Butchart Gardens illuminations - night photos

The Butchart Gardens, Benvenuto Statue of Mercury, Italian Gardens Ross Fountain

First=courtesy of The Butchart Gardens Ltd., Victoria, BC, Canada

The Butchart Gardens illuminations are definately not to be missed. The lighting was installed in 1954 to commemorate the Gardens 50th anniversary. These occur at two separate periods of the year, summer and winter, each with its own characteristics.

Rose Gardens, Butchart Gardens Star Pond, Benvenuto

Butchart Gardens fireworks
Fireworks = Courtesy of The Butchart Gardens Ltd., Victoria, BC, Canada

From mid-June until mid-September the Butchart Gardens are open late every evening with stunning illuminations. There's the drama of the Sunken Garden, the ever-changing colours of the Ross Fountain, and our own favourite, the romantic Japanese Garden, amongst others. Saturday nights in July and August are the settings for fireworks, set to music, first seen in 1978.

So you need to allow plenty of time to enjoy the Gardens both by day and at night (you can dine there in-between).

Sunken Garden at night, Magic of Christmas Italian Garden, statue of Mercury

First=courtesy of The Butchart Gardens Ltd., Victoria, BC, Canada

From 1st December until the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas there's a completely different set of lights, thousands of them - The Magic of Christmas. It requires two months work by a lighting crew to set up. You can also skate on the Butchart Gardens' outdoor ice rink. Each garden, except the Japanese Garden, is illuminated. As you walk you can trace the characters in the "Twelve Days of Christmas" song:

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Twelve drummers drumming, Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping, Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings.
Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree!

Benvenuto, Butcharts home Twelve days of Christmas

Victoria's Country Retreat ... serenity near the Butchart Gardens

(Butchart Gardens bed and breakfast - night photos page)