Retired Nomads - Part 2 : Butchart Gardens & Canada Day Celebrations - Victoria, BC

July 1 - Butchart Gardens & Canada Day Celebration

Even without going to the Gardens, Victoria is abundant with beautiful flowers. There is a short season to have these beautiful flowers, so they go all out. (we noticed this in Alaska as well) Lots of flower boxes on houses and yards full of beautiful blooms.

The annual roll out of Victoria’s trademark hanging baskets marks the unofficial start of summer. They have around 1,300 hanging baskets on the downtown lamp posts which feature flowers grown in the Beacon Hill Park nursery. Once the baskets are assembled, they remain inside the Beacon Hill Park greenhouses for one week, before being moved outside to become acclimatized. When fully grown, the hanging baskets can weigh over 20 kilograms (approximately 45 pounds). First introduced in 1937, Victoria’s hanging flower baskets are now recognized around the world.

one side of the lamp post (there are always one on each side)

We had picked up a couple of pastries from Crust for today’s breakfast. Not as fresh, but still tasty. (Crust didn't open before we needed to go on tour)

walking through the convention center/Empress Hotel to meet the bus

Some photos while waiting for the bus:

Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

this is the very top of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

one of the statues in front of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

The Empress

We had a beautiful sunny day for the gardens, and we caught the first transfer from the hotel.

I grew up in Humboldt, Iowa

in 2 of the windows are Ralph Kramden & Ed Norton

Its hard to see the characters are there and if the driver of the bus hadn't pointed it out, we would not have noticed

almost there.....

The entrance takes you into Waterwheel Square.

We started with the Hanging Gardens, before walking past the Snail Pond.

Anna Hummingbird

The highlight of the gardens is the Sunken Gardens. (IMHO)

lizard on the rock

Bushtit - there were tons of these little guys, almost impossible to get a photo of (and a new bird for us)

Bushtit

juvenile Bushtit

bronze statue of young girl standing alone in the center of the Sunken Garden

American Robin - adult

American Robin - juvenile

Ross Fountain was once a limestone quarry

Bog Garden

The Rose Carousel features a menagerie of thirty hand-crafted animals

Organ Pavilion

Dragon Fountain

We got through half of the Rose Gardens before going for lunch. We wanted to eat at the Blue Poppy Restaurant (the only sit-down besides the Formal Tea at the Dining Room Restaurant, but it was closed for a private function. So, the coffee shop was our option. I had a pretty tasty pepperoni roll and Greg had a ham and cheese. I had some ice cream to sooth my stomach as it was a spicy pepperoni, good, a bit spicy.

We proceeded to the Italian Garden and then on to the Japanese Garden.

Sturgeon Fish Fountain

Italian Garden

Frog Fountain

Japanese Garden

dock area at the back of Butchart Gardens

We finished the Rose Gardens and then went back to the Sunken Gardens to see it in the different lighting.

We also revisited the Hanging Garden, but no hummingbirds were around.

in the Piazza is Tacca the Boar - snout is shiny from all of us rubbing it for luck

We went back for gelato in the Italian Garden, and I had a delightful Sparkling Peach that tasted almost like a Bellini. We ate it in the Piazza next to Tacca the Boar.

I hit the gift shop and we caught the 3:00 shuttle back to town.

We went back to the room before heading out to the Canada Day festivities. They had many craft tents set up along the harbor and many food trucks. So many good choices to choose from, but we headed for the one with the longest line and we were not disappointed. Some of the tastiest street tacos we have ever had. We also got some Mexi-fries. Think Mexican poutine.

walking along the harborside

walking around the Canada Day area - dog had the Canadian flag in his collar

craft market

we ate here since it had the longest line

we split the 2 kinds - Carnitas and chicken street tacos

Mexi-Fries

we went back for baklava at the Greek Truck

There were bands playing all evening. We wandered around after we ate taking another pass through the arts and crafts area before going back for baklava from the Greek truck. We walked back to the hotel to relax before heading out for the fireworks.

In anticipation of possible protests, the police presence was strong. First Nations and/or Covid. (neither appeared to be an issue)

The fireworks were at 10:30 and had been scaled back due to funds after Covid but it still was a pretty display and a rock version of O Canada played for the finale.