From Greenhouse to Heirloom Blooms: Behind the Scenes at The Butchart Gardens

Originally published March 20, 2017 | Updated March 21, 2018

“Visual masterpiece!” “Just like a dream!” “Absolutely gorgeous!” “A gardener’s paradise!”

What reads as overt hyperbole quickly becomes reality when listening to remarks made by visitors strolling around the stunning spring floral splendor of world-renowned The Butchart Gardens.

This time of year, The Gardens shift into overdrive. The sweet scent of hyacinths blanket the grounds. Fiery orange crocuses burst from the earth like a ball of flames. Overhead, showy clusters of pink crabapple blossoms cascade from the branches of nearby trees, adding to the display.

To the casual observer, The Butchart Gardens are once again springing to life. However, behind the scenes, The Gardens are already a hive of activity. Greenhouse technicians have been busy propagating plants for the seasons ahead.

Begonia seedlings are ready to make the journey from nursery container to display garden bed and Dahlia cuttings are taken in preparation for summer planting. After all, maintaining the awe-inspiring array of plants, flowers, shrubs and trees carpeting the five-acre grounds is no small feat and requires the creative minds and effort of more than 70 garden staff.

To preserve The Gardens’ mystique, the crew combs the globe for rare and signature plants and cultivates them in onsite greenhouses. However, the real magic begins when the gardeners put their artistic genius to work incorporating the new specimens into existing flower beds. According to The Gardens’ Director of Horticulture, Rick Los, dreaming up new and inspiring displays with his team of gardeners is the best job in the world. Los explains:

Everyone on the team is plant crazy. We rely on the staff to bring in new plant varieties because all concept and design comes from within. We are always thinking about color schemes for planting changes.

As the spring season ramps up, visitors reap the rewards of the 300,000 bulbs planted the previous fall. The blooms emerge with the warmth of the spring sunshine in a carefully curated explosion of brilliant pinks, oranges, yellows, violets and reds. As the bulbs push their green shoots toward the sky, the gardeners break up the hard, compact soil in their flower borders, allowing the air, water and nutrients the plants need to thrive to penetrate.

(Inside tip: the best time to catch these sensational displays of tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and irises is typically around mid-April to the first week of May. However, crafty Mother Nature has been known to trick us a time or two and start the spring season either earlier or later than expected.) 

The staff gauges their performance by the drama of the color pops they create and listen for “oohs” and “ahhs” as guests soak in a field brimming with blooms. These wow moments are what every gardener aims to produce for visitors both young and old.

Long before the brilliant and successful spring season is over, the greenhouse facilities shift quickly to prepare for the abundance of summer plants. A crew of more than 16 gardeners produce nearly 900 varieties of plants to create dazzling displays. Among the highest rated is the magnificent sea of delphinium in various shades of blue and the rare, yet popular, blue poppy. According to Los, each flower bed in The Gardens is replanted at least once a year, with some of the plantings changed up to five times. He notes:

This is part of the magic of what we do. The basic structure and layout of the garden won’t change, but the team will change out shrubbery or perennials and most people won’t even know. Eighty percent of people will walk through and sense something is different, but won’t be sure what it is.

Meanwhile, the gardeners are already busy placing bulb orders and brainstorming ideas for next year’s displays. The staff excitedly soak in inspiration from trade and garden magazines while exchanging ideas. Los says, Jennie Butchart, who created The Gardens in 1904, wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. He explains:

She wouldn’t have wanted us to keep doing the same thing over and over again. She was always introducing plants from all over the world, which was unique at the time. I like to think we have the same mindset in this way, we carry forward her vision of change, without taking away the structure of the garden that she laid out. We see our designs as deeply rooted in the past, a part of today and thinking toward the future.

Once the bulbs arrive in the fall, the physical challenge of three to four weeks of hard labor ensues. The bulbs are buried in the beds among The Gardens’ tens of thousands of perennials during a planting frenzy from early October to early November. The energy put into maintaining The Gardens is certainly well spent. There are few other parks or municipalities creating displays at the same level, making The Gardens an increasingly unique experience.

Dale Ryan, Director of Marketing for The Butchart Gardens, points out, “As life becomes more urban with more people living in condos and high rises, being in green spaces isn’t the norm.” Ryan adds “People relish the opportunity to come and walk around in nature and experience its beauty and tranquility. That is why we see more and more families here because many young people are missing the connection to nature.”

With lush, inviting green lawns and a variety of fresh designs, The Gardens are a great place to relax and unplug. Bring the kiddos, soak in the stunning, elaborate displays and indulge in some quality family time without the distractions of iPads and television. As Los states, “The more we stay the same, the more meaningful we will be for future generations. This is a place where people can come and say, ‘Wow this still exists’.”

How to Get to The Butchart Gardens….

Getting to The Butchart Gardens in Victoria, BC is about as easy as it gets. A less than three-hour ride on the Clipper from Seattle lands you in the heart of Victoria. From there, hop on the modern, double-decker motor coach waiting for you at the Clipper terminal. Immerse yourself in the city’s scenic beauty as your guide fills you in on the history of Victoria while you cruise by the city’s landmarks and historic buildings.

A mere 30 minutes later, you’re at the gates of the world-famous gardens and ready to explore the 55-acre botanical masterpiece. Walk along intimate stone paths and streams lined with a colorful array of flowers and trees. Don’t miss the award-winning Butchart Dining Room’s Afternoon Tea service, surrounded by thousands of beautiful blooms, and unique house-made gelato flavors at the Gelateria Benvenuto (in the Italian Garden) come summer!