Van Dusen Botanical Garden Photos in Vancouver, Canada - Natural Beauty
85Van Dusen Botanical Garden in Vancouver, Canada
Visiting the beautiful Van Dusen Botanical Gardens was our third sightseeing stop for one day while vacationing in Vancouver, Canada. It may have been last on our list...but not least by way of pleasure.
We started this same day by visiting the Capilano Suspension Bridge and Park; we revisited the Queen Elizabeth Gardens and as you can probably tell, this last planned event would complete a day of spending our time enjoying outdoor natural beauty.
My mother, niece and I had planned five days in Vancouver (out of a 15 day vacation in 1989) to explore the region and after strolling the grounds of the Van Dusen gardens, we pretty well filled this one day to the brim with memorable pictures in our minds and souls.
I also had my camera in hand to capture some photos of what we were seeing.
Flowering shrubs at Van Dusen Gardens
Rose Garden at Van Dusen Botanical Garden
The Van Dusen Gardens sits on a 55 acre ( 22.5 hectare ) site of what used to be the Shaughnessy Golf Course. When the golf course was abandoned, thought was given to turn the area into a development of condos.
Citizens of Vancouver spearheaded the idea of preserving this land for the public and with the help of the City of Vancouver, the Vancouver Foundation and even the Government of British Columbia, the idea for this botanical garden became a reality.
The garden was officially named after Mr. W.J. Van Dusen who happened to be the president of the Vancouver Foundation and who also donated money for the development of this botanical garden.
The Van Dusen Botanical Gardens are now under the oversight of the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation. The Botanical Gardens Association of Vancouver helps with the direction the garden has taken.
The site contains all the elements needed for a gorgeous garden. The weather is mild. There are wonderful water features. The variety of plants that can grow in that climate are diverse.
In laying out the design for the gardens, it was decided to use the numerous plants from around the world and group them as to geographic origin. This provides many different areas of the garden to enjoy and experience as one part of the acreage may look entirely different from another part.
As an example, there is a medieval garden maze!
A rose garden takes up some space.
The rhododendron garden was in full bloom when we passed by that area.
The Oriental features of the garden add to its distinctive beauty.
Sculptures dot the grounds and add interest.
Rhododendrons
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Roses
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The Rose Garden in Van Dusen Botanical Garden
Sculptures abound at Van Dusen Botanical Garden
- The Collection - Sculpture - VanDusen Botanical Garden
See more of the sculptures here...
Sculptures in Van Dusen Botanical Gardens
As my mother, niece and I walked the grounds of this very peaceful setting there were many sculptures that were placed in various locations gracing the gardens with their expressions of individual artistry.
Van Dusen Botanical Garden
Monkey Puzzle tree at Van Dusen Botanical Garden
Monkey Puzzle Tree
What an unusual looking tree this was to our eyes!
Supposedly this monkey puzzle tree is the only tree in the world that a monkey cannot climb due to its very sharp needle-like leaves.
One can learn so many interesting things by visiting Botanical Gardens like this Van Dusen one in Vancouver!
- Expo 86 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
World expo in Vancouver in 1986
Korean Pavilion in Van Dusen Gardens
Vancouver hosted a World Exposition in 1986 and this Korean Pavilion was a gift from the Korean people to the people of Vancouver. It now graces a spot in the Van Dusen Botanical Gardens for people from every part of the world who visit the gardens to enjoy.
Korean Pavilion at Van Dusen Botanical Garden
Van Dusen Botanical Garden
Dancing lights at Van Busen during the Festival of Lights
Festival of Lights
Each year towards the end of the year a Festival of Lights is held in Van Dusen Botanical Gardens. Of course, since we were there in the summertime, we did not get to see that extravaganza, but these videos give one an idea of what there is to see if one is there during the time of the year conducive to this type of display.
It must be an amazing site to see these gorgeous grounds transformed and lit with thousands of twinkling multi-colored lights.
Festival of lights from the Van Dusen Botanical Gardens
Van Dusen Botanical Garden
The three of us absolutely loved strolling through the Van Dusen Botanical Gardens.
The winding paths took one over wooden bridges where one could look down upon lily-pads in bloom.
It also led one to vast expanses of lawn with borders of the majestic trees and blooming shrubs punctuating the scenery with color.
