Spring is Coming – Vancouver Gardens to Wander and Explore

Photo: Yasmine Hardcastle

Spring is in the air, and not only are the cherry blossoms coming out to play, all the flowers are starting to show off their petals and colours. Which means that Vancouver is about to get even more beautiful and the warmer temperatures will allow for some peaceful wandering and picnics in the city’s attractive garden spaces. Pull up a bench or get your step on at Vancouver’s gorgeous gardens!

I love to walk through Vancouver’s gardens all-year round, but there’s no denying that brightly coloured flowers are cheerier than bare branches. Particularly exciting is that the temperatures are warming up enough to perhaps have a picnic!

VanDusen Botanical Garden | Photo: Jenn Chan Photography

VanDusen Botanical Garden

Offering a break from the hustle and bustle of downtown, VanDusen Botanical Garden is a  55 acre outdoor oasis with over 7,500 plant species and varieties. With a hedge maze to delight both adults and children, and award-winning visitor centre, and a beautiful pond to walk around, there’s something for everyone to enjoy — and let’s not forget afternoon tea at Shaughnessy Restaurant! More info on about visiting Vandusen Botanical Garden can be found here.

Pull up a bench at the UBC Botanical Garden | Photo: UBC Botanical Garden

UBC Botanical Garden

Discover Canada’s oldest university botanical garden and an impressive world of wild-collected plants. Located at the University of British Columbia, the UBC Botanical Garden boasts 400 different species of rhododendrons, thousands of alpine and montane plants in the Alpine Garden, a traditional garden full of herbs, a demonstration food garden and the Greenheart TreeWalk adventure (a must-try!) More info can be found here.

The Stanley Park Rose Garden | Photo: Trip Savvy

Stanley Park

Explore Vancouver’s crown jewel as its gardens come to life for the spring and summer seasons. With its abundance of space, Stanley Park is known not just for its scenic walking views and majestic forest, but also for its vibrant gardens. While you are in the park, be sure to visit the Ted and Mary Greig Rhododendron Garden, Rose Garden, and Shakespeare Garden. More info on Stanley Park can be found here.

The city oasis that is the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden | Photo: VancouverChineseGarden.com

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden

Named the World’s Top City Garden by National Geographic, the oasis that is the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden was the first of its kind in Canada. The pavilions and covered walkways provide cooling shade from the sun and the beauty of its traditional architecture, koi pond, and plants provide a peaceful getaway from the city noise. Enjoy the public area that is free for wandering around or reading a book by the pond. There is also charged admission to view the full garden and to receive a guided tour with some calming Chinese tea. Click here for more information.

Photo: Tourism Vancouver

Nitobe Memorial Garden

Visiting the Nitobe Memorial Garden will make you feel like you’ve left Vancouver and stepped off the plane in Japan. Nitobe Memorial Garden is a traditional Japanese Tea and Stroll garden located at the University of British Columbia, and considered one of the most authentic Japanese gardens in North America. It is also ranked as one the top five Japanese gardens outside of Japan. Visitors will be enchanted by the ceremonial Tea House located in the rare authentic Tea Garden. Click here for more info.

Step into the tropics at the Bloedel Floral Conservatory at Queen Elizabeth Park | Photo: Yasmine Hardcastle

Queen Elizabeth Park

Home to 130 acres of beautiful gardens, peaceful park benches, and incredible views of the city, Queen Elizabeth Park is also home to the Bloedel Floral Conservatory. Offering a welcome respite from a chilly or rainy day, the conservatory gives visitors a taste of the tropics and a chance to make new animal friends. More information on the conservatory and Queen Elizabeth Park can be found here.

Photo: Yasmine Hardcastle

The Butchart Gardens

If you’re up for a day trip, hop on the ferry to British Columbia’s capital of Victoria and visit the incredible Butchart Gardens. With 55 acres of flora, this is one of the most popular attractions in the province. The dancing fountain and Sunken Garden will delight and the Rose Garden will make you feel like you’re exploring an English estate. For more information on how to visit the gardens, click here.

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