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The Butchart Gardens are a Breathtaking Sight in British Columbia

Added Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012

Anyone planning to travel to Alaska this summer might want to consider adding British Columbia to their itinerary. Just outside Victoria, the internationally known Butchart Gardens are waiting to welcome guests to the grounds, which are peppered with thousands of beautiful flowers and other awe-inspiring plants all year round. There are many elegant bronze statues and fountains tucked away among the plants as well. Touring the gardens will make any visitor feel as though they have stepped into a fairy tale.

There is plenty to see no matter what time of year travelers come to the Butchart Gardens, but spring and summer are perhaps the best times to tour the facilities. Guests can wander through the grounds, which include both indoor and outdoor facilities. In spring, thousands of bulbs are just beginning to bloom and blossoms are emerging on the Japanese cherry trees and magnolias. By the time summer is in full swing, the gardens are so colorful, it's almost hard to believe the sight is real. The public gardens cover 55 acres, so there's plenty to see all day long.

Robert and Jennie Butchart, who founded the gardens the late 1800s, also spent a lot of time traveling the globe. Their travels inspired Jennie to create Japanese and Italian gardens around their home. The gardens grew along with her passion, and she was constantly adding new plants and flowers to her collection. Robert encouraged her and helped out by decorating the gardens with statues and other objects collected during their travels.

The gardens have since been passed down through the family, and many more art sculptures and fountains have been added to the grounds. The Fountain of the Three Sturgeons, created in 1958, and a bronze casting of a 17th century marble sculpture of a boar from Florence are just two of the many works of art that can be seen throughout the gardens.

Touring the gorgeous Butchart Gardens is a great way to spend a day of a vacation to Alaska and Canada. Here, guests can always see something blooming, regardless of the season, but spring and summer are when the grounds really come alive. There are displays of plants and artwork from around the world, thanks to the Butchart's passion for traveling and sightseeing. Travelers who find themselves in Canada will not want to miss an opportunity to check out one of the most beautiful garden collections.

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