Benvenuto – Butchart Gardens History

Benvenuto

Benvenuto, meaning “welcome” in Italian, was the name given by Robert Butchart and Jennie Butchart to their house and estate at Tod Inlet where the Butchart Gardens is now located. The name “Benvenuto” is still used by The Butchart Gardens.

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Here are some photographs and postcards of Benvenuto in chronological order:

Postcard showing Benvenuto, viewed from the west, circa 1919-1920, prior to the construction of the Private Garden in 1921 and the Rose Garden in 1929. The foreground shows the "Kitchen Garden" which is now the site of the Rose garden. (Author's collection) — Postcard showing Benvenuto, viewed from the west, circa 1919-1920, prior to the construction of the Private Garden in 1921 and the Rose Garden in 1929. The foreground shows the “Kitchen Garden” which is now the site of the Rose Garden. (Author’s collection)

1911

In 1911 architect Samuel Maclure designed a Sun Room addition on the west side of Benvenuto facing the present day Rose Garden and Jennie Butchart’s Private Garden.

Here is a 1911 Samuel Maclure architectural drawing showing exterior and interior features of the 1911 Sun Room addition to the west side of Benvenuto.

Samuel Maclure architectural drawing in interior and exterior details of the Sunroom Addition at Benvenuto, November 1911. (Courtesy of UVic Library - Special Collections) — Samuel Maclure architectural drawing in interior and exterior details of the Sunroom Addition at Benvenuto, November 1911. (Courtesy of UVic Library – Special Collections)

Here is a postcard, circa 1912-1919, showing the 1911 Sun Room addition:

Postcard showing the 1911 Sun Room addition to Benvenuto and the site of Jennie Butchart's Private Garden, circa 1912-1919. (Author's collection) — Postcard showing the 1911 Sun Room addition to Benvenuto and the site of Jennie Butchart’s Private Garden, circa 1912-1919. (Author’s collection)

1913

In 1913 Samuel Maclure designed a significant addition to the east side of Benvenuto. Here are some Samuel Maclure architectural drawings of the 1913 addition to the east side of Benvenuto.

Samuel Maclure drawing of the addition to the east side of Benvenuto, south elevation, 1913 (Courtesy of UVic Library - Special Collections) — Samuel Maclure drawing of the addition to the east side of Benvenuto, south elevation, 1913 (Courtesy of UVic Library – Special Collections)

1919

In 1919 Samuel Maclure designed a Sun Room Extension to the Sun Room Addition to Benvenuto that he had designed for the Butcharts in 1911. Here is a Samuel Maclure architectural drawing of the 1919 Sun Room Extension.

1922

Here are Samuel Maclure plans of Benvenuto drawn in 1922.

Samuel Maclure drawing of front (south) elevation of Benvento, 1922 (courtesy of UVic Library - Special Collections) — Samuel Maclure drawing of front (south) elevation of Benvento, 1922 (courtesy of UVic Library – Special Collections)

1929 Addition To The East Side Of Benvenuto and the Italian Garden

In 1928 architect Samuel Maclure designed an addition to the east side of Benvenuto running north-south along the east side of the Italian Garden. It was to be the last major work Samuel Maclure did for Robert Butchart and Jennie Butchart before his death in 1929.

The postcards below show the Italian Garden and Benvenuto before and after the 1929 addition to Benvenuto.

Postcard of the Italian Garden, looking north, circa 1926-1928, prior to the construction of the 1929 addition to Benvenuto on the east side (right) of the Italian Garden. (Author's collection) — Postcard of the Italian Garden, looking north, circa 1926-1928, prior to the construction of the 1929 addition to Benvenuto on the east side (right) of the Italian Garden. (Author’s collection)

Postcard of the Italian Garden, looking east, circa 1926-1928, prior to the construction of the 1929 addition to Benvenuto on the east side of the Italian Garden. The arbour in the photo was designed by architect Samuel Maclure in 1925. (Author's collection) — Postcard of the Italian Garden, looking east, circa 1926-1928, prior to the construction of the 1929 addition to Benvenuto on the east side of the Italian Garden. The arbour in the photo was designed by architect Samuel Maclure in 1925. (Author’s collection)

Postcard of the Italian Garden, looking south toward Benvenuto, circa 1926-1928, prior to the construction of the 1929 addition to Benvenuto on the east side (left) of the Italian Garden. (Author's collection) — Postcard of the Italian Garden, looking south toward Benvenuto, circa 1926-1928, prior to the construction of the 1929 addition to Benvenuto on the east side (left) of the Italian Garden. (Author’s collection)

Here are some photos of the same views after construction of the 1929 addition to Benvenuto.

Postcard of the Italian Garden, looking north, circa 1930, just after the construction of the 1929 addition to Benvenuto on the east side (right) of the Italian Garden. (Author's collection) — Postcard of the Italian Garden, looking north, circa 1930, just after the construction of the 1929 addition to Benvenuto on the east side (right) of the Italian Garden. (Author’s collection)

Here are some photos of Benvenuto, viewed from the northwest, showing the appearance of Benvenuto between 1925 and 1930, before and after the construction of the 1929 addition to the east side of Benvenuto and the Italian Garden:

Postcard showing Benvenuto, circa 1925, prior to construction of the Italian Garden and the 1929 addition to the east side of the Italian Garden. This postcard is postmarked 5 September 1925. (Author's collection) — Postcard showing Benvenuto, circa 1925, prior to construction of the Italian Garden and the 1929 addition to the east side of the Italian Garden. This postcard is postmarked 5 September 1925. (Author’s collection)

Postcard showing Benvenuto and the Italian Garden, circa 1930,, following construction of the 1929 addition to the east side of Benvenuto and the Italian Garden. (Author's collection) — Postcard showing Benvenuto and the Italian Garden, circa 1930,, following construction of the 1929 addition to the east side of Benvenuto and the Italian Garden. (Author’s collection)

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