When in Victoria one must visit this nearby world-class garden. Incredible...
"Robert Pim Butchart (1856–1943) and his wife Jennie Butchart (1866–1950) came to the west coast of Canada because of rich limestone deposits necessary for their cement production business.
In 1904, they established their home near his quarry on Tod Inlet at the base of the Saanich Peninsula on Vancouver Island.
In 1907, 65-year-old garden designer Isaburo Kishida of Yokohama came to Victoria to design some gardens. Several prominent citizens, Jennie Butchart among them, commissioned Japanese gardens from Kishida for their estates. .
In 1909, when the limestone quarry was exhausted, Jennie set about turning it into the Sunken Garden (seen here), which was completed in 1921. They named their home "Benvenuto" ("welcome" in Italian), and began to receive visitors to their gardens.
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 2004, to mark the 100th anniversary of The Gardens were designated as a national historic site.
Ownership of The Gardens remains within the Butchart family; the owner and managing director since 2001 is the Butcharts' great-granddaughter Robin-Lee Clarke." Wikipedia
The gardens receive over a million visitors each year. With 55 acres of colorful scenes like this it is easy to see why.
Enjoy a wonderful Sunday and the week ahead.
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