The Old Dog Discovers: We Really Were Meant to be in Paradise!
Were we really meant to be in paradise? The feeling that I had and the reaction that I saw in the children screamed yes!
On my last trip to Vancouver Island (British Columbia Canada) we visited The Butchart Gardens. As an adult I was struck by a feeling of awe and deep appreciation but what impressed me even more was the physical manifestation of overwhelming joy that I witnessed in the children. They skipped about in delight; taking pictures, smelling the flowers and laughing in elation!
Various paths meander through the many themed gardens that delight visitors! Photo:Pixibay all others mine.
The children were also overcome and enchanted by the stimulation of their senses!
In one of my previous articles I examined the healing powers of parks and gardens and their use in recovery, rehabilitation and pain management! Please see:
Butchart Gardens is so beautiful that your whole inner being becomes flooded with overpowering, positive emotions. The place feels like home, like you were meant to be there, like you should never leave!
Am I Exaggerating? How Beautiful Really is Butchart Gardens?
Butchart Gardens is listed on many websites (including National Geographic) in the top 10 most beautiful gardens in the world! Another site (complete with stunning photos) has it in first place as one of the 6 amazing gardens in the world!
With an area of over 55 acres it features uninterrupted bloom from more than one million bedding plants. Its various gardens will keep you stunned with more than 900 varieties of colorful flowers.
The few pictures here can only show you so much. You've just got to see it!
Trip Advisor has over 7,000 reviews of this place. Most of the comments mirror my enthusiasm!
The gorge of this water feature was created out of a mining pit! What man and this earth are capable of!
What can I say except wow!
This is at the main entrance before entering the various gardens. Beauty abounds!
This Place Used to be an Ugly Dug Out Open Mining Pit!
The Butchart Gardens are an astounding example of a successful reclamation project. The land was excavated for years in order to extract limestone which was necessary for cement production. By 1904 it had exhausted its value as a quarry and Jennie Butchart began to fill the space with soil from nearby farms. Her vision expanded through several generations of family into a 55-acre (22-hectare) world wonder.
Questions For Reflection!
- How do you feel when you are in a beautiful garden?
- Does it lift your spirits?
- Do you feel calm, at peace and at home?
- Have you visited any special places that made you feel like I did that day at Butchart Gardens?
I hope that you enjoyed this visit to one of this worlds most beautiful gardens!
Until next time,
@kus-knee (The Old Dog)
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In deed on of the most beautiful gardens to visit! I didn't know it was considered so highly among garder aficionados. I'm sure you'd like to have an idea of what the place looks like in the winter too?!? I'm heading out there in a few days and shall have my camera at hand readying myself to post on this matter, especially now that I have had some serious encouragement from this post. Vey beautiful pictures and variety of information as well.
Thank you very much again, namaste :)
I look forward to your report my friend!
Can you believe it? I've lived in British Columbia for over 15 years, and have done extensive traveling around Vancouver Island - but I've never seen the The Butchart Gardens. What a sheltered life I must live. Or maybe I just can't handle Paradise. lol
Thanks for commenting. I'm sure that you'd love it there,
Thank you for posting , posting ,throwing a bone , posting and posting so i can check out you comments and @onceuponatime see he ha value wonder why , go check out the guy and so on and so on , much Love :) !
That first photo is so emblematic of Butchart Gardens. My grandparents went there in the 1960s and took a similar photo. I went there with my parents in 1986 and they got a similar photo, too. One thing I noticed on that 1986 trip was that there were no insects - none! Once we noticed, we looked throughout the gardens. None. I hope they've got a little more natural approach by now. I expect that they do, lol. It sure is a pretty place. A postcard at every turn -- just like your great photos!
Wow, I guess that I'm glad that you brought that up. But ignorance was bliss until now! I guess I will have to re-evaluate another of my complacencies.
Good point and here is how they do it:
http://www.butchartgardens.com/blog/pest-management
I thought maybe I shouldn't say anything. It really bummed me out when I was there. I'm hoping that someone who has been more recently can say, "The insects are there now!" Maybe they are even using insects, like praying mantis and ladybugs, to control other insects.
That's what the link above shows.
@kus-knee I've never been there thank you for the tour!
It's a lovely place and for one who loves gardens and nature - this is to be bucket-listed!
Thanks a lot for having a look. I hope to take @lellabird60 there one day!
@kus-knee I cross my fingers for you both!
Beautiful post! Thank you .... I have always found the sound of young children laughing and giggling one of the greatest expressions of unbridled joy - it has no condition; it is just full of delight! Elation, as you put it is a lovely word - lifted to an exalted platform, just lovely! Thank you again - you got the trifecta.
Thank you so much for your kind words!
My pleasure - there are not enough compliments and expressions of gratitude in this world ... or steemit
You might enjoy this:
https://steemit.com/steemit/@ebryans/replies-like-receiving-a-proper-letter
Great observations in your post!
Great pictures!
Thanks @future24
Very lovely place! Nice pictures. Thanks for sharing.
Where has @kus-knee (The Old Dog) gone?
Happy New Year to you, the bird and your whole family!!!
Thank you for the beautiful post , I'm sharing this video a lot there days , but you might like it
And this place is a wonder to behold yes, if only wish more people spend the time and build , just a wonderful creation , breathtaking waterfall.
Great place :)
Very nice. Thanks for the embedded video!