Search:
[Title Bar]

Pacific Northwest Trip: Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC

The Butchart Gardens is a large set of gardens in a former limestone quarry, in Brentwood Bay, British Columbia, near Victoria, on Vancouver Island. Mowgli and I spent several hours at the Gardens, with a new friend we met on the boat, and then took the 2nd last boat back to Vancouver and got in around 9pm (when many restaurants were closing, ooops). It was quite a pretty place. I took quite a few pictures.

Saturday, August 13, 2016.

Other pages from the Pacific Northwest trip:

Displaying all 101 pictures


The Ferry to Vancouver Island

Mowgli and I drove from Vancouver to the Tsawwassen Terminal and took the ferry to Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island. The ferries run every hour. We actually, ahem, missed the ferry we planned to take, literally by about 1-2 minutes. We parked, Mowgli went off to pay for the parking and I went to buy tickets. The woman there wouldn't sell me 2 tickets unless both of us were there, and by the time he arrived, they had stopped selling tickets. It wasn't that she was mean, it was that the boat was just about to leave. But it all worked out OK, we didn't wait all that long, and wound up befriending a traveler on the boat whom we joined while exploring the Gardens. Plus we got a free ride to the Gardens.

000-DSC_9109.jpg

000-DSC_9109-th.jpg

A ferry at the dock.

001-DSC_9110.jpg

001-DSC_9110-th.jpg

Our ferry approaches.

002-DSC_9111.jpg

002-DSC_9111-th.jpg

Getting closer. It has two decks to carry vehicles.

003-DSC_9112.jpg

003-DSC_9112-th.jpg

Mowgli sits by the stern of the ship, near where its flag is.

004-DSC_9114.jpg

004-DSC_9114-th.jpg

From the bow, looking at the port (left side).

005-DSC_9115.jpg

005-DSC_9115-th.jpg

And the starboard (right) side. The black chain-y thing is, I believe, its...(more)

006-DSC_9116.jpg

006-DSC_9116-th.jpg

A few from the bow looking up at the wheelhouse. In the bigger version, you ...(more)

007-DSC_9117.jpg

007-DSC_9117-th.jpg

Looking out at the Salish Sea. Before reaching and going through the islands...(more)

008-DSC_9118.jpg

008-DSC_9118-th.jpg

Lots of water, the Pacific Ocean is not too far away.

009-DSC_9119.jpg

009-DSC_9119-th.jpg

Looking back at the ferry's smokestack from the top deck.

010-DSC_9121.jpg

010-DSC_9121-th.jpg

Ahead of us is Galiano Island and Mayne Island.

011-DSC_9122.jpg

011-DSC_9122-th.jpg

An island looms ahead of us.

012-DSC_9123.jpg

012-DSC_9123-th.jpg

Looking back at the port side of the ferry as we wind our way through the...(more)

013-DSC_9124.jpg

013-DSC_9124-th.jpg

We wind our way cautiously between Mayne and Galiano islands (left and right,...(more)

014-DSC_9125.jpg

014-DSC_9125-th.jpg

You never know what might be lurking around the next bend...

015-DSC_9126.jpg

015-DSC_9126-th.jpg

"There she is! There she is! Ah... not so wounded as we were led to believe....(more)

016-DSC_9127.jpg

016-DSC_9127-th.jpg

"FIRE!" (We didn't shoot photon torpedoes at the other ferry.)

017-DSC_9128.jpg

017-DSC_9128-th.jpg

People on the bow, under the wheelhouse watch.

018-DSC_9129.jpg

018-DSC_9129-th.jpg

Reasonable size boats look pretty small compared to us.

019-DSC_9130.jpg

019-DSC_9130-th.jpg

Approaching the terminal at Swartz Bay.

020-DSC_9131.jpg

020-DSC_9131-th.jpg

Mt. Baker in the distance. It looks superimposed on the horizon.

021-DSC_9132.jpg

021-DSC_9132-th.jpg

In the belly of the beast. Car-go deck. Car-go...cargo. Get it?


Butchart Gardens

Ingrid, someone we met on the ferry who was touring the US and Canada, gave us a ride to Butchart gardens as that was where she was going. Saved us a bus trip and she didn't try to harvest any of our organs. The three of us explored the various parts of Butchart Gardens together. It's a very pretty, well organized place.

022-DSC_9133.jpg

022-DSC_9133-th.jpg

023-DSC_9134.jpg

023-DSC_9134-th.jpg

Mowgli checking out a hanging basket of flowers at Butchart Gardens.

024-DSC_9135.jpg

024-DSC_9135-th.jpg

Colorful roses.

025-DSC_9136.jpg

025-DSC_9136-th.jpg

More colorful flowers.

026-DSC_9137.jpg

026-DSC_9137-th.jpg

Now that's a shrubbery!

027-DSC_9138.jpg

027-DSC_9138-th.jpg

The yellow of the tree leaves against the blue background looked cool.


