3 Best Gardens in Victoria to Visit

The famous Sunken Gardens in spring
The famous Sunken Gardens in spring in the Butchart Gardens

I have a love affair with gardening. Not only do I find digging in the dirt to be a very satisfying activity, I thoroughly enjoy visiting gardens for inspiration. The gardens in Victoria, BC in spring are exceptional places to visit. They’re very much alive and bursting with colour while the rest of Canada may or may not be buried under snow.

I think the three best gardens in Victoria to visit include The Butchart Gardens, Abkhazi Garden and the Horticultural Centre of the Pacific. While they all tend to be at their prettiest from early spring to late fall, they can be visited year-round. All of the gardens in Victoria offer either meals or high tea.

The incredible Sunken Garden at The Butchart Gardens
The incredible Sunken Garden at The Butchart Gardens

Location of the Victoria area gardens

                                                     

Check out the Teahouse at Abkhazi Garden

The 1.4-acre Abkhazi Garden – one of the small gardens in Victoria, sits on a stunning lot overlooking the Olympic Mountains and the Strait of Georgia in a residential area of Victoria.

The gardens are a work of love created by Prince and Princess Abkhazi, famous for a friendship and romance that spanned seven decades, and survived the horrors of WWII – including both of them being interned for a time. They didn’t start the garden until they were in their forties shortly after they got married in 1946.

The Abkhazi Garden is famous in horticultural circles for its prized rhododendrons and rare flowers. I personally loved the Chinese fir that almost glowed on an overcast day.

While you could run through the garden in 15 minutes, it’s a place that is meant to be savoured. Take your time as you walk the paths. Stop and listen for the birds and smell the proverbial flowers.

There's a lot to see in the Abkhazi Garden despite its small size
There’s a lot to see in the Abkhazi Garden despite its small size
 The first Chinese fir I've ever seen - glowing yellow
The first Chinese fir I’ve ever seen – glowing yellow
The garden is famous for its rhododendrons - loved this blast of red
The garden is famous for its rhododendrons – loved this blast of red
One very old rhododendron with muscular limbs
One very old rhododendron with muscular limbs
 I always love a garden path where you can't see around the corner
I always love a garden path where you can’t see around the corner
The princess trained the limb of this tree to lean against the rock
The princess trained the limb of this tree to lean against the rock
 Volunteers help with garden upkeep and education
Volunteers help with garden upkeep and education

Lunch and high tea are both offered in the Teahouse – formerly the main residence of the prince and princess, with the last tea sitting and garden entry at 4 PM.

In the winter (October – March) hours are reduced and the garden is open from Wednesday to Sunday. The Abkhazi Garden is located at 1964 Fairfield Road, about a 10 minute drive from downtown Victoria.

While high tea doesn’t come cheaply ($65 pp here in 2023) it’s considerably less than the $95 pp (2023) price tag at the Empress – and what a beautiful setting it’s in.

Choose from teas with names like Alchemist Brew and Moonlight on the Grove and enjoy small bites of quiche, sausage rolls, sandwiches, scones with preserves and cream along with an assortment of goodies.

The home of Prince and Princess Abkhazi - and the teahouse now
The home of Prince and Princess Abkhazi – and the teahouse now
Enjoying a cup of the Philosopher's Brew - with lemongrass, citrus peel, rosehips and lavender blossoms
I’m enjoying a cup of the Philosopher’s Brew – with lemongrass, citrus peel, rosehips and lavender blossoms
I love high tea!
I love high tea!
In warmer weather it would be lovely to have tea outside
In warmer weather it would be lovely to have tea outside

The Butchart Gardens – one of the must visit gardens in Victoria

It was years of traveling to see my mother in Sidney before I got around to visiting The Butchart Gardens, mainly because I figured The Butchart Gardens was a garden catering to tourists. I was very wrong.

While there are certainly busloads of visitors, the gardens are for tourists and locals alike with lots of great programming including concerts and fireworks. Despite the million plus yearly visitors, people get dispersed as The Butchart Gardens cover 55 acres.

The gardens are truly gorgeous, especially the Sunken Garden, though that should come as no surprise when you consider that in peak season they employ 550 people.

Recommended reading: To learn the fascinating history of the gardens check out An April Visit to theButchart Gardens.

Allow at least 1.5 hours to wander through all the different types of gardens that make up The Butchart Gardens.

For a real treat make a reservation in The Dining Room Restaurant. While you nosh in what has been called one of the top 100 restaurants in Canada by Open Table, you can enjoy an intimate experience looking out to the gardens. They offer high tea, lunch and dinner.

The sunken garden in spring
The sunken garden at Butchart Gardens in spring
The gardens are immaculate with nary a weed in sight
The gardens are immaculate with nary a weed in sight
There is so much to take in that you need at least 90 minutes, more if you're really into gardens
There is so much to take in that you need at least 90 minutes at the Butchart Gardens or more if you’re really into gardens
 Visit in all seasons to see the progression of the garden
Visit in all seasons to see the progression of the garden
Beautiful reflections and intense reds in the fall
Beautiful reflections and intense reds in the fall
High tea with my mother on her 80th birthday
High tea with my mother on her 80th birthday

The Butchart Gardens are located 23 kilometres north of Victoria on the Saanich Peninsula and just 10 kilometres away from the Horticultural Centre of the Pacific. This is truly a garden not to be missed, no matter what the season.

Horticultural Centre of the Pacific garden – one of the less well known gardens in Victoria

I mentioned the Horticultural Centre of the Pacific (HCP) in my blog about my experience on the harbour to farm bike tour in Victoria. I think these gardens fly under the radar of the general public but the locals are on-board, especially considering how many classes they offer onsite including a meadowscaping for biodiversity workshop.

The heart of the HCP is research, conservation and lifelong learning.

But you will definitely be able to draw inspiration from all the different types of gardens including an edible garden, hardy fuchsia, urban and farm garden. Include a wander through the Japanese garden to admire the gorgeous bonsai trees.

3 of the Best Gardens to Visit in Victoria, BC
This is the lesser known of the three Victoria gardens
3 of the Best Gardens to Visit in Victoria, BC
I was in hellebore heaven
3 of the Best Gardens to Visit in Victoria, BC
There are well placed benches throughout theHCP garden so you can sit back and admire the view
3 of the Best Gardens to Visit in Victoria, BC
The Japanese garden

Finish off a visit here with a meal or a drink at Charlotte and the Quail. Their menu is locally inspired; food is truly delicious and the presentation is outstanding.

3 of the Best Gardens to Visit in Victoria, BC
Excellent oatmeal pancakes with an apple-beet compote and whipped cream with bee pollen on top – YUM

I can guarantee that visiting these three gardens in Victoria will lift your spirits and inspire you at home.

Further reading on things to do in the Victoria area

Click on the photo to bookmark to your Pinterest boards.

3 of the best public gardens to visit in Victoria, British Columbia

Thank you to The Teahouse at Abkhazi Garden for hosting my tea and to Tourism Victoria for hosting my visit and making it all happen.

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