Butchart Gardens

Fred and I recently visited the lovely Butchart Gardens.  We started our mini-vacation in Anacortes where we (and our car) boarded a ferry headed to Vancouver Island, Canada.  Sunlight reflected off the ocean as we cruised by the tree covered San Juan islands.

 

Upon entering Canada and answering the border officer’s usual question of why we were there, we learned that Butchart Gardens would be having a fireworks show that night.  We weren’t planning to go to the gardens until the next day, but we couldn’t pass up the chance to see their fireworks.  The show was amazing! Too bad I left my camera at the motel and had to rely on my cell phone for photos.

We spent the next morning walking, resting on the many benches throughout the gardens, then walking some more as we enjoyed their incredibly beautiful gardens.  We enjoyed the Italian garden, Japanese garden, and a large rose garden.  We saw some of the roses we grew in Medford, as well as some that were new to us.  I especially liked this red-orange rose, Modern Art.

The Sunken Garden, which filled a former limestone quarry, was breathtaking.  This vast pit that had been carved out of the earth was filled with colorful flowers, lush plants, trees and ponds.  What an amazing transformation from what was once an immense eyesore to this stunning garden.

 

An afternoon ferry ride took us across to the mainland, where we made a quick stop for donuts at Tim Horton’s before crossing the border back into the United States and driving the short distance to our home.

Visiting Butchart Gardens has been on our to-do list since we moved to Bellingham.  With Fred’s job here coming to an end, I’m glad we were able to visit before moving away.  Next, we’re planning a day trip to Artist’s point on Mount Baker.

What did you do this summer?

Cindy