Pack a picnic lunch and spend a day exploring Vancouver’s magnificent gardens

By Kristina Urquhart

VanDusen Botanical Garden
Please, walk on the grass. So say the signs at this impressive 22-hectare (55-acre) horticultural haven, where you’ll discover 7,500 types of flowers and plants from all four corners of the world. Embark on a guided or self-guided walking tour down gravel pathways, which meander through groves of Japanese maples, magnolias and giant redwoods. Young gardeners-in-training love to get lost in the hedge maze. Another highlight is the collection of ginkgo trees, which are considered to be “living fossils,” meaning they haven’t evolved much from their Jurassic-era ancestors 200 million years ago. Plants that change with the seasons make VanDusen gorgeous any time of the year. This month, take note of vibrant perennials at their peak, including fragrant lilies and South African bulbs. A vivid array of herbs and veggies are also on display in the Heirloom Vegetable Garden, which is styled after the Victorian era this year. On your way out, be sure to visit the Garden Shop, which offers botanical booty such as plants, seeds, tools, books and decorative tchotchkes.

Queen Elizabeth Park's main Quarry Garden is a spectacular spot for weddings. Photo courtesy Vancouver Park Board

Queen Elizabeth Park
If you’re looking for something more than blossoms to take your breath away, don’t miss the panoramic views from Queen Elizabeth Park, which sits atop Little Mountain and is Vancouver’s highest point, at 152 m (501 ft) above sea level. What started as a basalt quarry in the early 20th century is now a 53-hectare (130-acre) refuge popular for its lawn bowling space, tai chi pavilions, picnic areas, tennis courts and pitch-and-putt. The expansive arboretum houses about 1,500 of the park’s 3,000 trees; guided walks are offered several times a year. Get your camera ready at the edge of the former mine pit—below lies the main Quarry Garden, with its manicured lawns, shrubs, waterfall and colourful blooms. Take a break from the sun to admire the exotic plants and free-flying birds in the park’s much-loved Bloedel Floral Conservatory. This month, watch an open-air, evening production of Robin Hood.

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
Step back in time to the 15th century at this popular Chinatown destination, which is a near-authentic replica of the social areas in a Ming Dynasty scholar’s residence. Sequestered behind high walls in downtown Vancouver, the peaceful oasis opened in 1986 after 52 Chinese craftsmen laboured for a year using traditional building methods—that means no power tools, screws or glue. The guided tour is a

The Jade Water Pavilion represents yin with its circular Heaven gate and yang with its square Earth gate

must to learn the full scope of the garden’s symbolism. Everything in the space is a masterful blend of yin and yang: the white walls, abundance of plants and smooth, light rocks represent yin; the dark roof, angular windows and sharp, dark rocks invoke yang. A jade-green pond, intentionally murky to better reflect the stunning sanctum, is home to koi fish and turtles. Adjacent, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Park is free to the public and provides a pretty view of the garden’s outer walls.

Stanley Park
Vancouver’s biggest horticultural paradise is more than 400 hectares (1,000 acres) and larger than New York’s Central Park. A short walk on Stanley Park’s seawall or trails and you’ll see trees, flowers and plants everywhere. Darling buds grace the Shakespeare Garden—look no further than the massive tulip tree or the cluster of daybreak cherry trees. A monument bearing the Bard’s likeness overlooks this quiet arboretum, which is partly cultivated with plants mentioned in Shakespeare’s body of work. Bard buffs relish the plaques bearing relevant quotations that accompany cedar, red oak and black walnut trees, among others. Beyond lie the perennial and rose flowerbeds, a popular spot in sunny season with more than 3,500 plants. Pose for photos or enjoy the shade under the arbour, draped with old-fashioned rose varieties. At the foot of Alberni Street, local residents maintain the flora in the community garden. Spring is when most of the 4,500 rhododendrons and azaleas in the Ted & Mary Greig Rhododendron Garden are in bloom, but many of the hybrids blossom in late summer, making for a picturesque stroll around the pitch-and-putt course.

In summer at Minter Gardens, enjoy fragrant roses and see many perennials and annuals at their peak. Photo courtesy Minter Gardens

Worth The Drive
Plan day trips to see two of BC’s most spectacular gardens. A 90-minute drive from downtown Vancouver, Minter Gardens is a 13-hectare (32-acre) showstopper popular for weddings. The oasis, awash with colour and dotted with topiaries in summer, is situated at the foot of 2,134-m (7,000-ft) Mount Cheam. Cedar trees, brooks and rock walls are found throughout, and the hedge maze is popular with both tykes and adults. A ferry or short plane ride away, Vancouver Island is home to The Butchart Gardens, also a National Historic Site of Canada. This 22-hectare (55-acre) Eden was created in the early 1900s on an abandoned limestone quarry, which is now the magnificent Sunken Garden. Fifty full-time gardeners tend to the one million-plus plants used every year on the grounds and in the 26 heated greenhouses. Shutterbugs have endless photo ops at their fingertips, from the Japanese gardens to the lookout at Butchart’s Cove. Summertime brings daily performances on the concert stage, light displays every evening and fireworks on Saturday nights.

For more information on these gardens and others in the city, click here.