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VanDusen Botanical Garden

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One of the Top Rated Destinations in Vancouver



VanDusen is a multiple-city block garden in the heart of Vancouver.  Because it's so close to were I live, it's always been a go to place for a short walk on a nice day.  This page is a collection of images from many different nice days.

Flowers at VanDusen


Pair Of Water LiliesSphere With Spider WebBlue Bells

The garden is broken into areas representing different parts of the world - a Japanese garden, a Himalaya's area, South American section and so on.  Areas not representing other parts of the world still have dramatic features like ponds and large grassy lawns. 
Zig Zag Bridge
The garden has a wide variety of structures - bridges, shelters, pools - to keep you interested in walking around.  My favorite features are actually quite close to the entrance - the bridges over shallow ponds where you can see all sorts of aquatic life.
Korean BuildingSundown On Lily Pool
The garden tries to have attractions for all seasons.  Spring and summer are easy (flowers) but the fall can be very dramatic as well.  Most of the west coast is quite boring in fall - evergreen trees staying green and leafy trees that just go brown.
Red Orange GreenBench With Red And Green
The garden has a corner with a number of mature Japanese Maples.  We had a line up of photographers wanting to take advantage of this particular tree.
Red Reaches To Yellow

Animals in VanDusen

Great Blue Heron Hunting In The Lillies
One of the things that impressed my was the wildlife in the garden.  There is a large colony of Great Blue Heron's in Stanley Park and they fan out over the city every day looking for something to ear.  When Heron's fish - they stand very still may not seem care as we approached fairly close.


 
Heron On BridgeHeron HeadHeron Lifting Off 
 
Sliders
The turtles in VanDusen are aquarium escapees - invasive species.  I've always wondered why VanDusen doesn't try to include native Turtles, but if Native turtles were present in the pond they would probably limit what the garden can do for gardening.

Red Eared Sliders

Chickadee Looking For Sunflower Seeds
Bird life at VanDusen is reasonably rich.  It is an urban garden so you often run into the expected urban birds.  Sometimes you get lucky and stumbled into an owl.  We almost missed it - a woman said there was an owl ahead but wasn't very specific about where.  We actually walked past it before giving up and checking our tracks.  Glad we found it.



Barred Owl Triptych

Orb Weaver On Web

The insect life at VanDusen is pretty rich as well. In the summer there are lots of opportunities to see dragonflies and in the fall orb weavers are very common.

Blue Dasher On Pond Lily LeafEight Spotted Skimmer

Festival of Lights

Probably the biggest crowds at VanDusen are for the Christmas themed Festival of Lights in December and early January.  They decorate a limited section of garden with a dense mat of lights and then sprinkle in vendors selling traditional food.

Claira And Nara Walking Down TrailClaira Looking Up In The LightsNara With Bright Lights Behind
Red And White Wrapped TreeGreen Arch

Snow in Vancouver is rare and when it does come, it is often in January or February - a white Christmas is very rare. 
Tree Lines Path

It was the last day of the light show (a few days after New Years) so the crowds were pretty thin. 
Red Arch Over SnowBright Lights Across Frozen LakeBright Lights Found Snow

I wasn't alone - there was actually quite a queue at 4:30 when doors opened - but there was lots of space to take photos and enjoy scenes.
Crazy Wet LensLights Buried In The Rose GardenLong Line Of Lanterns

The only downside was that lots of lights weren't on.  I suspect that with the connections buried in snow for so long, there were electrical issues and they couldn't find the connections to fix it.

Pond Dipping

Last year Nara and I stumbled into a class of kids doing pond dipping on the zigzag bridge at VanDusen.  The class was full and most of the kids were well past five - the minimum age.  I asked if Nara could participate but there just wasn't enough equipment.  We signed up Nara this year for the afternoon session during Claira's nap.  Turns out they had attendance issues this year - the afternoon class was canceled and the morning class was only half full.  The teachers were quite accommodating and it turns out the average age was about 4 years of age.
Nara Doing Dip NetNara And Kids Doing Dip NettingClaira With Her Net

The kids did dig small animals out of the pond.  Nara got a small fish and other kids got damselfly and dragonfly nymphs.  They got a few backswimmers.  The kids did enjoy looking at the animals swim in their tubs.

