Recently, I enjoyed a few days in Victoria, BC with my husband. On a foggy morning we hopped on the Victoria Clipper and cruised northward to quaint Victoria for a few days of R&R. Sorry, no reports of Grey or Killer Whales or even snowy mountain views from the ship — it was just to socked in. Still, the boat trip wasn’t the big draw for us. The beautiful gardens of Victoria were.
Fake Turf - no mow, no water, but still no way!
We had planned a trip out to Butchart Gardens. I mean what horty gal goes to Victoria without visiting the famed gardens? Otherwise, our trip had very little structure. So, after dropping our bags at the hotel and grabbing lunch in the harbor area, we started a walking tour toward Government House gardens. On the way, I spotted my first in a series of lawns that left me wondering, “what’s the point”?
This first “lawn” forms the central put-put golf course for some homeowner near Craigdarroch Castle. As a weedless space, shining in the sun and perfectly quaffed, it caught my eye. But, upon closer inspection, I realized it was fake! Fieldturf, Astroturf, faker-grass? Call it what you will, I’m not impressed. Sure, it doesn’t need water, requires no mowing and looks nearly perfect at all times (if you like that kind of look). But does that mean it looks good or is healthy for the planet? It’s made out of manufactured materials, and I’m guessing it isn’t something you recycle. So what happens to this stuff when the sun and time finally wear it down? Off to the landfill?
Do you push the mower up or race it down the hill?
We took a peek at the castle from the outside. It was lovely, but I had no interest in waiting in a line to pay a fee to tour a hot castle that day. Instead, we looked around the grounds where I found another “why lawn?” moment. The grounds are perfect for adding extensive gardens, but instead they’re filled with lawn. And, in this case it was the real thing, and to their credit, it was being left to go dormant in the summer. But, it’s still mowed regularly, and who in their right mind wants to mow on a slope like the ones in their terraced areas seen here?
So onward, to Government House. Here’s where I can take a break from my grumbles and say this was the best garden of our entire tour. Not only was it free (though we did make a donation), but its realistic. Yes, they do spray the rose gardens, but their IPM advisory notices are clearly posted for all to see. Their lawns are steppable and filled with clover. Plus, there’s a native Quercus garryana meadow functioning as a preserve for these lovely trees.
Butchart Turf Rules: Don't Tread on Me
The next day we made our trek to Butchart. I hadn’t been in many years, and the last time I went I hadn’t had nearly the horticultural training I’ve had at this point in my life. As in the past, it was simply overwhelming. The work that went into defining this space years ago is stunning. The work that goes into maintaining it today is simply outrageous — and I don’t know if I mean that in a complimentary way. Sure, it must provide employment for a lot of gardeners. We saw several of them spending hours simply deadheading annuals that barely needed deadheading. We also met a very helpful lawn maintenance guy who helped us get a reservation at the tea house. But, I’m not sure what the point of all that lawn really is, and there’s a lot of it!
When I visited Butchart several years ago, we were invited to sit on the grass and relax. On this visit, lawn was blocked off with signs and chains asking people to stay off of it. They claim it is maintained organically and even gave me the rundown on how they sand it and use “organic” fertilizers on it a couple times a year. But all day long, reel mowers were driving all over the lawn, and I only saw two children escape the masses and go running into the fields of green. So why do it?
Butchart does offer concerts, at which time visitors may tread on the turf. And, apparently, there are picnic events when patrons may sit on the grass. But otherwise, the message was: “Stay off the grass”. And, since it is a show garden destination, that grass stays as green as can be — happily watered and trimmed to perfection. Frankly, between the technicolor annual patches and their energy-sucking cousin lawn, I was disappointed with the current management of Butchart.
Lovely Moss, but not for your toes
Here’s why: Lawn, especially lawn that you can’t walk or sit on, and annuals take a lot of water and other energy inputs. Historically, the family that developed Butchart grew food on site. So, I have a hard time understanding why at least a part of this huge space isn’t dedicated to food growing. Not only would it be in tune with the current locavore movement and provide educational spaces for patrons, but it would provide fresh, local foods for the fantastic chef to draw from.
If anyone has the answer, I welcome your comment.
After all that ranting, I will add that there was one garden in Butchart that I adored. And it’s turf is a turf I can get behind – rolling lawns of moss. Guess where they used it? Yep – in the Japanese Garden. This garden was stunning in its simplicity. The paths were tactile — so much so, I slipped off my sandals and massaged my tired toes walking over the embedded, polished stones. I would have loved taking a soft, spongy stroll through the mossy turf, but alas, once again, the message was “stay on the path and don’t tread on me”.
Now that I’ve gotten that rant out of my system, I hope to catch you up on some of the other cool garden-y things we enjoyed in Victoria – like the amazing children’s water play garden featuring a watering can the size of a townhouse!
Earlier this year, I had the special opportunity to meet Nori Burnett and get a personal tour of her moss garden in Richmond, Virginia. Over 30 years ago she began the process of incorporating moss into her garden in place of lawn. She had tried to establish lawns, but in her woodland setting it was a losing battle. Taking an “if you can’t beat’m then join’m attitude” she began researching the types of moss in her garden (no small task) and cultivating its growth to create vast swaths of rolling green.
These photos were taken at the end of winter. She shared printed photos and magazine photos of the garden (yes, the garden is somewhat famous!) throughout the year, and take my word for it, the space is stunning. Nori will be the first one to admit that moss doesn’t make a great “lawn” for dogs and children, but in a more adult-oriented space with lots of shade, it makes sense! The birds and squirrels may peck up some patches, but they’re easy to refill. The look of the moss changes throughout the year and provides a quiet, inviting, soft space to tread upon.
