Canada's very own "Sakura,"  cherry blossom season A few blog posts ago I shared some wonderful photos of Japan's cherry blossom trail. Closer to home, we turn to Butchart Gardens, outside Victoria, British Columbia. The scene at Butchart Gardens is out of a fairytale. Flowering ornamental cherries create beautiful  canopies of white,  yellowish-green and  pink over 20 hectares of walkable gardens. I never fail to appreciate the irony of this Disney-like floral creation sitting atop what was a working limestone quarry more than one hundred years ago. The rose collection alone consists of 117 varieties of tea rose plants, 64 types of floribundas, and 400 grandiflora roses. But for now,  the cherry blossoms are under the spotlight. Here's a sampling of cherry blossom beauties from Butchart Gardens:

(Cherry blossom photos courtesy of Butchart Gardens)

If you miss the cherry blossom season (April, May) at Butchart Gardens, there are plenty of other events and floral exhibits throughout the year.