Butchart Gardens: The Past & Present
The Butchart Gardens is a beautiful attraction located in British Columbia, Canada. With six different gardens to explore, these grounds don’t disappoint. The garden’s unique history, breathtaking scenery, and stunning landscapes make it one of the most beautiful botanical destinations in the world.
The garden originally started as a rock quarry, owned and operated by Robert Butchart. Robert Butchart was a pioneer in the early twentieth century that worked in North America’s cement industry. Robert, who had previously resided in Ontario, Canada, migrated to British Columbia because of his interest in the region’s rich limestone deposits. In 1904, Mr. Butchart had settled his quarry and cement plant at Tod Inlet on Vancouver Island. The location made it ideal for the quarry to supply cement to up and coming cities and towns down North America’s west coast.
Robert Butchart’s wife, Jennie, was the company chemist. But Jennie’s interest spanned past the company’s work in the quarry. As the quarry became a giant hole, depleted of the limestone it once had in abundance, Jennie started adding plants to bring back some beauty.
Soil was brought by a horse and cart from a neighboring farmland. As Jennie’s work continued, it eventually evolved into what we know today at the Sunken Garden. This, along with the sweet peas and rose bushes outside of the Butchart’s home, was the beginning of a soon to be magnificent attraction.
During the following years, 1906 through 1929, Jennie and Robert expanded their garden. The three newest additions were: the Japanese Garden, near the waterside, the Italian Garden which had taken place of the couple’s tennis court, and the Rose Garden.
Mr. Butchart was proud of the garden his wife had created. And even though Jennie is the one to be credited with the garden’s origin story, Robert did add his own touch. Robert Butchart had a great interest in birds, for he collected species from all across the world. Along with the birdhouses he scattered throughout the grounds, he also kept ducks and peacocks.
Jennie and Robert eventually passed down the garden to their grandson, Ian Ross. Ross was gifted the grounds on his 21st birthday, and after his service in World War II, he continued to add to the grounds. Ian worked hard within the garden for 50 or so years. It was under him that the garden became an interest for international travelers. He made the garden more self sustaining and added the summer symphony concerts as well as the variety stage show. In addition, Ian got a fountain in his name, the Ross Fountain, which was constructed in 1964 for the garden’s 60th anniversary. He also commenced the Magic of Christmas, one of garden’s five seasons. Ian died in 1997 but can be remembered through his accomplishments within the garden and throughout it’s history.
Ian’s son, Christopher, took over the garden’s productions in 1968. In 1977, Christopher started the firework display. The new event occurred during Saturday evenings in the summer months of July and August. The show wowed visitors more every year. Even today, 40 years after it’s original performance, it still continues to augment the garden’s experience.
Christopher Ross passed away in 2000. Today, the garden is succeeded by Robin-Lee Clarke. Robin, the great granddaughter of the Butcharts, still continues to take care of, and add to, the garden like the many before her. Her addition to the grounds was the Children’s Pavilion, which she added in 2009.
As of 2004, Butchart Gardens was officially labeled as one of Canada’s National Historic sites. Unfortunately, the only original construction from the garden’s previous cement factory is it’s chimney, which can be seen when overlooking the Sunken Garden.
Today, Butchart Gardens hosts 900 different plant varieties and is home to over 1 million bedded plants. Naturally, as the garden continued it’s expansion throughout the generations, it’s number of annual visitors rose as well. During the 1920′s, an estimated 50,000 people visited the grounds a year. Today, Butchart Gardens receives roughly one million visitors throughout the seasons.
The Butchart Garden Official Website
Rock Quarry Photo via hikebiketravel.com
The Butchart’s home via butchartgardens.com
The Ross Fountain via wikipedia.com
Old Cement Factory via butchartgardens.com
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