Butchart Gardens
As long as you understand the difference between a display garden and any other kind of garden, you'll understand what you'll be seeing.
A display garden resembles the models we see on magazine covers - perfect, airbrushed, every little flaw hidden or changed away. It isn't overly real although lots of people think it is. You'd like to think you could do that but the reality is with all that airbrushing, nobody looks like that.
Butchart is a horticultural equivalent. It is stunningly gorgeous given that each gardener only has approximately half an acre to maintain. There's not a leaf out of place or bit of garden debris anywhere. It has color and dramatic scenery everywhere you look. The colors are co-ordinated and a delight to the eye.
Constructed in an old quarry, the gardeners have taken great pains to create a living legacy to the original owner.
It also has scads of people everywhere you look. I wasn't able to take too many pictures in the place because it was full of people. Between June to September you can expect to pay $25/adult for this garden view.
While
it has a lot of color, it has relatively few species of
plants. Don't go there expecting to see the latest and
greatest plants - they aren't going to be there. Don't go
looking for a horticultural treasure - it isn't going to be
there. Don't expect to be able to take too many ideas away with you for your own garden unless you have tons of bucks (remember the model analogy?) and a full time gardener.
So what's the verdict? I've seen it once. I'd do it once but not again. The color was interesting but I prefer my gardens real. I prefer them with interesting plants and things I might be able to do at home.
But if you like shameless model color - this is your dream garden.
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