The sculptures stratigically placed throughout the park are each labeled with the sculptor's name and country.
Many of these huge pieces of art were carved on site during the International Stone Sculpture Symposium that occurred in 1975.
It would have been fun to see them being carved, but also very enjoyable to see the end result of the different artist's interpretations of their medium whether stone, wood or other raw material.
You can find these gardens at 5251 Oak Street (at the corner of Oak and West 37th Avenue) in the heart of Vancouver.
They do charge fees to enter the gardens, but the charge is nominal and helps to maintain and further develop these gardens. Parking for those arriving in their own vehicles is free.
If you enjoy nature in a more natural setting, consider visiting the Van Dusen Botanical Gardens if you are ever in Vancouver, Canada with a little extra time to spare.
Van Dusen Botanical Garden in Vancouver, Canada
Would you consider strolling through the Van Dusen Botanical Gardens if in Vancouver?
See results without votingVan Dusen Botanical Garden photos taken that day of our visit...
Botanical Gardens
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More hubs from Canada by Peggy W...
- Canada - Butchart Gardens - Victoria - British Columbia - Spectacular!
World class garden built into an abandoned quarry.
- Canada - Vancouver - Queen Elizabeth Park & Bloedel Conservatory - Fabulous!
Scenic spots for wedding photos among other things.
- Join us on our Boat-Steam Train Daytrip from Vancouver to Squamish and back...
M.V. Britannia ship ride from Vancouver up to Squamish returning on the Royal Hudson Steam Train...
Other hubs from nearby Washington...
- Throwing Fish at Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington
- Seattle Travel - Vacation Tour - Viewing Seattle from the Water
- Visit Scenic Leavenworth in Washington State ~ Bavarian-like Town
- The Power and Beauty of Snoqualmie Falls in Washington State
- San Juan Islands - Friday Harbor - Semiahmoo - Great day trip!
By land and sea...terrific day trip with great scenery!
Vancouver, Canada -
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I loved the pictures. They are so beautiful.
Hi alocsin,
I guess you can tell that we like visiting gardens whenever we travel if given the time to explore. Hope that you can fit in a visit to the Van Dusen Botanical Gardens the next time you make it to Vancouver. Thanks for your comment and votes. :)
Peggy, you come up with the best places I've never visited in cities that I have visited. The stone sculpture looks fantastic. I'll add this to my checklist when I get to Vancouver next. Voting this Up and Useful.
Hello wilrhoades,
I am certain that if you like Gardens, you would love the ones in Vancouver, Canada. Van Dusen Botanical Garden is just one of many. Hope you get to see all of them in person someday! :))
Hi Charlu,
Like you, I had never seen a monkey puzzle tree either. The Van Dusen Botanical Gardens are truly gorgeous especially with all of the sculptures intermixed with the lawns and plantings. Thanks for the votes and comment. :)))
This place is gorgeous The dancing lights were so awesome and I never heard of a monkey puzzle tree. I would love to grow roses like that Voted all the up buttons and thanks for sharing
Hi Billy,
The Van Dusen Botanical Gardens were just one of the gardens we got to enjoy while in Vancouver and also while on Vancouver Island. It is obviously a terrific climate for growing things. Great vacation spot as you mentioned!
Beautiful botanical gardens. Vancouver itself as beautiful the island and water there so I guess I shouldn't think that the gardens wouldn't be. Would be a great part of a Summer vacation.
Hello love2scrap,
Am so pleased to know that you enjoyed these photos from the Van Dusen Botanical Gardens in Vancouver...especially the frog. :-) You are most welcome and thanks for the comment.
Fabulous photos - I love the frog! Thanks so much for sharing!
Hi ss sneh,
Very happy to hear that you enjoyed the Van Dusen Botanical Gardens hub from Vancouver, Canada. It was our pleasure in visiting there and my pleasure in sharing that visit here on hubpages. Thanks for the visit and comment.
Hi! Beautiful video, beautiful pictures... very nice hub! -- Thanks
Hi katyzzz,
So very happy that you enjoyed this look at the Van Dusen Botanical Gardens in Vancouver, Canada. They are really lovely! Thanks for the glowing comment.
Fantastic hub and a great collection of videos, what more can I say, awesome?
