Blog

These photos give you a glimpse of The Gardens as they evolve throughout the seasons; this page is updated regularly.

The stunning Dahlia Border takes its final bow for the season after a few glorious days in early November. As with all good things, the end is bittersweet. While still gorgeous, they are carefully cut down, and the tubers are all dug up to be saved for next year.

October is a wonderful time to visit. The stunning palette of autumnal colours is occurring now, offering a majestic place to ‘Autumn Bathe’ amongst all the dreamy trees that grow on the beautiful estate.

There is a calm, serene autumn vibe beginning to set in here at The Butchart Gardens. For me, this is one of my favourite seasons, and to witness the transformation from summer to fall is truly spectacular. Crisp cool air, pretty autumn flowers and electrifying fall foliage set the stage for an unimaginable visit our guests will enjoy during the autumn months, and not to mention smaller crowds. It’s welcoming to see fiery colours and precipitation return, reminding us all that autumn is here.

Queen Bee FarmsLocated on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, Queen Bee Farms & Apiary is a local pollinator sanctuary…

Makes approximately 12 x 3″ quiche Pastry Ingredients Metric US Flour 130 grams 1 cup Brown sugar 2 grams ½…

The summer season has almost arrived here at The Butchart Gardens; colourful summer annuals, magnificent perennials, and a wide range of trees and shrubs that captivate the landscape will soon take centre stage. The scope of The Gardens is massive, drawing visitors from around the world to come and admire the hundreds of thousands of fascinating summer flowers that will be graciously on display this upcoming summer season.

The Gallery is returning for summer 2025, opening Sunday, June 15. Discover stunning art pieces, accessories, and jewellery crafted by local…

Serves 4 guests 4 each (350grams/12oz each) Pork loin chops bone inOlive oil, salt and pepper. Instructions To serve Manchego…

By Brian Nixon, Horticultural Manager Spring flower bulbs are now poking through the dark nutrient-rich soil marking a start to…

Jennie Butchart was a keen promoter of newly discovered species of plants. One such plant was the Blue Poppy of…

The blue poppy has been grown with great success in The Gardens since the mid-1920s. Seeds from this attractive plant…

Makes approximately 8 servings Strawberry tonka mousse Ingredients Metric US White chocolate callets 95 grams 3.35 oz Whipping cream 325…

By Brian Nixon, Horticultural Manager With the holiday season behind us and all the lights and ornaments on their way…

By Thea Hegland All the flower beds have been put to rest and our fifth season in The Gardens is…

This holiday season, make stocking stuffing a breeze with our fun and delicious selection of charming gifts! From sweet surprises…

Makes approximately 24 servings Filling Ingredients Metric US Hot smoked salmon (shredded) 240 grams 1 cup Chives 5 grams 1…

By Brian Nixon, Horticultural Manager There is a magnificent change taking place in The Gardens right now. While colourful summer…

This fall, discover featured items in the Seed & Gift Store. One-of-a-kind cork bags designed by Debbie Baldrey, Salty Oak…

Wild B.C. Smoked Salmon Rillette Yield: 250 grams or 8 oz Ingredients Metric US Dry smoked salmon 80 grams 3…

By Brian Nixon, Horticultural Manager Countless perennials line our pathways while colourful annuals remind us that summer is here. The…

Southwest Salad with Chipotle Ranch Dressing Makes approximately 6 servings Southwest Salad Ingredients Metric US Romaine lettuce 700 grams 1½…

The Gallery is back again for the summer of 2024 from June 15 – September 15. Open daily from 11:00am…

The Butchart Gardens Announces Summer Entertainment and Fireworks Including the Return of a Special Event– Chilliwack! Victoria, BC – Enjoy…

Spring is a joyous time to admire the magnificent sights, sounds and scents evolving at The Butchart Gardens. The long…

Comox Valley Brie & Asparagus Galette Makes approximately 6 servings Ingredients  Metric US Asparagus 454 grams 1 pound Olive oil…

Get ready to cultivate your garden this spring with our premium seed packages. From flower mixes that attract pollinators to…

As the morning sun begins to rise, a thin layer of mist forms throughout the surrounding gardens creating a tranquil…

Hokkaido Scallops Great Northern bean hummus, hazelnuts, fennel gastrique, ‘nduja aïoli Makes approximately 6 servings Ingredients Metric US Scallops U15…

