Butchart Gardens Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Butchart Gardens
Sunken Garden
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Type	Botanical
Location	Brentwood Bay near Victoria, British Columbia

National Historic Site of Canada
Official name: Butchart Gardens National Historic Site of Canada
Designated:	2004

The Butchart Gardens are a famous group of flower gardens in Brentwood Bay, Canada. They are located near Victoria on Vancouver Island. Over a million people visit these gardens every year. The Butchart Gardens are also recognized as a National Historic Site of Canada.

History of the Gardens
- How the Gardens Started
- Growing and Changing
Things to See and Do
Entertainment and Events
Gallery
See also

History of the Gardens

Entrance to the Butchart Gardens

The story of the Butchart Gardens began with Robert Pim Butchart (1856–1943). He started making cement in 1888. He and his wife, Jennie Butchart (1866–1950), moved to Canada's west coast. They came because of the rich limestone deposits needed to make cement.

In 1904, the Butcharts built their home near Robert's cement quarry. This quarry was located on Tod Inlet on Vancouver Island.

How the Gardens Started

The Italian Garden

In 1909, the limestone quarry was used up. Jennie Butchart then had a wonderful idea. She decided to turn the empty quarry into a beautiful garden. This amazing project was finished in 1921 and became the famous Sunken Garden.

The Butcharts named their home "Benvenuto," which means "welcome" in Italian. They started inviting people to visit their gardens. In 1926, they turned their tennis courts into an Italian garden. Later, in 1929, their vegetable garden became a large rose garden.

Growing and Changing

The Ross Fountain

In 1939, the Butcharts gave the gardens to their grandson, Ian Ross. He was 21 years old at the time. Ian Ross helped run and promote the gardens for 58 years.

To celebrate the gardens' 50th anniversary in 1953, many miles of wires were put underground. This allowed the gardens to be lit up at night. In 1964, the beautiful Ross Fountain was added to celebrate the 60th anniversary.

In 2004, two tall, 30-foot (9-meter) totem poles were put up. This marked the gardens' 100th anniversary. That same year, the gardens were named a national historic site.

Today, the Butchart Gardens are still owned by the Butchart family. Robin-Lee Clarke, the great-granddaughter of Jennie Butchart, has been the owner and managing director since 2001.

Things to See and Do

Bird and Animal Life

While Jennie Butchart loved collecting plants, Robert Butchart collected ornamental birds. He had a parrot in their house and peacocks on the lawn. He even built special birdhouses in the gardens.

Statues and Art

Sturgeon fountain

You can find several bronze statues throughout the gardens. One famous statue is of a wild boar. It was bought in 1973 and is a copy of a very old statue from Italy. People often rub its snout for good luck, just like the original!

Another statue shows a donkey and its baby. There is also a fountain with three sturgeon fish near the Japanese garden.

Fun Features for Families

In December 2009, the Children's Pavilion and the Rose Carousel opened. The Rose Carousel is the only one of its kind on Vancouver Island. It has 30 different animals, like bears, horses, ostriches, and zebras. Each animal is carved from wood and took many months to make. There are also special chariots for visitors using wheelchairs.

The Rose Carousel is inside the Children's Pavilion. This pavilion has a large dome and a roof covered with native plants. It also has a room for events like children's birthday parties.

In the summer, you can even take a ride on the Jennie B boat. This electric boat takes visitors along the nearby coastlines. It's a great way to see the area's history and learn about coastal plants and animals.

Entertainment and Events

In the early days, the Butcharts hosted weekly symphony concerts. These concerts were first for their guests but later became popular with many visitors.

Today, during the summer and winter holidays, the gardens offer lots of entertainment. You can enjoy everything from jazz to classical music. Sometimes, a band made up of garden staff members, called The Weeds, even performs!

Since 1977, there have been amazing firework shows on summer Saturday evenings. During the winter, the gardens are decorated with beautiful lights and holiday decorations. There's even an ice-skating rink in the Waterwheel Square.