Hi loveroflife,
No, not yet. Actually even in the United States, I have spent more time in the West than in the East when vacationing. Guess I had better correct that! Ha! Glad that you enjoyed this look at Vancouver's Van Dusen Botanical Gardens and thanks, once again, for commenting.
More beauty from Vancouver in western Canada. Have you ever explored the eastern provinces?
Hello mp!
Always nice to see someone new commenting on these hubs.
If you live that close you will definitely want to check out the Van Dusen Botanical Gardens in Vancouver on your next visit. Might check out the other great gardens as well. We absolutely LOVED it there!
Thanks for your comment.
WOW those are beautiful... I live in the okanagan valley only a couple hours drive from there... I will definitely check it out next time in Van... very nice Hub
Hi ripplemaker,
Happy to introduce this to you. I know what you mean...as we all read about places and see photos from other parts of the world from fellow hubbers...there are an endless amount of places worth exploring. Thanks for commenting.
I love the gardens and would love to go there. Now my bucket list is getting longer...now if I had a million dollars, this would be one of the things I'd like to do. Hehe Hey Dottie, can I come with you? :-) Thanks for sharing these wonderful photos Peggy! You take such good pictures.
Hi ethel,
And I would like to see more of our neighbor to the north. The only part I have seen thus far is Vancouver up to Squamish and the Island of Victoria. Loved every minute of it. My husband was on a business trip to Toronto once and he came back with great memories of that city.
Thanks for your comment.
Would love to visit Canada
Hello Journey*,
Glad that you liked them. Thanks for the comment.
Wow Peggy, what beautiful gardens and great pics of them. Thanks for sharing. -Journey*
Hi Cris, Happy that you could accompany us on our stroll. Thanks for commenting.
Hi Dolores,
The photos were taken with an old Canon camera. Today, I would have the advantage of having my digital camera. I would know what the photos look like before getting home and hoping that they were good. Ah.....progress! Thanks for reading and commenting.
Nice gardens indeed! And thanks for taking us for a stroll :D
Beautiful gardens, Peggy, the pics look like old poastcards, some like paintings, what a beautiful place.
Hi Dottie,
They certainly have their share of beautiful gardens there. Thanks for reading and commenting.
This sounds like a garden haven and worth a trip with nothing else in mind except a peaceful stroll in the gardens. Lovely. Thank you!
Hi shamelabboush,
We really did have fun together. It was a period of time in our lives when the 3 of us traveled together each summer. We always chose new and different places to explore. With these hubs I am reliving those moments and you are getting a glimpse of the places we enjoyed. Thanks for your comment.
Hi Birte,
Vancouver would be high on my list of places to not only visit, but revisit. I am writing different hubs regarding our 5 day stay there because it would be impossible to show or talk about all of our experiences in one hub without simply skimming the surface. We crammed in as much as we could in 5 days and still did not begin to see it all. Stay tuned for more and thanks for commenting.
Hi kiran,
That is one fun thing about hubpages. We all learn from each other's experiences whether travel, cooking, ideas, etc. Thanks for your comment.
Oh my! It seems you always have fun together? It's fantastic to visit all these places :)
Another hub that adds a site to my list of what to see and where to travel.
Another great hub, makes me want to visit all the places you show us here...thanks a lot :)
Hi Nolimits Nana,
Thanks for adding this bit of information so that other people who may visit it will know. We had eaten lunch that day at the Capilano Suspension bridge restaurant so were not hungry when we visited the Van Dusen gardens.
You are fortunate to have it in your backyard so-to-speak. We really enjoyed it and were happy that we chose to visit there.
Hi, Peggy - A great review of one of my favorite BC gardens. I've strolled through it several times, and enjoyed its diversity, beauty and peacefulness in a busy city. By the way, the restaurant serves a great lunch!
Hi Pete,
Finally! Something we both have in common. We found them to be very natural and peaceful. Thanks for the quick comment again.
Those gardens are very nice; we were there a few years ago.
Peggy W Hub Author 5 weeks ago
Hi Vinaya,
While the pictures show something of the Van Dusen Botanical Gardens in Vancouver, obviously seeing it in person is even better. My camera was just a simple point and shoot variety. Appreciate your comment.