027a-trees_Panorama....

027a-trees_Panorama-th.jpg

Panoramic shot of some of the colors on the high trees surrounding the Butchart...(more)


028-DSC_9139.jpg

028-DSC_9139-th.jpg

The Sunken Gardens, the area that used to be a limestone quarry. Seen from the...(more)

029-DSC_9140.jpg

029-DSC_9140-th.jpg

Arbor Vitae are on each side of the path of the Sunken Gardens.

030-DSC_9141.jpg

030-DSC_9141-th.jpg

Sunken Gardens with the Arbor Vitae on opposite sides of the path.

031-DSC_9142.jpg

031-DSC_9142-th.jpg

Looking up at a tall tree, with a green glow of light filtering through the...(more)

032-DSC_9143.jpg

032-DSC_9143-th.jpg

Bears in tree form!

033-DSC_9144.jpg

033-DSC_9144-th.jpg

Some sort of carved animal, a squirel or beaver or something.

034-DSC_9145.jpg

034-DSC_9145-th.jpg

The little mini-cabin thing where I took the previous pictures, and people on...(more)

035-DSC_9146.jpg

035-DSC_9146-th.jpg

More Sunken Gardens.

036-DSC_9147.jpg

036-DSC_9147-th.jpg

A plaque with information about the Butchart Gardens.


037-pond_Panorama.jp...

037-pond_Panorama-th.jpg

Panoramic shot of a pond (Quarry Lake).


040-DSC_9151.jpg

040-DSC_9151-th.jpg

Black flowers...weird and cool.

041-DSC_9152.jpg

041-DSC_9152-th.jpg

Close-up of the lilly pads in the pond.

042-DSC_9153.jpg

042-DSC_9153-th.jpg

A manicured lawn in the Sunken Garden.

043-DSC_9157.jpg

043-DSC_9157-th.jpg

Density of trees in the Butchart Gardens.

044-DSC_9158.jpg

044-DSC_9158-th.jpg

The Ross Fountain in Quarry Lake.

045-DSC_9159.jpg

045-DSC_9159-th.jpg

The water in the fountain shoots up 21 meters or 70 ft high.

046-DSC_9161.jpg

046-DSC_9161-th.jpg

I'm not proud nor easily embarrased. I waited my turn to ride the bronze horse...(more)

047-DSC_9162.jpg

047-DSC_9162-th.jpg

A totem pole in the garden. I wanted to get its shadow in the picture but not...(more)

048-DSC_9163.jpg

048-DSC_9163-th.jpg

The fields beyond are where they launch fireworks on the weekends. We didn't...(more)

049-DSC_9164.jpg

049-DSC_9164-th.jpg

The two totem poles.

050-DSC_9165.jpg

050-DSC_9165-th.jpg

A "monkey puzzle" tree. The leaves are very sharp and it would puzzle a...(more)

051-DSC_9166.jpg

051-DSC_9166-th.jpg

The Dragon Fountain. It did not, however, shoot out fire.

052-DSC_9167.jpg

052-DSC_9167-th.jpg

053-DSC_9168.jpg

053-DSC_9168-th.jpg

Highly manicured lawn. The holes are not for golf, but where sprinklers are...(more)

054-DSC_9169.jpg

054-DSC_9169-th.jpg

A low shot of the manicured lawn.

055-DSC_9170.jpg

055-DSC_9170-th.jpg

Narrow depth-of-field shot of a wishing well.

056-DSC_9171.jpg

056-DSC_9171-th.jpg

The Star pond in the distance.

057-DSC_9172.jpg

057-DSC_9172-th.jpg

The Sturgeon Fountain, with Mowgli and Ingrid in the background.

058-DSC_9173.jpg

058-DSC_9173-th.jpg

Sturgeon Foutain.

059-DSC_9174.jpg

059-DSC_9174-th.jpg

Ingrid stands at the entrance to the Japanese Garden.

060-DSC_9176.jpg

060-DSC_9176-th.jpg

Ingrid and Mowlgi at the entrance to the Japanese Garden.

061-DSC_9177.jpg

061-DSC_9177-th.jpg

Freaky tree roots that look like they should be animated, crawling.

062-DSC_9178.jpg

062-DSC_9178-th.jpg

Hey, what's that visible in the hole in the bushes? Water and boats on the...(more)

063-DSC_9179.jpg

063-DSC_9179-th.jpg

Mowgli checks out the view.

064-DSC_9180.jpg

064-DSC_9180-th.jpg

Stepping stones in the Japanese Garden.

065-DSC_9181.jpg

065-DSC_9181-th.jpg

A stone lantern in the Japanese Garden.

066-DSC_9182.jpg

066-DSC_9182-th.jpg

A sort of water-wheel stick, that fills with water, then tilts down, draining...(more)

067-DSC_9183.jpg

067-DSC_9183-th.jpg

Manicured bushes. Everything was really green.

