Home : The Garden City
Victoria is known as "the Garden City" for obvious reasons. There are so many public gardens in this area that it's difficult to name only a few. So, we are including ones that may be of interest to the first time visitor to our city. Oak Lane is situated centrally and is ideally located for visitors interested in spending time visiting some of the city's best known and "unknown" gardens.
The Butchart Gardens
(250) 652-4422
(250) 652-8222 Dining Room
When
Victoria is mentioned in other parts of the world someone is sure to say, " Butchart Gardens!" The number one tourist attraction
on Vancouver Island is also a favourite of the locals. Built in the
early 1900s on an abandoned lime quarry site by Jenny Butchart, wife
of a wealthy cement pioneer, it was expanded by her grandson Ian
Ross in the early 1950s. A spectacular show garden, it has over 20
hectares (50 acres) developed with many highlights including the
Sunken, Rose, Japanese and Italian gardens as well as the famous
hanging begonia collection. It may be a "tourist attraction" but
it is still a "must see" for Visitors to this area.
The gardens are worth seeing even during "off seasons". In April
and May an enchanting fairyland of early spring blooms are followed
In early June by roses and perennials and the show continues through
until frost. Saturday nights in July and August, Butchart stages
a world class Sound and Light show. Fireworks and music are choreographed
in a presentation so famous that locals make attending each season's
show a ritual.
Special events go on all year, ranging from outdoor stage productions to strolling
minstrels at Christmas. Like many Victorians, we include a visit in our Christmas
festivities.
Getting to Butchart Gardens is easy - by car, bus, double-decker, float-plane
or native war canoe (we're serious - ask!). Driving distance from Oak Lane
B&B is about 25 minutes.
Click here for more information
The Hatley Gardens
(250) 391-2600 ext. 4456
Imagine
a castle set in mature country gardens along the ocean. Once a coal
baron's estate, it became Canada's prime military academy and is
now Royal Roads University. The gardens include wisteria-covered
stone bridges over exquisitely planted water features, rolling lawns,
mixed borders, and a beautiful Japanese garden. Hatley Park
is located in the Western Communities about 25 minute drive from
Oak Lane Victoria B&B. But make this trek worthwhile -
combinethe visit to these gardens with a visit to Fort Rodd
Hill historic park and the beautiful Esquimalt Lagoon.The general
layout of the garden has remained the same over the years. The statues
are original and represent the four seasons (Pomona, Ceres, Flora
and Hebe). The urns are original.
Click here for more information
Horticultural Centre for the Pacific
(250) 479-6162
This
is a demonstration garden housing a training school for landscape gardeners.
There are over 10,000 varieties of identified plants to check out. . The
'how-to' aspect of gardening is prominent here with workshops all year long
on topics many diverse topics. You will enjoy the winter, rhododendron, woodland,
Japanese, orchard, ornamental grass, heather, hardy fuchsia, mixed perennial,
Asiatic lily, dahlia trial, dry flower, herb, vegetable, drought tolerant
and rose gardens. Plant collectors will be delighted by the plant sales.
Located about 15 minutes from Oak Lane Victoria B&B in a rural area called
Saanich.
Click here for more information
Abkhazi Gardens
(250) 598-8096
Open February 16 through the end of September the Abkhazi Garden is a
significant heritage garden property located in Victoria, British
Columbia, a city that prides itself as the Garden Capital of Canada.
Created by Prince and Princess Abkhazi in the mid to late-1940s and maintained
and improved by them throughout their life together, the garden features native
Garry oaks, ornamental evergreens, significant rhododendrons, rock and alpine
plants, naturalized bulbs, and good examples of Japanese Maples and weeping
conifers.
The Garden is located at 1964 Fairfield Rd. This is about 600 feet East
of Foul Bay Road on Fairfield, just minutes from Oak Lane Victoria
B&B.
Click here for more information
Beacon Hill Gardens
Open
year-round this well-loved green space, with a Petting Zoo, formal
rose gardens, and a band shell for outdoor summer concerts located
just minutes from Oak lane Victoria B&B. Scottish-born John Blair,
considered one of the best landscape architects in North America,
won the 1889 competition to design Beacon Hill Park. The hybrid rhododendrons
he planted around Fountain Lake are still glorious more than 100
years later. For a dose of peaceful elegance, take a stroll among
the beautifully cultivated gardens.
Click
here for more information
