Look for the BEST autumn colors in the Northwest just across the border in Canada. Autumn is when the Japanese Garden comes to center stage with fall foliage colors at the world renowned Butchart Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia. Find a stunning parade of red, russet and golden maples; joined by magnificent arbutus and copper beech trees along with dozens of colorful chrysanthemums mixed in.
The Butchart Gardens is located on Vancouver Island, 23 km (14 miles) north of Victoria, and 20 km (12.5 miles) south of the Vancouver-Victoria ferry terminal at Swartz Bay. The street address is 800 Benvenuto Avenue in Brentwood Bay. Take one of the many tours offered from Victoria or take a tour beginning in Seattle, WA.
The main focus at the gardens during October and early November is the changing over of the displays from summer plants into the next years spring display. Their fall planting consists of close to 300,000 flowering spring bulbs which are woven among tens of thousands of colorful biennials such as English daisy (Bellis), Forget-me-Not (Myosotis), Wallflower (Cheiranthus) and Pansy (Viola).
If you are in British Columbia to see in the gardens at this time of the year you will be fascinated to see the gardeners diligently working to install the new display. When fall weather has reached the gardens, autumn colors show up dressing many of the deciduous trees and shrubs providing a colorful background to the floral display.
The changing of the season also brings change to many of the borders of thousands of colorful chrysanthemums, planted to enhance the many floral displays. The Dahlias are outstanding at this time of year too and the temperatures and light conditions make it perfect for walking in the gardens.
Blooming in Autumn:
• Abutilon
• Acidanthera
• Aconitum
• Agapanthus
• Anemone x hybrida
• Aster
• Azalea (“Encore” series – second flush!)
• Chelone
• Chrysanthemum
• Clerodendron
• Colchicum
• Cyclamen
• Dahlia
• Delphiniums (second flush)
• Fuchsia
• Helenium
• Helianthus
• Heptacodium
• Kirengeshoma
• Physostegia
• Solidago
• Tibouchina
• Tricyrtus
Fall Foliage:
• Japanese Maple
• Euonymous alata
• Fothergilla
• Liquidambar
• Hamamelis
For personal insights and travel tips from Lindsay's travels go to www.crosscountrytravelinfo.com. For more slideshows and travel destinations subscribe above.
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