Spectacular Vistas Await!

The Sunken Garden is a showpiece.

Another view of the Sunken Garden.

It was a pleasantly cool and sunny October day, when we visited Butchart Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia. Although it was the end of the season, it was also the peak of autumn, and to our delight the 55 acres of gardens were bursting with brilliant gemstone colours.

Chrysanthemums line the path to the store and restaurant.

There are many autumnal vignettes throughout the gardens.

This was not my first visit to Butchart, however it was the first time I explored beyond the world famous Sunken Garden. There’s the Bog Garden, the Italian Garden, the Rose Garden and the Japanese Garden. Between the feature gardens there are floral delights along the way including an impressive collection of magnificent dahlias. There’s a beautiful carousel, two impressive hand crafted totem poles, numerous ponds, ingenious fountains and meandering water features.

Japanese maples - wow!

Because there were so many photo-worthy plants and vistas, this pictorial essay of Butchard Gardens doesn't cover it all. The Japanese and Italian Gardens are worthy of their own story.

I hope that these pictures will inspire you to create your own paradise, and give you some ideas. And next time you are in Victoria, do visit this picture perfect garden and all the hidden gems within. ​​To learn more about Butchart Gardens click here to be redirected to their website. 

Lombardy poplars provide rustic pillars inbetween colourful Japanese maples.

A special attraction is the dancing waters of this impressive fountain.

A bench is perfectly situated to watch the goings-on at the pond at the Sunken Garden.

'Marble Ball' dahlia.

Lombardy poplars are surrounded by colourful Japanese maples.

A Royal Purple smokebush shows it's fall colours.

A stacked stone wall is inter planted with Hart's sword fern.

Canopies of two different Japanese maples intersect.

A borrowed view into the Sunken Garden.

This impressive totem pole, 'Raven, Beaver with Grouse, Otter with Pups, Clam & Frog', was carved by Master Carver Charles Elliot of the Tsartlip Nation.

An anemone flowered dahlia.

A perfect pompon yellow dahlia.

Yellow blossoms of a decorative dahlia.

Flowers from the shrubby cinquefoil, Potentilla fruticosa.

Zebra grass, Miscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus'

The purple berries of BC's native, the aptly named beautyberry, Callicarpa bodinieri.

Paths are strewn throughout the gardens for easy access.

The totem poles are impressive and include interpretive signage.

The lacy golden foliage of the dwarf weeping cutleaf Japanese maple.

Dwarf weeping Japanese maples, Acer palmatum dissectum.

Japanese maples are everywhere providing spectacular autumnal colour.

A crimson Japanese maple provides a backdrop for a statue.

The pond in the sunken garden is enjoyed by visitors.

Orange pompon dahlias.

A carousel horse statue stands beyond the Sunken Garden.

The Dahlia walk.

A stunning colour combination of a decorative dahlia.

Broad expanses of lawn enhance the surrounding gardens.

A path winds through the sunken garden.

Monkshood, Aconitum napellus, a perennial, that is known for it's toxic properties.

A close-up the the ornamental grass, the zebra grass, Miscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus'.

Topiary moss animals appear like the real thing at a glance.

Fuchsias were still flowering in October.

There's many places to sit to enjoy the vistas.

An orange and white dahlia.

A single flower from the toad lily, Tricyrtis.

A variegated Pagoda dogwood tree, Cornus alternifolia 'Argentea'.

A Royal Purple smokebush Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple'.

A crabapple hangs on to the last of its fruit.

Variegated rock cotoneaster, Cotoneaster atropurpeus 'Variegatus', is a deciduous low growing shrub.

A weeping willow drapes over the pond in the Sunken Garden.

A lovely fall planting includes ornamental kale, chrysanthemums, Japanese forest grass, purple millet and cordyline.

A brilliant red Japanese maple and the rough bark of a Lombardy poplar.