Tulips in a vase

Butchart Gardens January 21, 2012

Once again it's time for Butchart's indoor 'Spring Prelude' garden. It never comes too soon for me, so to open the door and feel the warmth and smell the fragrance in the air is heavenly.

Indoor Garden

A new fountain which has water running into the centre.

They really went to town with the logs in the pond this year.

Spheres were here in this Japanese garden area last year.

Outside

Outside was not so nice! Brrr.

Historical Display

Back inside to the Historical Display. I didn't take pictures of the pool room because I've done that before.

I have taken pictures of the croquet set before, but they're one of my favourite things and they're not out every year. It's nice to see the music boxes on display this time as well.

Butchart Gardens May 17, 2011

A new arrival - this peanut cart sat outside the carousel building.

Tulips
In my opinion, this is coming into one of the best times of the year at Butchart's, mainly because of the tulips.

Blue poppies
I especially like the combination of the blue poppies with orange azaleas but it was a bit early for the azaleas this year.

More spring flowers - May 1, 2011

Some flowers around the neighbourhood.

Tulips at the Empress Hotel.

I didn't get any good pictures of the double cherry (?) blossoms this year... in fact I nearly missed them altogether as the trees are starting to go into leaf already.

Glorious tulips

April 29, 2011

We had to zip into Butchart Gardens for a few moments. I hadn't intended on taking any photos but outside the shops were these gorgeous tulips. What colour!

Of course, one doesn't have to go to Butchart Gardens to see tulips.

Even around town there are some eye-popping displays as seen in a yard (above) in Oak Bay.

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.