Butchart Gardens March 13, 2011

This was our first visit this year to the historical display, although we have been other years. One thing I missed this year was the old-time croquet set, which was left stored away because people had been handling it too much.

The bone-shaped pieces were for testing the quality of cement. (Before being transformed into a garden, this property had been used as a limestone quarry for the family's cement factory back in the early 1900's.) We were told that these pieces can still be found on the beach of the inlet by the gardens.

Above: a photo I had not seen before and some old standards - the billiard table and a couple of music boxes.

It was cold and wet outside so back in we went to the Spring Prelude garden.