Tales Of Time: Back from America- Week 1

Sunday, December 11, 2016

Back from America- Week 1 - Butchart Gardens

The Butchart Gardens was originally a quarry for limestone. Robert Butchart in 1904 created a cement factory near the quarry and built the family home. Jennie Butchart started bringing in soil by cart to fill the quarry and developed that garden over a period of 23 years, consisting of "rooms". The Japanese Garden, the Italian Garden, The Sunken Garden, The Rose Garden and various other interesting areas. It was then taken over by their grandson, till he died and currently is owned by the Great Grandaughter. Not a lot of flowers to see at winter, but still an interesting visit.

Cup of Tea first in the Cafe.

After having a great cup of tea in Canada at the cafe, USA not being big on hot tea, we started at the house and walked around looking at all the different gardens.


The Butchart House

Behind the House was a lovely private garden.

Back Garden

While we were there they were currently setting up for Christmas which takes 3 months to do. The theme being the 12 days of Christmas. Even a skating area was being developed.

The sunken garden, where workmen hitched Jennie up on a rope in order for her to plant ivy on the banks.


The Sunken Garden planted up with new annuals.

The Rose Garden would have been beautiful in full flower.

Recently Pruned for Winter

The Rose Arbor


Magnificent Walk

The Japanese Garden

The Dragon fountain


Moss on the trees was lovely - Japanese Garden

Setting up the Italian Garden for Christmas with fresh branches.

The Italian Garden is the only formal Garden and Jennie wanted it near her house, to make a courtyard.

Italian Garden

The Butcharts' traveled extensively, all over the world.

Merry Christmas

Couldn't resist the Christmas photo on our way out. We missed out on the Christmas light shows, and what would have been amazing lights throughout the garden, as all was being set up. My brother who visited during summer had wonderful photos of the flowers. We enjoyed our day there and spoke to quite a lot of the gardeners.

While staying at Tacoma near Seattle, we visited an area that was a National Reserve, a quiet place from all the hustle and bustle of the enormous amount of traffic. This area is known as the Point Defiance Park and quite a large area, bordering the Puget Sound.

Lots of walks and more moss covered trees. A Marina from which you could view a ferry, and the famous Tacoma Narrows Bridge.

Fort Nisqually, a living history museum, was set up in the Reserve with volunteers who dress up in the 1800 style and go about daily activities as seen back then.

Entrance to the fort.

Quite a few old buildings, there were blacksmiths, stables, an old homestead richly decorated, a general store, chicken shed, veg. garden and outside kitchen to the homestead.