The Butchart Gardens is one of the key places I want to visit while in Victoria, so we decide to go there on our first full day. The Butchart Gardens covers 55 acres and is over 100 years old. There are 50 gardeners and we encounter quite a few during our visit.
Everyone we have met in Victoria so far has commented that Spring is late this year. The trees are just starting to form buds, where last year at this time they were in full bloom. That (as well as the intermittent light showers) may explain why there are only 40-50 cars in the parking lot when we arrive. A million visitors see the gardens each year - we feel like we almost have them to ourselves.
Everyone we have met in Victoria so far has commented that Spring is late this year. The trees are just starting to form buds, where last year at this time they were in full bloom. That (as well as the intermittent light showers) may explain why there are only 40-50 cars in the parking lot when we arrive. A million visitors see the gardens each year - we feel like we almost have them to ourselves.
We start in the greenhouse with the Spring Prelude special exhibit. It gives us a chance to see many of the flowers in bloom which are just starting to present themselves in the gardens outdoors.
We then meander through the various area: Sunken Garden, Japanese Garden, and Italian Garden. Along the way we see the Ross Fountain with it's dancing water, totem poles, the Dragon and Sturgeon Fountains, Butchart Cove and the Star Pond. We slip by the Rose Garden, since they were all just pruned stalks.
We then meander through the various area: Sunken Garden, Japanese Garden, and Italian Garden. Along the way we see the Ross Fountain with it's dancing water, totem poles, the Dragon and Sturgeon Fountains, Butchart Cove and the Star Pond. We slip by the Rose Garden, since they were all just pruned stalks.
We enjoy our time in the Gardens, but can only imagine how colorful they will be in another month.
Walking around the Gardens helps us justify our choice for dinner - Pagliacci's Restaurant and their lasagna. William orders Dempsey's - beef, mushrooms, ricotta and mozzarella between layers of fresh lasagna noodles. It is topped with a perfect red sauce. I choose Mr. Roberts - Canadian dungeness and rock crab, baby shrimp, spinach and mozzarella between layers of fresh lasagna noodles. It also has the red sauce and a wedge of lemon. William declares his is the best lasagna he has ever had in a restaurant. Mine is darn good as well - I would be happy if I could eat it once a week.
Our waiter asks us if we would like dessert. Although they still serve their cheesecake which was featured in Bon Appetit Magazine several years ago, we resist. The 20 minute walk back to our hotel is a nice finish to a great meal.
Walking around the Gardens helps us justify our choice for dinner - Pagliacci's Restaurant and their lasagna. William orders Dempsey's - beef, mushrooms, ricotta and mozzarella between layers of fresh lasagna noodles. It is topped with a perfect red sauce. I choose Mr. Roberts - Canadian dungeness and rock crab, baby shrimp, spinach and mozzarella between layers of fresh lasagna noodles. It also has the red sauce and a wedge of lemon. William declares his is the best lasagna he has ever had in a restaurant. Mine is darn good as well - I would be happy if I could eat it once a week.
Our waiter asks us if we would like dessert. Although they still serve their cheesecake which was featured in Bon Appetit Magazine several years ago, we resist. The 20 minute walk back to our hotel is a nice finish to a great meal.
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