Hi GPODers!
We’re continuing our week of gorgeous garden photos from Cherry Ong with a look at The Butchart Gardens’ Spring Prelude. This botanical garden on Vancouver Island in British Columbia is a marvel of garden beauty in every season, but if you’re looking for a taste of spring color before it actually arrives in our garden beds, Butchart’s Spring Prelude Indoor Garden is a must-visit. Cherry made a visit in March and caught the end of this display before the real spring show began outdoors. If you found the end of winter to be particularly rough this year, use this as inspiration for a great garden trip next year!
Not only does the Spring Prelude Garden allow you a taste of the bright spring color that hasn’t quite arrived yet, it is also a wonderful place for spring planting inspiration.
Of course, there are elements that won’t be so easy to recreate at home—like these marvelous masses of kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, Zones 10–12) sprinkled with other bold tropical plants.
It is not a spring display without an incredible assortment of bulbs. Light pink tulips and butter-yellow hyacinthus is a stunning combination that screams spring, and I’ve never seen a tree’s root flare used in such a creative and beautiful way.
We’re all undoubtably craving bright blooms this time of year, but a collection of lush foliage is also a welcomed sight after many of us have dealt with months of brown and white.
More bulbs and fabulous foliage here, but even bare branches collecting tiny buds are a welcome addition to this celebration of spring.
The Butchart Gardens are known for their garden “rooms,” with each area in the gardens feeling like its own secluded oasis. In their indoor Spring Prelude they have created a similar affect with structures and seating areas.
Situated above the bench in the previous photo is this magnificent living wall of bold tropical foliage. One of my favorite parts of botanical gardens is the way plants that are not hardy to the region are grown to mature size or in incredible arrangements. It always gives me a new perspective and appreciation for the potted plants commonly seen in windowsills.
Another seating area immerses you in the beds that surround an indoor pond. The sound of falling water and the denser foliage that fills that space must make this a little slice of serenity.
What a magical location for such a spectacular display! These gardens would be incredible in any outdoor space, but seeing the light pour in from the glass ceiling onto the canopy of green that the Butchart team has created is something special.
Cherry sent in so many stunning photos of these incredible indoor displays that we will be seeing more of this year’s Spring Prelude Garden tomorrow.
And if you’re done with the prelude and are happily enjoying the real thing, we would love to see your spring garden photos on the blog. Follow the directions below to submit your photos to Garden Photo of the Day!
We want to see YOUR garden!
Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!
To submit, fill out the Garden Photo of the Day Submission Form.
You can also send 5–10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.
Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here
Fine Gardening Recommended Products
The Crevice Garden: How to make the perfect home for plants from rocky places
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
A crevice garden replicates the environmental conditions of mountain tops, deserts, coastlines, and other exposed or rocky places on earth. These striking garden features provide perfect conditions for the plants native to these far-off places, bringing the cultivation of these precious gems within everybody’s reach.
Gardener’s Log Book from NYBG
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
This weatherproof five-year log book includes the following features:
· Sturdy waterproof cover to protect pages from rain and muddy soil
· Lined pages and gridded paper for plotting beds
· Five years of 12-month bloom and harvest grids for recording what you planted and when
· Authoritative appendices on composting, pruning, pest and disease control, and container gardening
· Useful reminders by season on fertilizing, mulching, and transplanting
· Space for listing your favorite sources and suppliers.
Veradek Corten Steel Series Cube Planter
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
The Square Metal Planter is built from thick-gauge corten steel that naturally develops a rust patina for a modern rustic look. Measuring 22″ tall by 21″ wide, it includes drainage holes, optional plugs, and styrofoam insulation for year-round use. Delivered flat with hardware and instructions, it assembles easily and is designed to withstand temperatures from -20 to 120 degrees, making it a durable and stylish choice for any outdoor space.
