Beauty from Ashes

Map shows the south-east tip of Vancouver Island, British Columbia

1912 – A limestone quarry on Vancouver Island

Jennie Butchart surveyed with horror the scarred landscape, the hidden cost of her husband Robert’s success. The rich limestone under the forest floor had proved ideal for making cement, but after 8 years it was now exhausted. Whilst Robert continued in business at other sites, Jennie had a vision for the future.

She gathered together a crew, who transported large amounts of topsoil into the quarry by horse and cart. Jennie herself worked tirelessly, even being lowered in a sling so she could pack soil and plant ivy in crevices within the quarry wall. It took 9 years before the Sunken Garden was ready to open to the public. She refused to charge for entry; ‘after all, the plants flower for free’.

6 weeks ago – Butchart Gardens

Our friends Roger and Maria took us to enjoy Jennie’s creation. It’s not free nowadays, but I can honestly say it’s the most beautiful gardens we’ve ever visited. The Sunken Garden is utterly magnificent, with its aspect bordered by the towering, wooded hills beyond. Suddenly you step from the main garden onto a viewing platform, from which you see a complete kaleidoscope of colour and gradient. 

You descend via steps then, at the other end, find yourself  marvelling at a small lake with fountains which marks the extremity of the gardens. We were lucky to visit just before the tulip season finished, although these were about to be replaced by another splendid display.

Jennie didn’t stop at creating the Sunken Garden. She turned her hand to restoring the rest of the site which lay strewn with industrial buildings and detritus. Today you can enjoy – for example – the Rose Garden, Italian Garden and the restful Japanese Garden, in which Roger, Jane and I are pictured. The pond featured is in the Show Greenhouse, one of many delights which I haven’t space to describe.

The gardens are maintained as sustainably as possible, experimenting to find plants that best fit the environment. Spent plants are composted and felled trees repurposed. The staff implement Integrated Pest Control, manual weeding and drip irrigation. It’s all most inspiring.

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The theme of turning what is ruined and ugly into something beautiful is spoken of in the Bible. An example is God’s word to the exiled people of Judah spoken through Isaiah the prophet (chapter 61 verse 3):

“To grant to those who mourn in Zion—to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.”

 You could say it was what happened when a meeting with Jesus transformed someone’s life. In my next blog, Beauty for Ashes 2, you’ll meet such a person. I was so moved when I heard the story that I had to retell it.