You wouldn't think that the end of summer would be a great time to visit a botanical garden, particularly at Vancouver's latitude. Nor would you think that a botanical garden less than fifty years old would be worth a visit. But you'd be wrong on both counts in Vancouver. The VanDusen is young and relatively small as these things go, but its compactness allows some spectacular groupings, brilliant color everywhere, plus an impressive interpretive program. Prior to becoming a botanical garden, it was a country club, and therefore there are some older holdings among the trees. Anyhow, we wandered initially, then took the excellent hour+ guided tour on a golf cart. And then wandered some more.
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| Main building, visitor center, etc...are we in Bilbao?! |
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| High tech |
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You wouldn't think this necessary at Vancouver's northerly latitude;
but it was indeed a warm day |
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| Enough narration... |
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| Mixed setting of Monkey Puzzles |
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| Among the several water features |
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| Abundant sculpture, including this interesting Dying Gaul |
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| Fall color already (we've been following it down from Fairbanks) |
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| Among the older trees |
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| Homage to Zen |
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| Maze, overseen, appropriately, by Monkey Puzzles |
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Our volunteer guide/driver, here stepping off the golf cart to show
us something; she was extremely knowledgeable about all manner
of plants and similarly articulate; and an excellent driver |
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