Damselfly Nymph In TubDragonfly Nymph With Common Backswimmer

Claira didn't last the whole hour and a half - we needed to go for a walk to see the turtles and just generally jump around.  One of the two naturalists managed to grab a turtle that was sunning itself on the rocks (not a very bright escaped pet) so the kids got a "not to close!" look at a turtle.  A duck and it's babies swam by - the kids had a good time.



Great Blue Heron Hunting In The Lillies
Species: Ardea herodias (Great Blue Heron)
Altitude: 79m (259 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: VanDusen
Nara With Bright Lights Behind
Person: Nara
Altitude: 87m (285 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: bokeh, lights, night, VanDusen
Long Line Of Lanterns
Tags: christmas tree, lights, snow, VanDusen
Heron Lifting Off
Species: Ardea herodias (Great Blue Heron)
Tags: VanDusen
Claira And Nara Walking Down Trail
Altitude: 96m (314 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: lights, night, VanDusen
Orb Weaver On Web
Species: Araneus diadematus (cross orbweaver, orb-weaver)
Altitude: 110m (360 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: backlit, insect, VanDusen
Heron Head
Species: Ardea herodias (Great Blue Heron)
Tags: VanDusen
Sliders
Species: Trachemys scripta (Common Slider)
Tags: VanDusen
Blue Bells
Tags: flower, garden, VanDusen
Bench With Red And Green
Tags: bench, fall colour, tree, VanDusen
Red Arch Over Snow
Tags: lights, snow, VanDusen
Chickadee Looking For Sunflower Seeds
Species: Poecile atricapillus (Black-capped Chickadee)
Altitude: 104m (341 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: VanDusen
Korean Building
Tags: garden, HDR, VanDusen
Green Arch
Tags: lights, snow, VanDusen
Heron On Bridge
Species: Ardea herodias (Great Blue Heron)
Tags: VanDusen
Bright Lights Found Snow
Tags: lights, snow, VanDusen
Sundown On Lily Pool
Tags: garden, VanDusen
Sphere With Spider Web
Altitude: 70m (229 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: flower, VanDusen
Pair Of Water Lilies
Altitude: 95m (311 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: flower, VanDusen
Red And White Wrapped Tree
Tags: lights, snow, VanDusen
Eight Spotted Skimmer
Species: Libellula forensis (Eight-spotted Skimmer)
Tags: dragonfly, insect, VanDusen
Red Reaches To Yellow
Tags: fall colour, VanDusen
Crazy Wet Lens
Tags: lights, snow, VanDusen
Bright Lights Across Frozen Lake
Tags: christmas tree, lights, snow, VanDusen
Nara And Kids Doing Dip Netting
Tree Lines Path
Tags: lights, snow, trail, VanDusen
Blue Dasher On Pond Lily Leaf
Species: Pachydiplax longipennis (Blue Dasher)
Tags: dragonfly, insect, VanDusen
Lights Buried In The Rose Garden
Tags: lights, snow, VanDusen
Nara Doing Dip Net
Person: Nara
Dragonfly Nymph With Common Backswimmer
Species: Notonecta undulata (grousewinged backswimmer, common backswimmer)
Red Orange Green
Tags: fall colour, tree, VanDusen
Zig Zag Bridge
Tags: bridge, garden, VanDusen
Claira Looking Up In The Lights
Person: Claira
Altitude: 87m (285 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: bokeh, lights, night, VanDusen
Damselfly Nymph In Tub
Red Eared Sliders
Species: Trachemys scripta (Common Slider)
Tags: invasive, VanDusen
Claira With Her Net
Person: Claira
Tags: VanDusen(32), lights(12), snow(9), garden(4), insect(3), night(3)
People: Nara(2), Claira(2)
From: John Harvey Photo > VanDusen Botanical Garden
From: John Harvey Photo > Photos of Vancouver > VanDusen Botanical Garden

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Last Modified Saturday, January 21st, 2023 at 23:53:24 Edit
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