We Enjoyed Butchart Gardens In Fall Colours
As we explored around the Malahat on the Saanich Inlet on our stay on Vancouver Island, we were so glad we planned to visit Butchart Gardens in fall colours. We knew the gardens were beautiful in spring and summer with such a wide variety of flowers in full bloom. But we were delighted when we found an extraordinary display of the changing colours of fall.
A Country Drive To Butchart Gardens
The Butchart Gardens are a great tourist attraction for visitors to Victoria on Vancouver Island. The former limestone quarry evolved over the years as the Butchart family added more and more gardens to this former quarry site. It is one of the 970 National Historic Sites of Canada.
We waited out the morning clouds and headed out in the early afternoon when the skies started to clear. From our stay outside of Victoria at Westin Bear Mountain Resort , we had several route options to Butchart Gardens. The travel time appeared to be about the same for all routes.
We chose to avoid the highway on our way there and went along the country roads. Unfortunately we used the highway for part of our drive back and got caught in rush hour traffic.
The fall colours were well advanced and it was a beautiful drive. Roads were twisty and wound up and down the hills. The drive was a fun part of our visit to see Butchart Gardens in fall colours.
Planning Our Visit Around The Gardens
When we visited, advance reservations were not required although there were capacity limits in place. We were directed to a parking spot in a partially filled lot. After we got our tickets, we studied the site map and planned our route around the gardens.
Our visit started in the Waterwheel Square. We stopped and saw the waterwheel and the main square. The trees with the dropping yellow flowers drew us along. And we stopped at the fall harvest display.
On this first stop, it was clear it would be a colourful visit with Butchart Gardens in fall colours.
Exploring The Sunken Garden
The next stop on our visit to Butchart Gardens was the Sunken Garden. We took the path that led to the stairs down but there was also an accessible path available.
From the top we got our first view of the colourful Sunken Garden. The full range of fall colours were on display from fiery reds to pumpkin oranges and bright yellows. We were sure that in the spring and summer there would be a much different colour palette on display. But we were delighted with the view we got.
We descended the stairs and walked along the paths and by the Sunken Garden Lake. We even found some flowers still in bloom.
At the end of the Sunken Garden we stopped and watched the Ross Fountain put on a show as the water danced. This fountain was added to celebrate the 60 year anniversary of Butchart Gardens.
We continued our walk around the Sunken Garden and took in the views from a different perspective. The Garden Nymph statue peeked out from the colourful leaves. We found the stairs up to the viewpoint mound in the middle. But this spot was chained off.
A walk around the Sunken Garden was a visual treat and made us glad we visited Butchart Gardens in fall colours.
A Stop At The Rose Carousel
We walked up the outside path past the Sunken Gardens and found the Rose Carousel. We looked for a colourful outdoor attraction and finally realized the carousel was inside a building. The carousel showcased of 30 hand-carved wooden animals and chariots. There was a small additional fee to ride the carousel.
Outside the Rose Carousel we found another colourful fall display. And down the hill a fountain sprayed up from a small lake. There were several benches at this viewpoints to relax for a few minutes. A section of this area was designated as a children’s play area.
Two totem poles stood in this area as a tribute to the rich cultural heritage of this area. The totem poles were carved in classic Coast Salish style by Charles Elliot of the Tsartlip Nation and Doug La Fortune of Tsawout Band. They were added to Butchart Gardens in 2004 to celebrate the 100th anniversary.
We were interested in the variety of things we found around the Rose Carousel. This would certainly be a spot for families to enjoy.
Flowers Still In Bloom In Butchart Gardens In Fall Colours
The Butchart Gardens are known for the variety of the flowers that bloomed in season. There were about 900 bedding plant varieties tended by 50 full time gardeners. But this late in the season, we found most of the flower beds trimmed back. The Rose Garden was always a great attraction with so many varieties of roses. But we found it well pruned and ready for a new growing season.
But we were drawn to a long walkway bright with flowers still in bloom. Flowers in all colours called for a closer inspection.
When we wandered along the inner paths we found first the Dragon Fountain and then the Sturgeon Fountain. These were fun stops as we wandered along.
We were glad we found many flowers still in bloom when we explored Butchart Gardens in fall colours.
Down To The Japanese Garden
We entered the Japanese Garden through the bright orange Torii gate. This gate was a beautiful reminder of similar structures we saw on our visit to Japan.
We headed down the path to the wharf at Butchart Cove on Brentwood Bay. This was the official entrance for boaters to the Gardens. But we found the gate closed and only got a glimpse of the water through the trees.
We found tranquil paths with small ponds through the Japanese Gardens. The fall colours were bright and beautiful when reflected on the water. Everywhere we walked we were surrounded in colour.
For a minute we paused beside a small flowing stream and just took in the views all around us.
