What a great idea! Take a worked out quarry and turn it into a magnificent garden. We have visited Butchart at different seasons of the year and it is always changing. In the spring there are bulbs followed by annuals in the summer and mums and asters in the fall. This is one of our most favorite gardens in the world.

British Columbia is a gardener's paradise, at least for those of us from the frigid Midwest. Vancouver island is a delight in many ways. Combine your visit to Butchart with a wild Zodiac ride out to see the killer whales. Unless your back is in good shape (a problem for many of us gardeners) be sure to sit in the back of the boat.

If you have time, visit the huge trees in the virgin forest park in the center of the island. These stately old trees remind us of the wonders of the natural world.