Butchart Gardens

The Butchart Gardens is a group of floral display gardens in Brentwood Bay, British Columbia, Canada, near Victoria on Vancouver Island. It is an internationally-known tourist attraction which receives more than a million visitors each year. High class food service and entertainment complement the meticulously maintained gardens.

History

Location map|British Columbia|lon_dir=W|lat_dir=N
lat_deg=48|lat_min=33|lat_sec=55
lon_deg=123|lon_min=28|lon_sec=10|float=left
caption=Location of Butchart Gardens in British Columbia

Robert Pim Butchart (1856–1943) began manufacturing Portland cement in 1888 near his birthplace of Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada. He and his wife Jennie Butchart (1866–1950) came to the west coast of Canada because of rich limestone deposits necessary for cement production.

In 1904, they established their home near his quarry on Tod Inlet at the base of the Saanich Peninsula on Vancouver Island. They equipped it with an indoor salt water pool, a bowling alley, a panelled billiard room,tennis courts and a 16-rank roll-playing pipe organ. [cite book
last=Smith|first=Rollin
title=The Aeolian pipe organ and its music
publisher=The Organ Historical Society|location=Richmond VA USA|date=1998|pages=363
isbn=0 913499 16 1]

In 1906, Jennie created a Japanese garden there with the help of designer Isaburo Kishida.In 1909, when the quarry was exhausted, Jennie set about turning the eyesore into a sunken garden, which was completed in 1921. They named their home "Benvenuto" ("welcome" in Italian), and began to receive boat-loads of visitors to their gardens.In 1926, they replaced their tennis courts with an Italian garden, and in 1929 they replaced their kitchen vegetable garden with a large rose garden to the design of Butler Sturtevant of Seattle.

In 1939, the Butcharts gave the Gardens to their grandson Ian Ross (1918–1997) on his 21st birthday. Ross was involved in the operation and promotion of the gardens until his death 58 years later.

In 1953, miles of underground wiring was laid to provide night illumination, to mark the 50th anniversary of The Gardens.In 1964, the ever-changing Ross Fountain was installed in the lower reservoir to celebrate the 60th anniversary.In 1994, the Canadian Heraldic Authority granted a coat of arms to the Butchart Gardens.In 2004, two 30-foot totem poles were installed to mark the 100th anniversary, and The Gardens was designated as a national historic site.

Ownership of the Gardens remains within the Butchart family; the owner and managing director since 2001 is the Butchart's great-granddaughter Robin-Lee Clarke. [cite journal
last=Koch|first=Jessica|date=2008-01-30
title=Generosity blooms at Butchart Gardens
journal=Saanich News|pages=A34]

Collections

Birds

While Mrs. Butchart collected plants, Mr. Butchart collected ornamental birds from all over the world, having a parrot in the house, ducks in the Star Pond and peacocks on the front lawn. He built several elaborate birdhouses for the gardens and trained pigeons on the site of the present-day Begonia Bower.

Statuary

Several bronze statues are displayed in the gardens.

One, of a wild boar, purchased on a Mediterranean trip in 1973, was cast in Florence, a copy of a 1620 marble statue by Pietro Tacca. It is called "Tacca" in honour of the sculptor andits snout is shiny from the many visitors rubbing it for luck.

Another, nearby in front of the residence, of a donkey and foal is by Sirio Tofanari. A fountain statue of three sturgeon, also by Tofanari, is installed near the Japanese garden.

In 1993, "Circle of Doves", which Ann-Lee Ross gave her husband Ian in 1991 to commemorate their 50th wedding anniversary, was installed in front of the begonia bower.

Entertainment

In the early days, weekly symphony concerts were hosted. Nowadays, during the summer, an eclectic mix of daily entertainment awaits visitors to the gardens along with live entertainment at Christmas time.

In 1977, Ian Ross's son Christopher (1944–2000) introduced fireworks on summer Saturday evenings,modelled on the grand fireworks of 18th century France.

In Decembers, Christmas lights and seasonal decorations adorn the gardens along with an ice-skating rink.

References

External links

* [http://www.butchartgardens.com/ The Butchart Gardens] – official website
* [http://www.brainfuel.tv/flowers-i-saw-at-butchart-gardens-vancouver-island/ Flower Photos of Butchart Gardens]
* [http://www.gardenvisit.com/garden/butchart_gardens Butchart Gardens - a Gardens Guide review]
* [http://www.gazebo-victoria.com/butchart_gardens.html Butchart Gardens - Victoria BC attraction]