Sunday, October 13, 2013

The Butchart Gardens

 Beauty as far as the eye can see ~~
 that is my first impression of The Butchart Gardens.
There are those who enjoy puttering in the garden with the idea of making our little corners of the world a more beautiful place.  
(Raising my hand here).
As much as I enjoy time spent in my little garden, I do not possess the vision needed to transform a plot of land into a gorgeous jaw-dropping, stunningly beautiful garden that would one day be visited by close to a million people per year.

Jennie Butchart, on the other hand, did possess these skills.
Her vision for an exhausted limestone quarry was the very beginning of what is now The Butchart Gardens.  The Butchart's story can be found here.
Many years ago my parents visited this amazing destination and brought me a calender.  Each month depicted a photo of the gardens throughout the year.  I knew instantly that this was a place I needed to see in my lifetime.  If I'd had a bucket list all those years ago, this would occupy the number 1 spot.



 The years went on...
children were born, my parents went on to their heavenly home and I was once again reminded of my desire to visit The Butchart Gardens when I read the blogs of the gals in British Columbia.
Lorrie has been kind enough to share several beautiful posts on her visits to Butchart.  My dream would be to visit in each season.  I know this is not likely to happen and I am thrilled to be able to do the next best thing, a bit of armchair travel along with Lorrie.
If you are interested in some armchair travel of your own on this Sunday in October, I invite you to visit this gorgeous garden with me.
I don't know any way to do this without a picture heavy post.
However, I feel few words are necessary... this place speaks for itself.  I will try to remain mum (no pun intended :) and just let you enjoy the beauty.













 The dahlias were at their prime during our visit...






 

 ~ Pink Perfection ~




Do you need a rest?





 ~ shadow play ~


 Even the trash receptacles are pretty.

By day ...


or night The Butchart Gardens did not disappoint.
I can't think of a lovelier way to wrap up our travels to 
Beautiful, Beautiful British Columbia.

  

    THE Lord God planted a garden
    In the first white days of the world,
    And He set there an angel warden
    In a garment of light enfurled.
    So near to the peace of Heaven,
    That the hawk might nest with the wren,
    For there in the cool of the even
    God walked with the first of men.
    And I dream that these garden-closes
    With their shade and their sun-flecked sod
    And their lilies and bowers of roses,
    Were laid by the hand of God.
    The kiss of the sun for pardon,
    The song of the birds for mirth,--
    One is nearer God's heart in a garden
    Than anywhere else on earth.
    For He broke it for us in a garden
    Under the olive-trees
    Where the angel of strength was the warden
    And the soul of the world found ease.
    Dorothy Frances Gurney


 *****

Thank you for joining me in the garden.
I'm wishing you peace and contentment today and in the coming week.
 The comments in my last post have been, quite frankly, overwhelming in a really nice way.  You've opened my eyes and given me lots of food for thought.  Thank you so very much.
Could we please have a group hug? (((())))
You are the best and I think I would be very wrong to abandon you now.


~ Kim

15 comments:

  1. How lovely to see your pictures of Butchart Gardens. There's always something to catch the eye. I love the photo of the bench, and those luscious dahlias. So glad you enjoyed your visit there. I'm also thrilled that you enjoy the photos I post of my visits to the gardens. I try to go monthly and it's always different.

    Can we dare to hope that you'll keep blogging, after all? That would be lovely! Hugs.

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  2. How beautiful...can't help but think Note Card material, but that might be pushing you too much. (Don't let me do that, though for purely selfish reasons, I like to keep my blogging buddies in a cheery little row. =D )

    The night time scene of Butchart Gardens just took my breath away.

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  3. Kim, these are breathtakingly beautiful!! I'm so glad you shared these with us! Years ago, I had a piano teacher who visited Butchart Gardens and sent me a postcard. That postcard stayed on our fridge for years. It looked so much like the first photo in your post. You've really made me want to visit it for myself now. I agree with Vee; the night time pic is gorgeous.

    Thanks for sharing, Kim. I hope you decide to keep blogging. :)

    Hugs,

    Denise at Forest Manor

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  4. Hi Kim! Yay, I hope that means you'll stay around here in the happy land of cyber visits! My sister spent the weekend in Victoria and I wonder if she went to the gardens. We were there last year around this time.

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  5. Isn't it just a gorgeous spot? It has been years since I visited there and wonder now why I haven't made the trip again. Lovely photos.

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  6. Beautiful. Your post says it all! We have been to Butchart Gardens of and on over the years...and have always enjoyed it whatever the season. I so appreciate those who create such beauty and open it to the public.

    I too am hopeful that maybe I can visit you here again in the future. Just saying. :)

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  7. You can't imagine how thrilled I was to see that you had posted again! I needed beauty in my overcast Monday morning, and you shared it with me. What gorgeous pictures!

    I too, am hopeful to find another post here, in the future.

    Kim, so good to hear from you again!

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  8. I'm so glad you aren't abandoning us just yet, Kim! Hang in there with us a while longer okay? This post and your photos are just beautiful. I have been to Butchart Gardens 35 years ago and I'm sure it is more beautiful today than it was then. I love the late day photo with the lights on. Thanks for sharing this beautiful place with us. I looked at your last post and the comments and noticed the last one is a spam comment that should be deleted. I get them all the time and they carry on to other bloggers when they comment. Have a beautiful week. I'm hoping to see more posts from you soon. Hugs. Pamela

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  9. Oh my gosh..........are you going to keep on keeping on? That would be fabulous dear Kim. As I mentioned, even if just sporadic posts to keep in touch, anything is better than you just leaving us altogether.

    Butchart Gardens are amazing - I've been a couple of times and hope to go back and meet up there with those lovely bloggers Lorrie and Pondside, both whom live in Victoria, one of these days! Can you just imagine strolling through the beauty with some great gals you've been longing to chat with in person - we should just plan a blog party there!

    Lovely shots - I've never been after dark so loved seeing the illuminations. Love the 'shadow play' shot, and the dahlias are stunning. The poem is lovely and part of it I know well - starting 'the kiss of the sun for pardon..........' as my dear grandma, many, many years ago, wrote them in my childhood autograph book, and I've never forgotten them. I also have them etched on a stone in my garden.

    Thanks for sharing all this loveliness Kim..............hope to see you posting here again when you can.
    Hugs - Mary

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  10. Oh my Kim, there are no words for the beauty displayed there. Breathtakingly beautiful. WOW. AWESOME. Thanks for the wonderful photos!!
    Considered yourself hugged. : )
    I couldn't end my blog after all, and I'm already back!!!

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  11. Thanks for sharing these lovely photos of Burtchart Gardens! I've always heard how beautiful they are but will probably never get there either.

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  12. Beautiful photos of Burtchart Gardens!
    Greetings, RW & SK

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  13. This looks like a little bit of heaven here on earth, Kim, the Burtchart Gardens are absolutely stunning!Thanks for sharing, I was so tickled when I saw you had posted! I hope this means you will soon be back, you have so been missed, every time I walk by my hydrangeas I think of you!
    Hugs,
    Sue

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  14. My hubby and I visited Butchart Gardens on a stop when we were on an Alaskan cruise. You've captured the beauty so well.
    It's so nice to meet you, Kim. Thank you for your visit. xo

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