| Victoria is special in many ways but | | | | is open daily for tours. Special events and |
| especially for those who love to walk and who | | | | lectures are regularly scheduled and the |
| enjoy gardens. The best know of all its | | | | wetlands are ideal for bird watching. |
| gardens is Butchart Gardens which is open | | | | |
| every day of the year. Jennie Butchart began | | | | Victoria also features a number of public |
| to develop the garden in a limestone quarry | | | | gardens and parks, many of which are located |
| in 1904 and this year it is celebrating its | | | | in the heart of town. Beacon Hill Park is a |
| 100th anniversary. The five-acre garden has | | | | short distance from the Provincial |
| several sections and features various garden | | | | Legislature Buildings and a walk here will |
| design styles and seasonal blooms. There are | | | | lead to both formal gardens and wildflower |
| rhododendrons in spring, roses in summer, | | | | meadows. Also here is the Gary Oak meadow |
| fireworks in July and August, colorful autumn | | | | park which links to the gardens at St. Anns |
| maples and a spectacular annual Christmas | | | | Academy, a former girls school which is |
| light display. | | | | surrounded by a mature garden with a historic |
| | | | orchard, herb and perennial beds. |
| Like Butchart Gardens, Victoria Butterfly | | | | |
| Gardens and the Horticulture Centre of the | | | | A few kilometers away is the lovely one-acre |
| Pacific are located on the Saanich Peninsula. | | | | Abkhazi Gardens, a small heritage garden |
| A stroll through the Butterfly Gardens is to | | | | which features native Garry Oaks, Japanese |
| be transported to a tropical fantasy. Members | | | | Maples and splendid rhododendrons set in a |
| of the 35 imported species of butterflies | | | | rocky outcrop. A gift shop and tearoom help |
| gracefully fly among tropical plants and | | | | support the garden. From here it is a short |
| orchids in the covered garden. | | | | walk to Government House, an estate which is |
| | | | home to the Lieutenant Governor of British |
| The Horticulture Centre of the Pacific is an | | | | Columbia, the Queens representative in the |
| educational and demonstration centre | | | | province. The grounds are easily accessible |
| featuring a collection of the plants, shrubs | | | | and feature a rose garden, perennial and herb |
| and trees that grow on Vancouver Island. It | | | | gardens. |