VICTORIA: So many Gardens and so much Wild Life!
Victoria – otherwise known as the “City of Gardens” – is home to a number of spectacular gardens that range from formal to heritage, exotic to west coast, and multi-themed to mostly rhododendron.
Many gardens in Victoria are renowned for their floral displays and inspiring grounds: Both Hatley Park National Historic Site and Abkhazi Garden were named among the “Five Must-See Gardens in Canada”. The Butchart Gardens and Glendale Gardens and Woodlands were also named in a list of “15 Beautiful Gardens across Canada” in 2009 by Canadian Gardening magazine.
While some gardens are minutes from downtown Victoria, others are located in nearby communities and are accessible by car or transit.
One of Victoria’s most recognizable trademarks is its hanging baskets. Each spring more than 1,600 flower baskets hang from lamp posts in a medley of colour.
Evidence of Victoria’s mild climate is the city’s annual “Flower Count.” For one week in early spring, Greater Victoria municipalities count their flower blooms in a friendly competition to be named the “Bloomingest Community.”
See a multitude of flowers and plants in themed gardens at Government House.
Gardens range from cottage to English country, herb, rose and rhododendron. Highlights include the large, rare Garry oak woodland. The garden is open between March and September and is accessible by pre-arranged tours only.
The Glendale Gardens & Woodlands, located 20 minutes from downtown, were hailed as “one of Victoria’s most beautiful and least known public gardens” in 2009 by GardenWise magazine.
Themed gardens such as Mediterranean, winter, and heather showcase more than 10,000 varieties of plants. Stroll through the 37-ha/93-ac conservation park to see old-growth Douglas firs and wetlands home to a diverse population of birds.