Livingstone Lake at VanDusen Botanical Garden
Of all the gardens in Vancouver—including Queen Elizabeth Park’s quarry gardens and the serene Nitobe Memorial Garden at UBC (two of my other favourites)—VanDusen Botanical Garden is the one I love the most. I think it’s because every time I go, whatever the season, I discover something new: a path I’d never tried, a little stream I’d never crossed, flowers in bloom that I’d never noticed.
Today, I saw a rainbow:
That’s the thing about VanDusen: It’s a cliché to say that it’s picturesque, but my God is it picturesque! It’s so darn pretty, with its wooden-bridges over lily-pad-covered ponds, its rose garden, its wide, open spaces.
VanDusen Botanical Garden's Cypress Pond
VanDusen Botanical Garden, Vancouver
Since its situated right in the heart of Vancouver (just 10 minutes from downtown), it’s surprising how large and lush VanDusen is. Its 22 hectares (55 acres) feel even grander and wider due to all the winding, shifting pathways that traverse the space. It’s easy to spend hours here, taking all the different trails.
And there’s so much to see: Over 255,000 plants representing more than 7,300 taxa from around the world. VanDusen’s plant collections represent ecosystems that range from tropical South Africa, to the Himalayas, to the Canadian Arctic and our own Pacific Northwest.
Floral variety at VanDusen Botanical Garden
Of all the Garden’s features, it’s the intricate, European-style hedge maze I keep coming back to:
Maze at VanDusen Botanical Garden
It may look simple, but that maze is tricky! Seriously. I have yet to find the centre without cheating. (I choose to believe it’s the difficulty of the maze, not my spatial ineptitude.)
VanDusen Botanical Garden in the sunshine + lunch at the elegant Shaughnessy Restaurant = Perfect Saturday in Vancouver.
1:59 pm
I just became a member with my boyfriend.
We went there just for a couple of hours one evening
and were absolutely delighted. It’s a great place to air out your mind and rejuvenate your body. We love it.
We plan to visit often throughout the year.
9:58 pm
Vida, you’re so right: it is a great place to rejuvenate! Plus: They have fabulous plant sales in the spring!
9:43 am
Thanks Dana!
I’m just starting a new garden in a house I recently
moved into, so I’m very excited about all the great things Van Dusen offers. Especially the inspiration.
3:29 pm
Vida, you may be interested in some of the great adult education classes offered at VanDusen. There’s plenty to choose from in several aspects of horticulture, including landscape design, gardening techniques, sustainable practices.
9:30 am
I will look into it for sure.
Thanks Gillian!
7:45 pm
Excellent work on this article. It makes for an interesting and Thoughtful read.
9:50 pm
My mom is/was a botnist and figured you were at Vandusen. I hope we can get there soon . Alex called and reported you finally got the package. Hope the girls are still interested in Spanish language. Who knows, maybe you will be back in Florida one day (miss you).
Love
Laura