We were sure that the Japanese Garden would be a magical spot in the spring when the cherry blossoms were in bloom. We chased the cherry blossoms on Washington DC one year. And when we stayed at home in Toronto, we found the most beautiful cherry blossom trees in High Park. But we were not at all disappointed when we visited for Butchart Gardens in fall colours.
A Stroll Through The Italian Garden
We climbed back out of the Japanese Garden and stopped to admire the Star Pond. This was initially installed for the Butchart’s ducks.
Moving through the arched door in the high hedge, we came out into the Italian Garden. This area was once the Butchart family’s tennis court. Flowers were planted in beds around the fountain. And statues drew us in for a closer look.
Benches were set around the fountain and people stopped for a final view of Butchart Gardens in fall colours.
A Peek In The Show Greenhouse
We had one more surprise left. The Butchart Gardens had 26 different greenhouses but they were not open to the public. But the Show Greenhouse was the last stop before we left the property.
Beautiful flowers were arranged around the inside greenhouse. We were drawn to the orchids right at the front. We opened a window and got a clear view of the flowers and small waterfall in the greenhouse.
From the greenhouse we wandered past the Butchart Boar Tacca. This is a casting of the marble statue displayed in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.
We passed by the gift shop and went back to the parking lot. The weather remained great for our visit to Butchart Gardens in fall colours.
Don’t Miss Butchart Gardens In Fall Colours On Vancouver Island
Every season the flowers changed in the Butchart Garden. So every visit was a different experience. We were so glad we planned our visit and saw Butchart Gardens in fall colours. We saw a good selection of flowers in bloom. And found colourful harvest displays throughout the site. But the stunning show was put on by Mother Nature as the trees provided a full range of fall colours.
The Mediterranean Garden was closed for the season so we missed it on this visit. It showcased more exotic plants that were grown in the temperate climate in southern Vancouver Island.
We also considered Afternoon Tea on our visit to Butchart Gardens. We sure loved our Afternoon Tea treats when we travelled. And on our last visit to Victoria we splurged on Afternoon Tea at the iconic Fairmont Empress in Victoria. But our timing did not work for a tea stop.
On our visit to Vancouver Island, we were so glad we experienced Butchart Gardens in fall colours. It was truly a magical time to visit and a great stop on our travel to Western Canada in the fall.
Did you visit Butchart Gardens in fall colours or for another season? Do you plan to do a return visit?
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Wow! The Butchart Gardens is very beautiful! I thought The Sunken Garden will be my favorite. But as I went through the article, I found every garden here has their own special beauty. I think all of them are my favorites now. Very, very beautiful!
I was surprised at how many great spots there were to discover on our visit to Butchart Gardens.
Wow! Butchart Gardens looks just stunning! I wouldn’t know where to start. I love that the gardens change with every season so you can have a totally different experience. Fall sure does look like one of the best times to visit, those colors are amazing! I love the sculptures scattered throughout the gardens and my daughter wouldn’t let us get away with not riding the carousel.
We were so happy that fall turned out to be so stunning at The Butchart Gardens. Lot of spots for fun for all family members!
Butchart Gardens looks extremely pretty during fall. I absolutely love the fall colours and visiting the gardens is always fun during the fall season. There are a few close to Sydney that I usually visit during autumn and the garden is amazing to capture pictures. I have never been to Vancouver during the fall season but would love to go there some day.
This was the first time we went to a garden like Butchart in the fall. Glad you have some close to your for a fall visit in Sydney.
That garden is such a riot of colours! What a marvelllous memory you have shared through this post. And so rejuvenating as well to get out of concrete structures and human movements. Loved the pictures.
Our walk through the Butchart Gardens for fall colours was definitely a delightful escape. And so much better than we expected.
What a lovely autumn visit to Butchart gardens. I love the Japanese Garden. Usually I spent several weeks in Japan in autumn – but I have not been for the last two years. I miss the colorful Japanese gardens. Thanks for the pictures.
Our visit to Japan was in the fall too and we were surprised at how colourful it was. And seeing the Japanese Garden on our visit to Butchart Gardens brought some of that delight back.
Woow I loved the vivid colourful vibes of the Butchart Garden. So many colours, so many flowers and activities to enjoy there I am sure it would be fun to catch all of these together. I loved Japan garden and show greenhouse as they looked so pretty and enjoyable.
It was wild to move from spot to spot through the Butchart Gardens for fall colours. We were so surprised with both the fall colours and how many flowers we saw. A great reason to plan a visit for different seasons.
I love the photos, but I especially like how you included a map. I find I don’t waste time searching for things in a park when I already have an idea of the layout in my head.
We were glad we planned our route before we got to the Butchart Gardens. Let us see the things we wanted in the order we wanted. And everything lived up to expectations.
