Garden Jewels in Vancouver

Vancouver gardens are beautiful in all weather and highlight seasonal changes. So, while summer is a great time to exlore many of Vancouver’s gardens, no matter what time of year, one can find beauty in a visit.

At the University of British Columbia, the Nitobe Memorial Garden offers an authentic and traditional Japanese stroll garden experience. The garden was designed to create a sense of harmony with nature to be experienced year long. Tea ceremonies at The Japanese Tea House within the garden are back this summer and fall! They offer another authentic experience as a bridge connecting cultures. This spring also saw the reopening of the Greenheart TreeWalk at the Garden. This fantastic outdoor experience offers a canopy level view of the surrounding coastal temperate rainforest from suspended walkways and tree platforms.

Vancouver’s VanDusen Botanical Garden is a 55-acre garden located in the heart of Vancouver. It is internationally renowned not only for its beauty, but for its leadership in sustainability, biodiversity, and plant conservation. Volunteers throughout the year craft self-guided tours so visitors can learn and enjoy the garden at their leisure. Artist and musician Leanne Lai currently has a selection of her Chigiri-e on display where hand-dyed paper is used to make picture.

Located at the highest point in Vancouver, Queen Elizabeth Park is Vancouver’s horticultural jewel. Floral display enthusiasts and those looking for stunning views of the park, city and North Shore mountains can enjoy them from 125 metres above sea level. Visitors can explore the gorgeously landscaped quarry garden, a collection of exotic and native trees at the arboretum and a variety of sculptures including one by renowned artist Henry Moore. And for children who visit over the summer months, join the Conifer Champion Challenge on until August 31st, to learn about the different coniferous species of the area that are helping to fight against climate change.

A variety of gardens can also be found in Stanley Park. Visitors between Spring and Fall can enjoy the flowers in bloom in the rhododendron, azalea and rose gardens. And between the Rose Garden and the forest of Stanley Park is the Shakespeare Garden with a diverse arboretum that includes trees mentioned in Shakespeare plays and poems. Plaques display each tree’s appropriate quote! A Black Walnut tree is labeled with The Taming of the Shrew’s quote “Why, ‘tis a cockle or a walnut shell, a knack, a toy, a trick, a baby’s cap.” (IV.iii.66)