I’ve invited my neighbour Jan on this trip to Victoria, BC, because she used to work in a nursery and can fill me on the common—sometimes the scientific—names of the plants and flowers we’re about to see. I don’t know my hellebores from my peonies, but I’m eager to become more conversant in the language of blooms.

We’re making the 1.5-hour up-island drive to Victoria from our homes just outside of Nanaimo and Ladysmith to take up an invitation from Victoria’s Historic Inns to sample its new Glorious Gardens Package. First stop, The Butchart Gardens, where we’re greeted by staffer Sebastian Bethell. He advises that we’ve arrived at a “green” time, one of the four times in the year where the garden beds are changing: those varieties that had their days in the sun are joined by seasonal species just beginning to bloom. We’re just in time, though, to a catch a spectacular late-spring show of rhododendrons and to get a preview of what’s coming up in the summer in this 22-ha (55-ac) floral canvas and designate of National Historic Significance.

The Butchart Gardens
As we walk through this enchanted place, we’re serenaded by finches as we admire tubs of fringed and Angelique tulips, and others freshly planted with red geraniums and multi-coloured flowers that Jan identifies as cineraria. We roam through various beds of wavy pink and mauve columbine, orange wallflowers and yellow helianthemum, the “rock rose.” I’m learning.

We’re on the hunt for blue flowers, specifically my favourite, Himalayan blue poppies. They’re one of June’s blooming stars and I like the yellow smile in the centre of their cheery blue faces. We find them on our way to the serene Japanese Garden, while also coming across beds of gold and burgundy irises. If this is “green” season, expect hot, eye-popping hues as the summer sun heats up.

In July, it’s show time in the Rose Garden (they begin blooming in mid-June), with varieties like Fragrant Cloud, Abracadabra and Neon Nights promising sweet-scented clouds of colour. Jan is a fan of blue blooms, too, and spots a few royal-blue delphiniums in full splendour. Her prediction, based on previous visits to Butchart: “When the roses bloom with the delphiniums in the background, it’s a spectacular sight.” You can also expect to see rudbeckia, fragrant heliotrope, bright dahlias and hydrangeas all sharing the spotlight in June and July. Our last view of the gardens is a scarlet salute of English hawthorn trees lining the exit drive.

Glendale Gardens & Woodland
The Ottawa Citizen named Glendale Gardens & Woodland one of the 10 best gardens in Canada, and we quickly fell in love with its relaxed, meandering Pacific Northwest feel. The emphasis is on the Pacific Northwest, including native plant gardens, since Glendale is also the site of the Pacific Horticulture College. As we enter the welcoming rotunda with its beautiful fountain, we see a group of students ahead engrossed in their studies in the gardens.

While almost one-third of the 4 ha (10 ac) of landscaped grounds here is given over to native species—evident in the Garry oak, rhoda, ferns and wild coral bells—we see many other plant and flower species, too, like sweet william, bleeding heart, twinflowers and hardy geum. We roam through a shaded wood to the Takata Japanese Garden looking over a tranquil stream, bridges and quiet seating in the Zen Garden. My favourite spot, though, is the Mediterranean Garden with its drought-tolerant, sun-loving lavenders, succulents and sedums. There’s a fanciful little playhouse for children nearby with plants growing out of the roof and in an old crib.

Abkhazi Garden
Once the home and garden of exiled Georgian royal Prince Nicholas Abkhazi and his wife Peggy, the Abkhazi Garden has a storied half-century history. The garden was purchased by the Land Conservancy of BC (TLC) in 2000 and is lovingly preserved according to the artistic legacy of the Abkhazis. We walk under towering twisted rhododendron trees (some estimated to be more than 100 years old), and among Picea pinsapo Spanish fir and Picea pungens ‘Glauca Prostrata’ weeping blue spruce that have been hand-pruned to spread horizontally over moss-covered rock faces. Natural lawn winds along a path that Peggy Abkhazi dubbed the Yangtze River. We’re in awe of the sculptured beauty of this peaceful place.

We have a chance to sit down with TLC horticulturist Jeff de Jong, who is also host of the CFAX radio show “Gardening 101.” What does he thinks makes this historic garden so special?

“There’s a sense of tranquility in the garden. It’s how people feel when they come here,” he explains. He adds there is also a lot of unusual plant material used that is hardy to Zone 10. One of the best examples is the arid entrance display he’s designed to look like an undersea garden using peach, yellow and pink succulents to depict the ocean floor topped with a copper sculpture of three salmon swimming through. De Jong also comes up with a mantra for how to select deer-proof plants. Choose plants that are “prickly, hairy and spotty,” he advises.

We shop accordingly and can’t leave this day’s “glorious gardens” without taking some reminders home with us. De Jong helps us buy prickly Himalayan blue poppies, purple wallflowers and spotted cerinthe major—a slouching, waxy petalled Mediterranean beauty that is my new blue floral favourite.

Victoria’s Historic Inns:
Stay two or more nights, now until Sept. 30, at any of Victoria’s Historic Inns and get entry to the three gardens, plus a basket of “gardener’s goodies.”

Abbeymoore Manor: This elegant 1912 Edwardian manor is so comfy and relaxed we spotted a guest in the lounge padding around in his bare feet. Bonus: it’s right across the street from the Lieutenant Governor’s mansion and spectacular 15-ha (36-ac) public garden; it was also rated North America’s top B&B/Inn for 2010 on TripAdvisor. www.abbeymoore.com

Albion Manor: A 1890s heritage manor, whose artistic owners have created a colourful showcase for antiques, art and memorabilia from their world travels. Relax outside on the old-fashioned porch or in the sunny English garden. www.albionmanor.com

Beaconsfield Inn: A turn-of-the-century Edwardian home, now a Registered Heritage Property, where gracious details carry through from the book-filled library to the crystal chandeliers and goose-down comforters. www.beaconsfieldinn.com

Dashwood Manor: Casual and comfortable, this 1912 English Tudor mansion offers ocean views of the Juan de Fuca Strait, plus in-room massage and spa treatments. www.dashwoodmanor.com

Humboldt House: Breakfast is served in your room at this luxurious 1893 inn, where guests are also treated to sparkling wine and homemade chocolate truffles from Terrible Truffles on arrival—on the house. www.humboldthouse.com

Oak Bay Guest House: This cozy Victorian home has 11 guestrooms, each with a different colour palate, some with clawfoot tubs. An airy sunroom lounge and the pretty perennial gardens offer places to relax or mingle. www.oakbayguesthouse.com

Prior House Inn: Built by Edward Gawler Prior, a former premier and lieutenant governor of British Columbia, 100 years of history are beautifully preserved, awarding Prior House Inn AAA 4-Diamond and 5-Star Canada Select status. Suites and connecting bathrooms are opulent. You might be surprised by impromptu piano-playing sessions in the lounge. www.priorhouse.com

Villa Marco Polo Inn: A luxurious Italian Renaissance mansion boasting antiques and fine art from the proprietors’ family collections, a penthouse spa with a balcony overlooking the Juan de Fuca Strait, and a reflection pool and fountain in its classical Italian garden—a popular site for weddings. www.villamarcopolo.com
www.hellobc.com

video:
Day Trip to Victoria
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYN4uykbySE
Victoria’s Gardens
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53IRfr49d1I