068-DSC_9184.jpg

068-DSC_9184-th.jpg

The sun made the tree's leaves have a sort of green fire quality to them.

069-DSC_9186.jpg

069-DSC_9186-th.jpg

Frank and Ingrid. I had to play some exposure games so that both of our faces...(more)

070-DSC_9187.jpg

070-DSC_9187-th.jpg

Tod Inlet visible from the Italian Garden.

072-DSC_9192.jpg

072-DSC_9192-th.jpg

The Italian Garden with Ingrid thinking about diving into the pond.


072a-flowers_Panoram...

072a-flowers_Panorama-th.jpg

A 2-picture panoramic shot of the Italian Garden pond.


073-DSC_9193.jpg

073-DSC_9193-th.jpg

Frank poses in a shrub door, pondering his options. It kind of felt like...(more)


Boat tour of Bay and Butchart

After the Italian Garden, Mowgli and I and Ingrid parted ways (after some much-needed ice cream), and then Mowgli and I took a boat tour of Butchart Bay and Tod Inlet, the area around the Gardens, which is a public park. The boat was all electric, so when we weren't going, it was completely silent. Neato!

074-DSC_9195.jpg

074-DSC_9195-th.jpg

This was not our boat.

075-DSC_9196.jpg

075-DSC_9196-th.jpg

This was our boat.

076-DSC_9197.jpg

076-DSC_9197-th.jpg

First thing we saw was this sort of mini-house. ("Arr, why buy a house, when...(more)

077-DSC_9198.jpg

077-DSC_9198-th.jpg

The tree at the top of the treeline that splits in a Y-shape has an eagle's...(more)

078-DSC_9199.jpg

078-DSC_9199-th.jpg

We passed a jellyfish floating in the water.

079-DSC_9201.jpg

079-DSC_9201-th.jpg

Jellyfish.

080-DSC_9203.jpg

080-DSC_9203-th.jpg

Jellyfish with its trailing stingers visible.

081-DSC_9206.jpg

081-DSC_9206-th.jpg

The smokestack was from when there used to be a cement plant here. Butchart's...(more)

082-DSC_9207.jpg

082-DSC_9207-th.jpg

A shuttlecraft from Star Trek is actually a birdhouse.

083-DSC_9208.jpg

083-DSC_9208-th.jpg

Other birdhouses on the dock.

084-DSC_9209.jpg

084-DSC_9209-th.jpg

On the rocks, just to the right of the clearing is a small black spot that is...(more)

085-DSC_9210.jpg

085-DSC_9210-th.jpg

Signs warning boats to keep their distance because fireworks launch from nearby.

086-DSC_9211.jpg

086-DSC_9211-th.jpg

Recent housing development on the hillside just beyond the bay.

087-DSC_9212.jpg

087-DSC_9212-th.jpg

A boat moored in the harbor.

088-DSC_9214.jpg

088-DSC_9214-th.jpg

The tour guide pointed out that there were seals visible from the other side...(more)

089-DSC_9217.jpg

089-DSC_9217-th.jpg

The heads of two harbor seals are poking up in the middle of the water.

090-DSC_9218.jpg

090-DSC_9218-th.jpg

Two harbor seals (mother and pup) poking their heads out of the water in the...(more)

091-DSC_9219.jpg

091-DSC_9219-th.jpg

092-DSC_9220.jpg

092-DSC_9220-th.jpg

Heading back to the dock.

093-DSC_9221.jpg

093-DSC_9221-th.jpg

094-DSC_9222.jpg

094-DSC_9222-th.jpg

Looking down the dock after we returned.


The Ferry back to the Mainland

After the boat tour, we stopped in the gift shop, then took a bus to the boat terminal and headed back to Tsawwassen Terminal and then drove back to Vancouver (the city). The sun was setting as we got to the terminal. Quite nice.

095-DSC_9224.jpg

095-DSC_9224-th.jpg

Taken from the stern of the ferry as we leave Swartz Bay.

096-DSC_9225.jpg

096-DSC_9225-th.jpg

A house on the island catching the light of the setting sun.

097-DSC_9226.jpg

097-DSC_9226-th.jpg

Kind of hard to tell, but there are snowcapped mountains in the distance, like...(more)

098-DSC_9227.jpg

098-DSC_9227-th.jpg

People on the top deck watching the sunset.

099-DSC_9228.jpg

099-DSC_9228-th.jpg

I quite like this shot of the people on the top deck of the ferry watching a...(more)

100-DSC_9229.jpg

100-DSC_9229-th.jpg

Sunset from the ferry.


100a-sunset_Panorama...

100a-sunset_Panorama-th.jpg

A panoramic shot of the sunset as we arrived back on the mainland.





This page last modified Dec 30, 2016.
Home
RSS Feed
feed