A Canadian Eden

Location Coordinates:
48°33'55"N, 123°28'10"W
Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay,
British Columbia, Canada

My goal with the creation of The Right Latitude blog is less about sharing sights and thoughts on traditional tourist attractions and more about the everyday aspects of any spot that make it interesting. As such, including an entry about the world-renowned Butchart Gardens in British Columbia would seem inconsistent with my objective. But the sheer beauty of this place compels me to at least include a few shots of this amazing property, which is located about 14 miles (21 km) north of Victoria, BC.

Warmer-than-normal weather and traveling at the peak of summer vacation season, with the associated hordes of tourists, were the only downsides about spending a few hours wandering through these exquisitely maintained gardens. The moderate climate of southern Vancouver Island allows for a huge variety of floral and plant life to thrive, and the design of the various sections of The Gardens provides for an almost overwhelming array of color and beauty.

Sunken Garden

The most recognizable scenes are those in the Sunken Garden. It is nearly inconceivable that this spot was once a quarry providing limestone for the Butchart family's cement business. It was the ingenuity and determination of Jennie Butchart that transformed an ugly, barren quarry into this beautiful retreat.

Rose Garden

The countless varieties and colors of the Rose Garden make it impossible to determine which is your favorite.

And even with throngs of tourists milling along the pathways of the Japanese Garden you can still find a shady, peaceful spot to be calmed by the sounds of water falling in fountains surrounded by lush green.

Japanese Garden

These are just a few of the dozens of photos I shot, the best of which I'm reserving for publication on my web site (which should be operational by this fall). If you ever have the chance to visit Butchart Gardens, go ahead and brave the crowds. It is worth it.