Cherry Ong is taking us along to see spring at Butchart Gardens in British Columbia. This garden is famous for over-the-top displays of spring bulbs and annuals, which paint the whole space with giant swaths of color. One of the most iconic parts of the garden is the sunken garden, and often we see photos taken from the ground above, looking down at the plants. But today Cherry is taking us down into the garden and looking up and around at the beauty to be found there.
Coordinated swaths of tulips (Tulipa hybrids, Zones 3–8) and late daffodils (Narcissus hybrids, Zones 3–8) bloom together. The tulips in front are underplanted with forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica, Zones 3–8) to add a layer of blue around the larger tulip blooms.
Here the colors are hot, with the beds in the foreground underplanted with English daisy (Bellis perennis, Zones 4–8) in pink and red. They add a layer of color even when the bulbs in the bed are not in flower.
Yellow tulips are like a puddle of sunshine on the ground.
Daffodils and tulips planted together extend the show, and provide an added dimension to the color.
After they bloom, all these beds will be ripped out and replaced with annuals for the summer display.
The landscape around the sunken garden is dramatic and beautiful as well.
As beautiful as the bulbs are, this incredible old Japanese maple (Acer palmatum, Zones 5–9) is breathtaking. Now, right before the leaves flush out, you can see the incredible intricate form of the trunk.
The pond is lined with gorgeous flowering trees blushing shades of pink.
And, of course, still more daffodils are blooming everywhere!
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