Introducing an innovative line of handcrafted art pieces by local artist Shannon Lyn. This Vancouver Island business started out with…

The Magic of Christmas at The Butchart Gardens December 1 – January 6 Victoria, BC – Gather your friends and…

With the distinct change of colour in the leaves of many deciduous plants, we can clearly see that autumn has…

Stone Fruit Burrata, wild arugula, cucumber, seed crisps, red wine vinegar & honey Makes approximately 6 servings Ingredients Metric US…

Birch Artisan Studio was founded in 2013 by Krista Smith. Krista settled into making jewellery and designed her collection to…

Summertime in The Gardens is gorgeous – for many this is the ultimate time to visit. The long, lazy days…

The glow from the warm sunshine illuminates the stunning gardens. Eye catching flower combinations are highlighted by meticulously designed perennial…

The Gardening Staff is deep in a frenzy of garden work – the spring show is expeditiously being dismantled; the…

It is a magical experience visiting The Butchart Gardens in the spring. Our vast network of pathways will have you…

Milk Chocolate Ganache Tart This tart is simple and quick to assemble, made two to three hours in advance of…

Joanna Drummond’s work as an Artist is endlessly evolving. As a Multimedia Artist, Joanna never ceases to push her discipline…

February always seems to just fly by and the first glimpses of spring are quite enjoyable. Often the weather here…

A visit to The Gardens during the winter season is a must, and it is personally one of my favorite…

As the holiday season fast approaches, our Seed & Gift Store is the perfect place to find unique gifts, from…

By Bruce Watson, Director of Arts & Entertainment As the garden beds prepare to settle down for the winter, the…

Butternut Squash Pasta Serving yield 4 people Ingredients US Metric Roasted butternut squash 1 3/4 lbs 800 grams Roasted Cremini…

November 15, 2022, VICTORIA, B.C. Victoria, BC – Bundle up and stroll through the Twelve Days of Christmas display as…

By Thea Hegland The Dahlia Border breaks hearts when the time comes to remove it for the season. Sadly, the…

By Thea Hegland Often, when people think of visiting The Butchart Gardens, they are thinking about the flowers and trees.…

Vancouver Island artist, Mimi Roy, constructs unique mixed metal jewelry and accessories from sustainable silver, copper, brass, and tin. Mimi’s…

Smoked Wild Sockeye Salmon En Croûte Makes approximately 20 servings Ingredients US Metric Cold smoked sockeye salmon 7 oz 200…

By Brian Nixon, Horticultural Manager The colourful flowers of summer are now taking a backseat as the glow of autumn…

By Thea Hegland Considered one of the best times to visit, the month of September offers some of the year’s…

By Thea Hegland August in The Gardens is absolutely stunning. A long stretch of hot sunny weather has delivered thousands…

June 17, 2022, VICTORIA, B.C. 20 local and regional acts perform throughout summer Victoria, BC – Starting July 1 and…

By Brian Nixon, Horticultural Manager With spring now behind us it’s time to appreciate the endless beauty that summer brings…

Vanilla Bean Scones makes approximately 24 Tea size scones Afternoon Tea would not be complete without a scrumptious scone. We…

New to the Seed & Gift Store, Nancy Dearborn’s art catches your eye with her creative use of colour and…

By Thea Hegland June is often considered the “in-between” season, or I as like to think, the grand transition from…

By Thea Hegland Imagine masses of Tulips in a rainbow of colours amongst the dreamiest Cherry blossoms ever seen. Our…

By Thea Hegland April is the month most symbolic of the quintessential spring here at The Butchart Gardens. Just imagine…

Lemon Cream Cheese Bar Makes a 9′ X 13′ pan Chase the ‘winter blues’ away with a sweet and velvety…

By Brian Nixon, Horticultural Manager The official start to spring this year was on March 20th, but at The Butchart…

Featured in our Seed & Gift Store and Coffee Shop, local artisans Ace Thom & Sue Perello capture the look…

By Thea Hegland  March is finally here, filled with all the inspiration, hopes, and promises that springtime brings. Early Narcissus have…

The Butchart Gardens will be holding a Job Fair on Tuesday, March 8th, from 5:30–7:30pm. The Gardens is offering competitive…

By Brian Nixon, Horticultural Manager With days becoming shorter and nights becoming longer, we begin to see noticeable change taking…