Vancouver_Canada_Alaska: 27-08-2013 Tuesday - Butchart gardens & waterside, Dinner

We got to have a bit of a sleep in and went down to breakfast just before 8.30am. Unfortunately the service was slow as there were only two people on so no hot breakfast and a quick yoghurt as the coach was waiting.

We went about 20 minutes drive to Butchart Gardens. This was originally a limestone quarry which supplied Robert Butchart's Portland cement plant. Once the quarry was worked-out his wife Jennie Butchart decided to beautify this and enlisted some help.

Next year will be 110 years of flowers in bloom.

Even the trash cans are decorated with plants.

Flowers...

Flowers & more flowers.

The actual estate is 130 acres (53ha) of which the gardens cover 55 acres (22ha).

Dawn in the 'Sunken Gardens'.

Ross Fountain - created and installed in 1964 for the 60th anniversary by Ian Ross, grandson of the Butcharts. At night time this and lots of other areas of the park are lit up and look spectacular.

The carousel.

Some elephant sculptures on the building.

On Saturday evenings in July & August a Butchart great grandson, Christopher Ross, designs fireworks.

So, as you see, lots of family are involved and the remaining heiress of the property is still involved as well.

The Rose Gardens. We were told that they have over 500 gardeners who look after the property - Dawn was reassured to find that even some of their roses get black spot as well.

Fish fountain.

The Japanese Gardens

Italian Gardens.

After the Gardens the bus driver took us for a drive around the Uplands - along the coast road. He also told us stories about the various houses we saw along the way - quite prestigious and probably worth millions.