We made a quick run in our dinghy over to the Butchart dinghy dock so we would know where we were going when we went over later in the afternoon for the viewing the gardens and the fireworks.
11 or 12 dinghies helped transport all the club members over here at 4:00pm for an evening of fun at Butchart Gardens. We all began with a trek through the 55 acres of beautiful flowers. It is truly amazing to see. When you consider the amount of work it takes to maintain an attraction like this you can't help but appreciate its beauty and history.
Robert Butchart was a pioneer in the North American cement industry and moved to Tod Inlet to develop a quarry and build a cement plant. Jennie Butchart became the company's chemist. They built their home here and they established their private flower garden. As limestone deposits were exhausted, Jennie had top soil brought in by horse and cart to cover the floor of the abandoned quarry. Eventually, the beautiful Sunken Garden was created. The gardens continued to grow and Butchart Gardens is still family owned and operated with over a million guests visiting each year.
At 6:30 we all gathered in the picnic area at reserved tables for our group. Jim and Jill had ordered picnic baskets for each of us! We were all served at our tables with linen, real silverware and a variety of foods that made this the best picnic we have ever had! It was so much fun for everyone!
After dinner we went to the fireworks viewing area where we had left our blankets earlier to stake out our spaces. Butchart Gardens even offers sand bags to borrow to keep your blanket from blowing away so you can reserve your area and still be free to wander the gardens. It was amazing to see how many people turned out for the fireworks. We got one good picture of ourselves in spite of Jim and Jill photobombing the photo!
The fireworks were incredible. It was the best and most unique show we have ever seen. It included traditional fireworks as well as low to the ground ones that synced with Christmas lights creating stories to go with the music. There were more fireworks going off at one time than I have seen in my life. I wish photos could do it justice but I did get a few that will give you the idea of what it was. It was absolutely beautiful. They do their fireworks show every Saturday throughout the summer.
As we walked back to our dinghy through the lighted gardens we passed by a room with a pianist playing for us. It was the perfect ending to a perfect day! Bob admits he did not think he would enjoy a "bunch of flowers" or a picnic basket (in a cardboard box with a dried out sandwich and an apple)! The entire day far exceeded our expectations!
