Tucked into an old, well kept residential neighbourhood is the VanDusen Botanical garden, 55 acres of peaceful oasis in the heart of Vancouver. Now we have passed it many times over the years but finally took the time to wander the winding pathways through many different themed areas. After 2 1/2 hours of walking and resting on shaded benches I think we covered a very good part of the garden and will leave the unknown corners to another visit. I have heard that the light up at Christmas is phenomenal and I can only imagine the rush of colour and scents in other seasons.
Even after an unusually dry summer in Vancouver we experienced natural beauty and surprising vibrant blooms in the maze of pathways through forest, beside lakes and ponds, across bridges, over rolling lawns and the specialized themed flora.
These are just a few photos captured of the natural beauty and sculptures that made my heart glad.
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| A sea of lily pads with pink and yellow blossoms. |
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| Fragrant Sweet Peas |
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| Blooming vines hanging in trees. |
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| Bees buzzing in the hibiscus garden. |
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| Bridge over a lily pond. |
Hydrangeas in many colours.
I want to say these are my favourite flower but maybe only today, as I love all blooms in every season. Hydrangeas just remind me of our daughter's beautiful wedding in August, 15 years ago.
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Prolific Rose of Sharon in the Japanese garden.
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| Cute poses to bring a smile to ones face. |
Rich hues of the end of summer blooms.
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| Gitsan Totems |
Sedum Autumn Joy and changing Maple leaves along the Autumn stroll.
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| Lost in thought. |
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| Verdure - aka lush green vegetation. :) |
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The Elizabethan hedge maze.
We found our way out and declared it was a good day! |
This quote sums up my experience at the VanDusen gardens:
The Season was waning to its close. The gardens showed but little of the ravages of autumn as yet. The noble avenues of trees were still in their glory of fulness and expansive verdure; although here and there a few fallen leaves seemed to have fluttered down to earth as premature heralds of decay. The later flowers were gorgeous in their many-coloured splendour, though their earlier sisters had already lived the best of their lives, and now drooped their heads, as if to hide their blighted charms.
~J. Palgrave Simpson, For Ever and Never, 1884,
3 comments:
A beautiful oasis in the middle of the city!
Catherine
And these pictures make my heart sing too! Thanks for sharing your visit to Van Dusen Gardens. And thanks for visiting 'My Front Porch' and leaving a comment. :) Judy
I cannot believe we never visited Van Dusen all those years we lived right nearby! I had no idea it was so big!
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