Jennie Butchart’s Private Garden

Jennie Butchart’s Private Garden at the Butchart Gardens was designed by architect Samuel Maclure in 1920 and was built in 1920-1921.

It is adjacent to Benvenuto’s Sun Room, which was designed by Samuel Maclure in 1911.

Here are some photos of how the Private Garden site appeared prior to 1920-1921:

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)
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)

Here are some photographs of how the Private Garden appears now:

Jennie Butchart's Private Garden, designed and built in 1920-1921 by architect Samuel Maclure. This photo was taken from the Sun Room in March (photo by Author)
Jennie Butchart’s Private Garden, designed and built in 1920-1921 by architect Samuel Maclure. This photo was taken from the Sun Room in March (photo by Author)
Jennie Butchart's Private Garden, designed and built in 1920-1921 by architect Samuel Maclure (photo by Author)
Jennie Butchart’s Private Garden, designed and built in 1920-1921 by architect Samuel Maclure. This photo was taken in August. (photo by Author)
Jennie Butchart's Private Garden, designed and built in 1920-1921 by architect Samuel Maclure, looking toward the Sun Room, designed by Samuel Maclure in 1911 and extended by Samuel Maclure in 1919.This photo was taken from the Sun Room in August (photo by Author)
Jennie Butchart’s Private Garden, designed and built in 1920-1921 by architect Samuel Maclure, looking toward the Sun Room, designed by Samuel Maclure in 1911 and extended by Samuel Maclure in 1919.This photo was taken from the Sun Room in August (photo by Author)
The fence and gate to Jennie Butchart's Private Garden, designed and built in 1920-1921 by architect Samuel Maclure. (photo by Author)
The fence and gate to Jennie Butchart’s Private Garden, designed and built in 1920-1921 by architect Samuel Maclure. (photo by Author)

Here is a 1921 photograph of Jennie Butchart standing at the south gate of the Private Garden.

Jennie Butchart at the entrance to her Private Garden at Benvenuto, November 1921 (photo: Harry Upperton Knight)
Jennie Butchart at the entrance to her Private Garden at Benvenuto, November 1921 (photo: Harry Upperton Knight)

The Private Garden was designed in 1921 by architect Samuel Maclure. Here are some of Samuel Maclure’s original drawings for the Private Garden:

Detail from Samuel Maclure drawing for Jennie Butchart's Private Garden, 1920. This design is still in place. (courtesy of UVic Library - Special Collections)
Detail from Samuel Maclure drawing for Jennie Butchart’s Private Garden, 1920. This design is still in place. (courtesy of UVic Library – Special Collections)
Detail from Samuel Maclure drawing for "Garden House & Trelliage" for Jennie Butchart's Private Garden, 1920. This design is still in place. (courtesy of UVic Library - Special Collections)
Detail from Samuel Maclure drawing for “Garden House & Trelliage” for Jennie Butchart’s Private Garden, 1920. This design is still in place. (courtesy of UVic Library – Special Collections)

Here are some historic photos of the Private Garden:

Postcard showing Jennie Butchart's Private Garden,, circa 1922-1930 (Author's collection)
Postcard showing Jennie Butchart’s Private Garden,, circa 1922-1930 (Author’s collection)

Here are two 1920 Samuel Maclure drawings of two proposed gates for the Private Garden:

This one was rejected.

Detail from Samuel Maclure drawing of proposed gate for Jennie Butchart's Private Garden, 1920. This design was rejected in favour of the design that is still in place. (courtesy of UVic Library - Special Collections)
Detail from Samuel Maclure drawing of proposed gate for Jennie Butchart’s Private Garden, 1920. This design was rejected in favour of the design that is still in place. (courtesy of UVic Library – Special Collections)

This is the Samuel Maclure drawing of the gate that is still in place on the Private Garden:

Detail from Samuel Maclure drawing of gate for Jennie Butchart's Private Garden, 1920. This design is still in place. (courtesy of UVic Library - Special Collections)
Detail from Samuel Maclure drawing of gate for Jennie Butchart’s Private Garden, 1920. This design is still in place. (courtesy of UVic Library – Special Collections)

 

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