Butchart Gardens

In the Pacific Northwest just across the water into Canada from Seattle, Washington, lies a great gem of gardening history. Butchart Gardens was begun over 100 years ago by Jennie Butchart, the wife of Robert Pim Butchart, a manufacturer of Portland Cement. With over 55 acres of gardens, it is a veritable feast for the eyes.

Attracted to the West Coast of Canada by rich limestone deposits vital for cement production, Butchart built a new factory at Tod Inlet, on Vancouver Island. There, in 1904, he and his family established their home. As the limestone was used up in the quarry near the Butchart's house, Jennie decided to try a unique approach to bring life to the stony quarry. She had tons of top soil brought in from farmland nearby, had it delivered by horse and cart to Tod Inlet, and had them line the floor of the abandoned quarry with it. Gradually this abandoned quarry began to bloom with life under Jennie Butchart's personal supervision, and this became the spectacular Sunken Garden.