Nursery lemmings

Sunny Farms veg 1

Spring days bring out gardeners around here. String together a few warm days and they come out in droves. Though it can be hard to guess whether we’re yet past frosty nights, suddenly the garden beckons. First browse Sunny Farms Nursery.

Sunny Farms veg 2

It’s not hard to spend a long time circling the store. Stupice tomatoes? Early girls? Is this the year to plant peppers? What was that kale we liked so much?

I’ve got the garden mostly planted. (Mostly…what’s taking the squash so long to germinate?!) The next trick is fitting in the irresistible trades I make with other gardeners.

Roofs and trellis

Butchart Dining Room

The Butchart Gardens aren’t 100% gardens. There are buildings: places to eat, a visitor center, a gift shop. Beyond these trellises on the left is the Dining Room Restaurant where a nice afternoon tea is served. If your wallet yearns to be free there are opportunities to lighten its load.

The Japanese Garden

Butchart Japanese bridge 1

Another favorite area of The Butchart Gardens is the classic Japanese Garden. In the Japanese Garden there are classic bridges to complete the scene.

Butchart Japanese bridge 2

It’s hard to find a view that isn’t glorious. Like other parts of the gardens the Japanese Garden is enlivened with water.

Living color

Butchart trees

Over the course of its 100 plus years The Butchart Gardens have been pruned, shaped and groomed to an incomparable visual panorama.

Butchart lawn and trees

There are lawns, of course, framed with flowers and trees.

Butchart pink tree

Everywhere there are swaths of color. It’s an inspiration to take in such a vibrant springtime tribute to the beauty of living plants.