Experience: Every Season
Step back into the carefree days of riding a carousel. Whether it’s for children, or your inner child, it’s a wondrous time upon the Rose Carousel.
As you walk towards The Children’s Pavilion you’ll notice the domed roof (complete with native plant species) and an expansive glass façade to let in lots of natural light. As you enter you’ll see the beautiful Rose Carousel and the adjoining event room that’s great for a everything from children’s birthdays to corporate events. The pavilion is also home to the seasonal Annabelle’s Café.
The pavilion has a number of environmentally friendly features. The space is optimized to use natural lighting, the irrigation system is used as a heat source, passive ventilation is used and plumbing fixtures are water efficient.
Rain or shine, The Rose Carousel has been delighting children since opening in December, 2009—kids delight in riding and looking at the intricately carved animals. The Rose Carousel, the only carousel on Vancouver Island, features a menagerie of thirty hand-crafted animals. The designs were handpicked by Robin Clarke, The Gardens’ owner and great granddaughter of Jennie Butchart, in consultation with an artist from North Carolina. The animal carvings, which include bears, horses, ostriches, and zebras, were crafted by some of the few remaining carvers of carousel art (the carvers were led by Rosa Patton of Brass Ring Entertainment). Each animal is carved from basswood and took many months to complete. Two chariots can accommodate people with disabilities.
A portion of the proceeds is donated to local children's charities.
Please visit our Rates page for pricing information.
Experience: Every Season
Although it’s fun to just wander around The Gardens we’ve created extra information for families with young children.
If you have young children in your group, you’ll want to experience the fun self-guided walk that helps you explore the gardens in a new way. A free worksheet guides you through the gardens and provides interesting historical details and points out features. Children can draw pictures along the way to answer questions—it’s a great way for kids to take a closer look at nature.
Bring your family to The Gardens and enjoy the fresh air and brilliant floral colours—our paths are child and stroller friendly. We have baby changing areas and benches in strategic areas. Stop by our Visitor Center to pick up your copy of the Family Discovery Walk worksheet. (Not available for organized group visits.)
Boat tours are offered from May 20th to September 15th, weather permitting.
Cruise around Tod Inlet and Brentwood Bay for an enjoyable 45-minute history and wildlife tour with knowledgeable captains.
You’ll be surprised to find two worlds so close together: the beauty of our floral gardens and the rugged natural beauty of the waters and shoreline of Gowlland Tod Provincial Park. You’ll also cruise past lovely seaside homes in nearby Brentwood Bay.
During the summer months, enjoy a 45-minute natural adventure, exploring the history and wildlife of Tod Inlet and the local waters of Brentwood Bay. Wildlife you may see include seals, herons, eagles, and otters in their natural habitat on the waters of Brentwood Bay and Tod Inlet. You will also learn of The Gardens beginnings as a limestone quarry and its adjoining cement plant.
*Below schedule is for Sunday to Friday. Boat tour times differ slightly on Saturdays.
11:00am |
12:00pm |
1:00pm |
|
3:00pm |
4:00pm |
11:15am |
12:15pm |
1:15pm |
|
3:15pm |
4:15pm |
11:30am |
12:30pm |
1:30pm |
2:30pm |
3:30pm |
|
11:45am |
12:45pm |
1:45pm |
2:45pm |
3:45pm |
Fireworks Saturday: final tour at 7:30pm |
|
REGULAR RATE (+5% GST) |
FAMILY RATE (+5% GST) Up to 2 Adults and immediate dependent children and youths |
ADULT |
$19.75 |
$17.75 |
YOUTH (13–17) |
$15.25 |
$13.25 |
CHILD (5–12) |
$12.00 |
$10.00 |
Night Illumination Experience:
June 15th to September 15th 2017
Magnificent views of our gardens can be enjoyed during any season, but summer at The Gardens is breathtaking.
Ravishing floral splendor greets you at every turn.
As the brilliant light of the sun retires for the day and dusk falls, The Gardens' other personality takes over. Thousands of lights, of varying intensity and colour, bring a different look. From June 15th through September 15th this nightly transformation into a wonderland of subtle light and shadow is known as Night Illumination.
This is complemented with our nightly Entertainment Shows all through the Summer. Each summer The Gardens complements the sights and scents with a festival of concerts and events. Every summer evening the open air concerts take place on the Concert Lawn stage. Come sit on our benches, or bring your own lawnchair or blanket and sit on the lawn. Imagine, 64 nights of entertainment!
Helpful hint: Walk around the gardens in the late afternoon, grab a bite to eat, enjoy the entertainment, then walk about when the gardens are illuminated. You'll really appreciate the changes.