I have visited Butchart Gardens in the summer and it is gorgeous. I hadn’t considered visiting in the fall, I really like the fall displays and the Japanese garden really pops with changing leaves
I was not sure either whether the Fall would be a great time to visit Butchart Gardens. But we found it lovely and would highly recommend it.
What a beautiful garden this is. The variety of the colors of the leaves is just amazing. Actually, the colors of nature make you wonder why people use all those horrible filters that make every scenery look like a radioactive accident. I also love the pumpkin arrangement – so cozy and fall-ish.
The colours had me amazed as I moved from spot to spot. No filter needed for sure!
What a beautiful place to see autumn colours! I’ve never heard of these gardens but I’d love to visit. The Japanese garden always draws me in. It looks so authentic and the colours are mesmerising!
I hope you do get to visit The Butchart Gardens one day. Our visit sure showed that they are beautiful at many times of year.
Wow! This is really beautiful. By merely looking at the photo, I have no doubt why it’s considered a great tourist attraction. The sunken garden is so beautiful. It looks like straight from a postcard. Thank you for sharing these. Would love to make one of photos as my computer wallpaper.
The Butchart Gardens were indeed beautiful. I could not pick which was my favourite. And I am sure there are far too many still in the blog post!
Butchart Gardens looks like an amazing place for a fall walk! I love all of the beautiful fall colors, as well as the pumpkins and other fall decor. So pretty!
We were amazed at how much fall colour there was in Butchart Gardens. And from so many sources!
Wow, how beautiful! I’d never heard of Butchart Gardens, but you’ve made me want to visit! Living down here in Houston, we rarely get much color change during the fall, so I’m always searching for beautiful places to go this time of year. Thanks for sharing this spot with us! Xx Sara
I will have to say that we were amazed with Butchart Gardens in fall colours. Our timing was perfect and we got the full range of colours. Would surely make me go back if we are there another fall.
That Sunken Garden is incredibly beautiful! I love visiting gardens and seeing not just the plants, but architecture and design that talented people achieve!
This was our first visit to Butchart Gardens in a long time. A great re-discovery of all it had to offer.
Wow these photos truly look like a fairytale on earth. The garden looks exquisite as is but it’s even more stunning in the fall.
It was amazing to see how colourful Butchart Gardens was in the fall. It amazed us at every turn.
Absolutely beautiful. So many of your pictures look like they should be postcards for the Butchart Gardens. I love the variety of colors but I’m particularly love all of the plants that turn red during autumn.
It was hard to decide which photos to publish. Everywhere we looked was simply beautiful on our fall visit to Butchart Gardens. Sure glad we did not pass on this trip.
Fall is definitely my favorite time of the year. Perfect for outdoor and hiking, great for admiring the colors of leaves on the trees. It’s the most photogenic time for sure. Butchart Gardens in Fall colors seems to be the perfect place for a trip as well. They are pretty impressive! And I also love their composition and the sculptures and fountains. I add this place to my list when visiting Vancouver Island again.
I do hope you get to visit Butchart Gardens when yo are next on Vancouver Island. We were delighted with how colourful it was in the fall. But we know every season has its own charms.
WOW! The gardens are spectacular and your photos capture them so well. We are so jealous as our only visit to Victoria, on an Alaska cruise, docked late and we missed visiting the gardens. Thanks so much for sharing!
It is too bad you missed Butchart Gardens on your cruise into Victoria. It is enough of a drive out of the city that a cruise day may not always work. But hopefully you loved Victoria enough to re-visit and you can see The Butchart Gardens then.
OMG!!!!! The colors in these gardens are extraordinary! I love the sunken garden, the tightly manicured and colorful Japanese Garden and the beautiful Italian Garden. So gorgeous. I will definitely visit this garden when I make my way up to BC.
I am so happy to share the beauty of The Butchart Gardens in the fall. We were not sure it would be good and were stunned by the colour on our visit. Hope you get to see this in any season when you are next in BC.
Oh my gosh this looks like a dream!! I love all of the colors the garden has to offer. I love planting flowers outside of my house with my family so this would be a real treat to get the opportunity to visit!
I am sure you would love wandering in the Butchart Gardens in the fall. A little bit of delight for everyone.
These colors are just stunning! i love the Japanese inspired gardens they really do look just like the the ones in Japan. Such a serene and wholesome place to visit.
The Butchart Gardens was indeed a serene spot to visit. It was quiet when we visited so we could enjoy this colourful display at a slow pace.
What a beautiful, mesmerizing post! I visited Butchart Gardens many years ago and frankly don’t remember much about it. This post definitely makes me want to make a return visit.
I did not remember much about Butchart Gardens when we went back either. So it was great to re-discover it all new. And fall was a beautiful time to be there!
