Discover the inner workings of Canada’s Butchart Gardens in conversation with its botanical experts, Brian Nixon and Josh Bickerton.

Amid Vancouver Island's lush forests, Robert and Jennie Butchart embarked on an ambitious venture in 1904: establishing a cement plant atop a rich limestone deposit and, in the process, sowing the seeds for the site’s unlikely yet fortuitous fate. In 1906, Jennie partnered with renowned landscape architect Isaburo Kishida to craft the Japanese Garden, the first of the five iconic feature gardens that grace the estate today. By 1912, with the limestone reserves exhausted, Jennie set her sights on transforming the abandoned quarry into a stunning Sunken Garden. Her vision laid the foundation for what would become the world-renowned Butchart Gardens — now a National Historic Site of Canada. This breathtaking botanical oasis stands as a testament to Jennie’s eye for metamorphosis and incredible horticultural design.

Today, nearly one million visitors come to explore The Butchart Gardens annually. The gardens consist of 55 acres of manicured greenery, serviced by over 600 staff, 50 full-time gardeners and 20 seasonal gardeners in the peak of summer. The original Japanese Garden and Sunken Garden are now accompanied by three further feature gardens: the Rose Garden, the Italian Garden, and the Mediterranean Garden. APT guests enjoy private before-hours access to the gardens and breakfast in the original Butchart family residence.

Brian Nixon, Manager of Horticulture, and Josh Bickerton, Manager of Public Relations, provide insights into what makes the gardens so exceptional — from behind-the-scenes operations to seasonal highlights.

During summer, a gardener’s day starts early at 6am. Numerous crews of two to seven staff maintain the lawns, trees, and plants, as well as clear paths, water, deadhead, and prune. Bickerton notes a key benefit of APT’s early-access visits is the opportunity to see the gardeners at work: “They get to see the hive of activity because by 9am, a lot of that activity is kind of more behind the scenes”.

The Butchart Gardens is a self-guided experience — visitors are provided a map and flower guide to discover the landscapes at their own pace. A highlight of the Sunken Garden is the floral-draped mound, providing unimpeded 360-degree views from its summit. Nixon nods to the gardens’ origins, sharing, “The mound is a portion of rock that was not mined because it was not suitable for creating limestone.”

The Rose Garden is another highlight. “With 2,500 roses and 280 varieties,” Nixon explains, “it’s the only garden in the gardens where we have labels on the individual rose varieties.” Nixon’s favourite flowers include the vibrant, pendulous Fuchsia, the trumpetshaped Iochroma, and the aptly nicknamed “Chinese lantern” Abutilon

The gardens' striking beauty belies the careful planning required to maintain them. Vancouver Island’s temperate rainforest climate can bring rough weather. As Bickerton explains, “We do get windstorms and rainstorms… We have to be cognisant of that.” Nixon adds, “We proactively look after our surrounding trees and shrubs… thinning and pruning to allow wind to pass through the tree canopies without bringing down branches.”

The gardens are open year-round, with something to offer in every season. A beautiful autumnal colour palette shrouds the trees and shrubs in the lead up to Christmas, and while summer offers lush greenery, winter reveals the garden’s structure. As Nixon puts it, “in winter, you can see the true bones of the garden… it really gives you a sense of all the hard work that’s gone into creating the gardens.”

The Butchart Gardens’ Manager of Horticulture, Brian Nixon, shares expert advice to ensure your plants thrive year-round.

1. Nurture the Soil

Building rich, healthy soil is crucial. At The Butchart Gardens, compost and alfalfa are added to flower beds to create an ideal growing environment.

2. Right Plant, Right Place

Understanding a plant’s needs is key. Whether it thrives in shade or sun, or how large it will likely grow in time, do some research to ensure your plant is in an optimal spot.

3. Prune with Precision

Timing is everything. Prune some plants before flowering, others after. Be especially cautious when pruning before the cold season to protect plants during winter.

4. Water Wisely

Water new plants thoroughly to help them establish. But avoid the common mistake of overwatering as they mature.

5. Rotate for Resilience

Plant rotation prevents disease and strengthens the health of the plants and those around it. Moving plants to different spots promotes optimal growth.

Words by Alexander Simpson