Here’s a tongue twister for you; Butchart Gardens at Brentwood Bay in British Columbia. Try saying that five times real fast without fumbling? Victoria may be the capital city of British Columbia but it is contains one of Canada’s designated National Historical Sites only because of its international renown. The Butchart Gardens receive over a million visitors each year due to the uniqueness of their floral display gardens. The Butchart Gardens also features a brilliant collection of exotic birds and beautiful statues which are worth the visit. So plan your trip to the Butchart Gardens and book your cheap flights to Victoria.
Mr. and Mrs. Butchart established a home near their limes stone quarry which they used for their cement manufacture business in 1904. In 1907 the famous garden designer Isaburo Kishida of Yokohama came down to Victoria and established a tea garden for them. Which was a hugely popular, finally 1909 when the limestone quarry was exhausted, Mrs. Butchart converted it into the famous sunken garden which was so popular that celebrities from all over the world came down to see this marvel. Over the years they kept adding more and more new features like the Italian Garden, Japanese Garden and beautiful fountains such as the Ross fountain, the Sturgeon fountain, Star pond and much more.
Just as Mrs. Butchart was very fond of gardening and collecting rare plants, Mr. Butchart was immensely fond of collecting rare ornamental birds. He fulfilled his dream by creating his own aviary. The Butchart Gardens contain rare, colorful parrots, peacocks and much more. At the Star pond you will find different species of ducks and swans and peacocks roaming about the front lawns. In the bird houses you will also find many trained pigeons.
The distinctive bronze statues are also a must-see as they have been purchased from all over the world. Most famous is the bronze wild boar from their Mediterranean trip in 1973. This statue was cast in Florence and is the exact replica of the famous 1620 cast by Pietro Tacca. Visitors are encouraged to rub its snout for luck due to which it has gotten shiny over the years. Another famous statue is of the donkey foal by Sirio Tofanari. Another artisitic staue created by the same caster is the Sturgeon which is installed within the fountain near the Japanese Garden. Infront of the Begonia Bower is another famous statue called the “Circle of Doves” which was added in 1993.
For entertainment purposes the Butchart Gardens also contain an electrically driven 12 passenger boat which allows visitors to appreciate the waterside and the coastal plants and animals. For children there is also the ‘Children’s Pavillion and Rose carousel’ and a menagerie containing over 30 different animals including bears, horses, zebras, ostriches, big cats etc. which are carved from basswood. There are chariots available for disabled people to view the beauty of the gardens with ease. Many events are also hosted here on different occasions such as full orchestra concerts of classical music etc. When coming down to Victoria don’t miss out on the opportunity to visit the world renowned Butchart Gardens as this may be the touch of class that your trip needs.
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