors to Vancouver Island since the early 1900s, these breathtaking gardens are now a designated National Historic Site. Starting with the Sunken Garden, once a limestone quarry, The Butchart Gardens offers 22 ha (55 acres) of spectacular beauty in every season. Spring features countless tulips, daffodils and hyacinths, with the glorious Rose Garden bursting into bloom in the summer. Perennial borders start their stunning show in late summer, and the Japanese maples turn to russet, gold, and red in the fall. Entertainment highlights in July and August include music under the stars, Night Illuminations, and Saturday Fireworks. The setting of the Butchart Gardens offers abundant and extraordinary possibilities for special events. Whether it is traditional afternoon tea in front of a warm fire, a champagne reception in the Italian Gardens, or an elegant sit-down dinner in the original residence of the Butchart Family, the warm hospitality and unique surroundings will create an event to remember. Begin your event with a stroll through the Gardens, the serenity and beauty will inspire a sense of tranquility among your guests that is sure to linger long after dessert is finished.