Don't forget to experience our Saturday (during the Summer only) jaw dropping Firework Show!
Experience: Only in November
Take a rare glimpse into one of the busiest parts of The Gardens—our production greenhouses. Each November, our staff gardeners give tours of this normally private area.
Reservations: We will begin taking reservations in October for 2018 Greenhouse Tours
Tour Dates: Saturday and Sunday in November. Tour Times: 10am, noon, and 2pm
In autumn, you can take a behind-the-scenes look at some of our greenhouse facilities. Our 26 greenhouses, which span 0.8 ha (2 acres), are busy all year round. It’s where we produce thousands of plants for each of our seasonal plant displays.
Each tour is led by a staff gardener who will introduce you to the different greenhouse styles and the type of work that goes on within them. The tours are offered at no charge, but admission to The Gardens is required. The tour takes approximately 1 hour. Tour topics include:
You are recommended to reserve a spot on a tour. On each tour day, if there is availability, you can join on a first come first served basis at the Information Centre. Tours are limited to a maximum of 15 persons.
Notes: Walking is required and involves uneven terrain and narrow spaces. Due to the nature of the tour, children under 12, those in wheelchairs, and pets cannot be accommodated. Tours may be canceled without notice when made impossible by conditions beyond our control.
Experience: Every Season
Open every day, you’ll find hand packaged seeds, our own calendars, interesting gifts, souvenirs and one-of-a-kind items made by local artisans.
Shop any day, from anywhere through our Online Store.
The Seed and Gift store started as a mail order seed catalogue in 1920 when Jennie Butchart began packaging seeds to satisfy requests from visitors worldwide. To this day, our most popular seeds are from our own seed collections. Still individually packaged by hand, our seed business provides winter work for our dedicated staff.
You will find unique jewellery, clothing and artwork. Many of the metal-art and glass works are from talented artisans living in our area.
If you simply want to shop, you can specifically visit the Seed & Gift Store for 30 minutes. Just tell the Admission Gate attendant who will sell you an admission ticket which will be refunded when you depart within 30 minutes. During our Christmas season, Firework Saturdays and Special Event days the hours are limited to 9am to 3pm.
Notes: 12 Month Pass holders enjoy Seed & Gift Store discounts.
Experience: Only in the Winter
*Open daily 9:00 am to 4:30 pm
Spring Prelude Indoor Garden
January 15 to March 15
Experience an incredible, fragrance filled indoor garden with flagstone paths, flower cherries and witch hazels, and beds of daffodils and tulips. Breathe deeply, take in the beauty of this early spring display and, from a foot bridge, enjoy the Koi swimming serenely in a pond.
As you wander through this garden you’ll be amazed at how our gardeners turn the Blue Poppy Restaurant into a dazzling spring display in fewer than seven days.
Experience: Only in the Winter
This winter, step back into the past. From January 15th to March 15th 2018, you are invited to visit the Butchart Residence to see how the family lived in the early 1900s.
During our warm wintry months, we open the former family residence, Benvenuto, to our guests. You’ll see displays of memorabilia chronicling The Garden’s history—from cement making plant to Jennie Butchart’s garden. Walking through several rooms in the former residence you will see original furnishings, letters, and photographs.
The Butchart’s home prior to expanding for the public.
The family travelled the world and were great collectors. Although what is displayed changes from year to year there are usually photographs from other areas along with memorabilia such as cruise ship menus and programs. In the Billiard Room you’ll also see how the family entertained themselves and visiting friends with items such as stereoscopic viewers and musical instruments.
Come see the Butchart’s home and you will gain a sense of the graciousness of the period. As always, staff members are on hand to assist you with answers to any questions you have.
*Admission to The Gardens is required.
Experience: From December 1st to January 6th
Cool nights, Christmas lights, hot chocolate. Put on your mitts and enjoy skating on our large outdoor rink.
Rates page
Embrace the Christmas season—bring your friends and family to our outdoor rink and lace up your skates. Glide underneath soft twinkling lights to the sounds of seasonal music. After skating, enjoy a cup of hot chocolate in our poinsettia decorated Coffee Shop and snuggle up by the toasty fireplace.
Skating is available daily during admission hours. Just show up and skate at the next available time, or book a time by visiting the Visitor Information Centre upon arrival. Skate times run on the hour and last for 40 minutes. The rink capacity is 75, so be sure to bring your friends and family. Skate rentals are available on a first come basis for a small fee. Helmets and wrist guards are highly recommended and are available at no charge. Admission to The Gardens is required to access the rink.
A portion of the proceeds is donated to local children's charities.
Please visit our Rates page for pricing information. Admission to The Gardens is required.
Note: Skate club performances are on several Saturdays and Sundays at 2 pm.