Cherry Ong is taking us along to see spring at Butchart Gardens in British Columbia. This garden is famous for over-the-top displays of spring bulbs and annuals, which paint the whole space with giant swaths of color. One of the most iconic parts of the garden is the sunken garden, and often we see photos taken from the ground above, looking down at the plants. But today Cherry is taking us down into the garden and looking up and around at the beauty to be found there.
Coordinated swaths of tulips (Tulipa hybrids, Zones 3–8) and late daffodils (Narcissus hybrids, Zones 3–8) bloom together. The tulips in front are underplanted with forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica, Zones 3–8) to add a layer of blue around the larger tulip blooms.
Here the colors are hot, with the beds in the foreground underplanted with English daisy (Bellis perennis, Zones 4–8) in pink and red. They add a layer of color even when the bulbs in the bed are not in flower.
Yellow tulips are like a puddle of sunshine on the ground.
Daffodils and tulips planted together extend the show, and provide an added dimension to the color.
After they bloom, all these beds will be ripped out and replaced with annuals for the summer display.
The landscape around the sunken garden is dramatic and beautiful as well.
As beautiful as the bulbs are, this incredible old Japanese maple (Acer palmatum, Zones 5–9) is breathtaking. Now, right before the leaves flush out, you can see the incredible intricate form of the trunk.
The pond is lined with gorgeous flowering trees blushing shades of pink.
And, of course, still more daffodils are blooming everywhere!
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Comments
Thank you Cherry for taking us along on another fantastic botanical garden tour! It’s so fun to see how the experts garden! I especially love the tulips planted with forget-me-nots and the old Japanese maple.
You're welcome. There's always a gardening lesson for me (usually more than one as I study their plant combinations) when I visit. Even our dog enjoyed his visit with so many of the visitors fawning over him. I'm so glad they allow pets now.
Oh that old Japanese Maple is magnificent! I could not imagine ripping out tons of bulbs to plant annuals- labor intensive!
Such a beautiful place.
I agree (takes 10,000 man hours or more, BTW, I overheard they have 50 gardeners), so best to just visit and enjoy right? Kidding aside, I love visiting Vancouver Island and wish I could visit more often.
Haooy Spring, Cherry!!! Thanks for this colorful trip through the incredible bulb gardens, and I'm with Sue... Yikes, what a lot of work!!! And, that Japanese maple is beyond dreamy... Have a fabulous weekend, my friend!
Happy Spring Sheila! I have a weakness for Japanese maples, think it's in my DNA. How are you and your garden?
Our low desert gardens are doing well. I have been getting a lot of natives planted that were on my list before the monsoon rains come and the 100 degree temps settle in. Overall, things are finally coming together in my eye... but as all of us gardeners know, there's always another plant that needs to live with us!
Enjoy your gardens adventures, my friend!
This garden is literally breathtaking... thank you for sharing!
You're welcome. Happy to.
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