Wow, the Butchart Garden looks stunning! Especially in the warm fall colours! I’d love to spend a day exploring the gardens and admiring the incredible colours! Thanks for the great guide!
I hope you get to visit The Butchart Gardens one day. It was a lovely spot to enjoy the fall. But any time of year would be great.
Wow these gardens are huge! I’d especially like to visit them in the fall time and see all of those dramatic colours in your photos.
It was amazing to find so much fall colour in The Butchart Gardens on our visit. And so many places to discover as we walked!
WOW! The Butchart Garden is amazingly gorgeous. This is definitely on the same level of some of the beautiful Japanese gardens I have visited. I would love toviist one day.
I hope you do get to visit The Butchart Gardens. It was a lovely experience in the fall. Great to know it rivals other Japanese Gardens.
I’d never heard of Butchart Gardens but wow! I’m definitely adding to my list as every part of the gardens are spectacular! And the fall colors are so vibrant and gorgeous that I think I’d want to visit this time of year too. I like the Garden Nymph and sturgeon fountain surrounded by all the colors. It’s surprising too that so many flowers are in bloom!
We too were amazed at how many flowers we found in bloom in The Butchart Gardens. A great complement to the awesome fall colours we found throughout.
Wow – what a beautiful place to explore & the perfect time for a visit! Your photos capture it perfectly & I’m sold on visiting when I make it back to Vancouver Island. I have friends who live there…maybe it’s time to plan a trip ;).
I hope you do plan a trip to visit your friends. We were sure glad we planned the time to see the Butchart Gardens in fall colours. So many beautiful spots.
I loved Butchart Gardens in the Fall. You have some pics that are very similar to mine. Didn’t you just love the dahlias? We had a rainy day when we visited, so glad that you got to see the sunshine.
We had mixed weather on our visit but we were indeed delighted when the sun came out. Sure made the colours pop.
Great post! I absolutely love visiting gardens when I travel to new places, so I’m for sure adding this one to my list.
The Butchart Gardens should definitely be on your list if you head to Vancouver Island. Perfect at any time of year but particularly stunning in fall colours.
Wow! The gardens look so beautiful! I’ve been to Vancouver but I don’5 think I made it to these gardens. Hopefully, one day I’ll have the chance to make it. Thank you for the info!
I hope you do get to go over to Vancouver Island and explore the Victoria area. We were glad we had a perfect day to see the fall colours in the Butchart Gardens.
I love the Japanese and Italian gardens, especially! This looks like a wonderful place to visit. Thanks for telling us how to enjoy it!
We sure loved our visit to The Butchart Gardens in the fall. So much colour everywhere!
The colours you have captured here are absolutely stunning. I adore visiting gardens around the world and this is a place I have read about before and would love to see in person.
I hope you do get to visit this garden. It is lovely all year around. But we were delighted with how colourful The Butchart Gardens was in the fall.
There is an amazing sunken garden here in Australia. The garden was created in what had been limestone cave until the roof of the cave fell in. Is it something similar for the sunken garden at the Butchart Gardens?
I absolutely love your photos. The colours of the gardens is amazing.
The Butchart Gardens was indeed built into an old limestone quarry. A great spot to build these kind of all around views.
The fall colours are awesome. I have been to Vancouver a couple of times but never made it to Vancouver island. If I am there in autumn, this is a must do.
I hope you do get to visit Vancouver Island when you next get to Vancouver. So many great things to see. And Butchart Gardens is beautiful any time of year.
I have been to Butchart Gardens and it is spectacular — especially the Sunken Garden (which is also incredible at night with lights on). But I haven’t been during the fall. Your photos of the gardens with fall foliage are quite stunning!
We were sure Butchart Gardens would be spectacular at night. And Christmas is supposed to be magical too. So many reasons to visit more than once.
The Sunken Garden reminds me of a garden that we visited in Vancouver. I didn’t get out to Butchart Gardens on that trip but would love to return and visit there and Victoria.
I hope you do get to visit the Butchart Gardens. Simply lovely any time of year.
I do miss the fall colors of North America. I was familiar with the northeast of the US but the gardens look so picturesque and vibrant that I want to visit in the fall.
Vancouver Island is beautiful to visit in the fall. We were so glad we saw the colourful Butchart Gardens.
Butchart Gardens is very beautiful, reminded me of my visit to Alhambra Gardens of Granada. The colorful flowers are mesmerizing. Loved the Japanese garden.
We always love when we find such colourful gardens on our travels. The Japanese one was indeed quite stunning.
Omg…the Gardens are much better in Fall! We visited in summer and didn’t get yo see all those Japanese maple trees in color! The color splashes are grander because they were also in trees!!!
It was indeed an amazing surprise to see so much colour in the fall in the Butchart Gardens. A good reminder to visit in all seasons.