Garden Photo of the Day

Karen’s August visit to Butchart Gardens

Butchart Gardens
Photo/Illustration: All photos courtesy of Karen Harris

Could we ever see too many photos of Butchart Gardens? I think not. Karen Harris (who lives in Raleigh, North Carolina) visited recently, and is sharing with us today.

Butchart Gardens

She says, “Here are some photos from Butchart Gardens, a public garden near Victoria on Vancouver Island. My husband and I visited the gardens in August 2013 and were stunned by the endless beauty and meticulous care taken to maintain the many acres of landscaping. Everywhere we looked, someone was weeding between plantings or deadheading flowers as they faded. We could only wish to achieve something as beautiful as this on a smaller scale – minus all the work, of course.”

Closeup of Butchart Gardens

I have no idea how they do it, but I’m glad they do. Gorgeous photos, Karen. Thanks!

Yellow Flowers

——–PLEASE HELP ME!! (Day 2)——–
So, I’ve been asked to give a talk on the GPOD blog at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show in Seattle in February, and I am, I must admit, TERRIFIED! I mean, the lecture hall they’re putting me in holds HUNDREDS of people! I’m shaking in my boots just thinking about it. Behind a keyboard is where I’m most comfortable, NOT behind a podium, but I am excited to be able to show off some of your awesome gardens! The thing is, I can’t decide which ones to feature. So I’m asking YOU, the actual readers of the blog, to tell me which posts, over the past 4 years, have insired and wowed you the most. You can either comment here or email me at [email protected]. HERE‘s a link to the blog roll, where you can scroll through every post ever featured. You can also search by state HERE, or if you remember a person’s name, you can search for them in the website’s search bar. I will be SOOOO grateful, you guys. THANK YOU!! Hey… it just occurred to me that I might actually meet some of you there–so exciting!

Exploring Butchart Gardens
Landscape of Butchart Gardens
Modern Sculpture at Butchart Gardens
Beautiful Trees at Butchart Gardens
Landscape of trees at Butchart Gardens
Fountain at Butchart Gardens

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Comments

  1. user-1020932 12/17/2013

    i'm thinking Michelle has on her traveling shoes this week, nigeria, australia, canada and soon Seattle. i always love photos of Butchart gardens it just never gets old.
    what would terrify me rather than the public speaking part would be trying to decide which gpod gardens to show and talk about. there have been SO many good ones but Pauline's garden is always one of my favorites, the garden and the story behind it. is there going to be a podcast of your presentation?

  2. wGardens 12/17/2013

    Thank you for the reminder to put this garden on my "bucket list". ESPECIALLY welcome to see these wonderful photos after checking the thermometer this morning at MINUS 11! The photos are all great but that first one, WOW... absolutely a piece of heaven!

    Michelle... I know you will do a fabulous job! Wish I could be there!

  3. user-1020932 12/17/2013

    wGardens and i was whining because it was 31

  4. User avater
    meander_michaele 12/17/2013

    My answer to your opening query of can there ever be too many pictures of Butchart gardens? Emphatically, NO! It is a wondrous and magical place. Karen's first photo truly captures what seems like the endless swaths and undulations of colors and textures. Seeing it reminds me of the old tv commercial for a bath water softener where the woman sighs and says, "Calgon, take me away"...without a doubt, Butchart Gardens, esp. in August, would be a dream destination!

  5. LemonIce 12/17/2013

    There are so many lovely gardens featured here I can see how hard it would be to pick just a few. I loved the photos of Daniela's spring beds and would vote for them to be included (10/23/13). And I second the vote forPauline's garden.

  6. greengenes 12/17/2013

    Its great to see the Butchart Gardens as always! I enjoy seeing old trees, old bones of a garden. But iam so ashamed to say I live in Washington state and I have never ever been there. I have been to the old English gardens, Ireland gardens,some in Portugal but right in my back yard? you would think it would of happened by now!!! Well hold on now! Iam going to go this next spring for sure! I here the azaleas and rhodies are just fabulous! So if my pictures are good maybe I will send them. Thanks for encouraging us with this today! I gotta start a bucket list!

  7. pattyspencer 12/17/2013

    Would love to have those gardeners transform my yard! Pretty - pretty!!

  8. Doxnmom 12/17/2013

    I've visited Butchart Gardens but enjoy pictures of real gardens so much more. (Butchart is a bit Disneyesque for me -- lovely and lots and lots of hard work but a bit too perfect.) I vote for Daniela's photos for the presentation.

    To get over your speaking fear, just picture the audience in their underwear and gardening clogs.

  9. GrannyMay 12/17/2013

    Butchart Gardens is always beautiful, no matter what time of year. Living nearby, I have visited many times. Though gardens like these can be somewhat overwhelming in their perfection, there are always things to learn and like that can be useful in your own garden.

    Greengenes, if you go in late April or early May there are amazing displays of tulips as well as Azaleas and Rhododendrons. I might put something together for GPOD from the photos I took in April 2007.

    I agree that both Pauline's garden in California and Daniela's garden offer lots of material for a good talk. I'm sure there are plenty of others as well, it is hard to remember them. You could also do favourite bits from various gardens, the photos that created "wow" responses.

  10. tractor1 12/17/2013

    Great photos, love that fountain. Butchart Gardens is a bit of a trek for me but more centrally located is my favorite garden spot: The Assiniboine Park Conservatory in Winnipeg. Be prepared to spend all day, and don't miss the fabulous zoo... as well as the rest of the city... the Museum of Man is fantastic, so is the planetarium. The Peg has to be my favorite city, a wonderful city for walkers but there's excellent public transportation as well.

    http://www.assiniboinepark.ca/attractions/conservatory.php
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assiniboine_Park

    It's snowing again and this morning the temperature was a frigid -12F, now a blistering 8F.

  11. sheila_schultz 12/17/2013

    Butchart Gardens are other-worldly, the plantings just seem to undulate. Everytime I see photos of these gardens, I just want more!
    Does anyone else think that Michelle is going to be surrounded with west coast GPOD'rs rooting her on at the NWFG show? If anyone living nearby is thinking about going, you should. I went last year and had the best time!

  12. GrannyCC 12/17/2013

    Butcharts is always beautiful. Their Dahlia display in August is amazing. They have wonderful concerts in the summer evenings and fireworks on Saturday nights.. At this time of year the gardens are filled with Christmas lights. They do the 12 days of Christmas. Fun for young and old a like.

  13. cwheat000 12/17/2013

    Karen thank you for the photos. They offer some great ideas. I hope to visit. Daniela and Sheila Schultz are two more no brainers to add to your list, Michelle. I know I am forgetting a gazillion great gardens.

  14. janetsfolly 12/17/2013

    Gorgeous, as always! I REALLY need to get there. This is such a busy time, I missed the great garden from Melbourne yesterday. Was there a couple of yrs ago for Race Week, huge fun! Next time (I hope!) I'll spend more time looking at gardens and birds.
    In case I don't get back here in the next few days, MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY HOLIDAYS to all my fellow gpoders! May we all have our best gardens ever in 2014!

    And Michelle, I agree with everyone in wishing you good luck with your presentation and also wishing I could be there to meet you and tell you what a great job you did! Podcast? Woohoo!

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