10 Gardens to Visit in Vancouver
byFrom the sweet scent of flowers to the serene tranquility of nature, gardens offer a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. We’re fortunate to have a wide variety of these beautiful spaces in our region and while it was hard to just pick a handful, here are 10 gardens to visit in Vancouver this season:
10 Gardens to Visit in Vancouver
All admission prices for these gardens in Metro Vancouver are those available online at time of publishing. Prices posted by the venues online or in person are always deemed as correct.
- The Glades Woodland Garden
- Where: 457 172 St (Surrey)
- Details: 5 acres of historic gardens. The Glades features rare plants, including over 3500 mature rhododendrons, azaleas, and companion plants. Some of the rhododendrons are more than 6 metres tall, and are ablaze in colour in the spring. Admission is $7 for adults and youth, free admission to children 12 and under. Tickets can be purchased online.
- Darts Hill Garden Park
- Where: 16th Avenue and 170th Street (Surrey)
- Details: Darts Hill was donated in 1994 to the residents of Surrey by Francisca and Edwin Darts who wanted to make learning about horticulture and enjoying their garden accessible to those in their community.The park features 7.5 acres of historic gardens and facilities with an additional 7 acres to explore. Darts Hill features varieties of local and exotic plants. Admission is by donation onsite, free admission to Garden Members and children 12 and under.
- VanDusen Botanical Gardens
- Where: 5251 Oak St (Vancouver)
- Details: VanDusen Botanical Gardens is a 55 acre oasis featuring thousands of different plant species from all around the world. Explore through and Elizabethan hedge maze, sit down in the Cafe or Restaurant onsite for food and beverages, and more. Admission for the Spring/Summer season ranges from $8.30 for seniors, $12.30 for adults, $6.15 for kids ages 5-12, free for those under 5. Full list of pricing is available online.
- Nitobe Memorial Garden
- Where: 1895 Lower Mall (Vancouver)
- Details: Considered one of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside of Japan, Nitobe Memorial Garden at UBC was created as a memorial to Dr. Nitobe. The garden acts as a bridge connecting cultures as visitors from around the world meet and learn about each other and Japanese culture. Trees native to BC and Japan, carpets of soft moss, bridges across koi ponds, stone paths crossing waterfalls, and more welcome visitors. Admission can be purchased online.
- UBC Botanical Garden
- Where: 6804 SW Marine Dr (Vancouver)
- Details: A place for visitors to learn and explore about both native and foreign plants. Walk through and learn about a variety of plants in the BC Rainforest Garden, Food Garden, Carolinian Forest Garden, and far more in different designated collections of species from across the globe. Admission can be purchased online.
- Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
- Where: 578 Carral Street (Vancouver)
- Details: A classical Chinese Garden and museum, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden is a Ming Dynasty-style garden home and the first of its kind outside of China. Walk along the winding paths and take in the views of the rock formations and plants around the garden. Admission for Adults is $16, $13 for seniors, and $12 for students; tickets may be purchased online.
- Shakespeare & Rose Garden in Stanley Park
- Where: Located in Stanley Park on the Northwest side of Pipeline Road
- Details: Discover poems plastered to a home of around 45 diverse trees planted in harmony in the Shakespeare Garden. These trees have all been mentioned in Shakespeare’s plays and poems and are planted here in his honour. Nearby is the Stanley Park Rose Garden which is composed of over 3,500 rose bushes. The bushes climb and crawl up the support of an arbour.
- Queen Elizabeth Park
- Where: 4600 Cambie St (Vancouver)
- Details: A perfect spot for picnics in the park, Queen Elizabeth Park is the highest point in the City of Vancouver which makes it the perfect place for views of the city and North Shore mountains.
- Bloedel Conservatory
- Where: Located in Queen Elizabeth Park 4600 Cambie St (Vancouver)
- Details: A domed conservatory situated in Queen Elizabeth Park housing over 100 exotic birds and 500 exotic plants and flowers living inside the temperature controlled environment of the Bloedel Conservatory. Admission prices range by age of children and $7.40 per adult or $5.20 per senior. Full list of pricing online.
- Derek Doubleday Arboretum
- Where: 21177 Fraser Hwy (Langley)
- Details: Learn about sustainable gardening techniques while exploring the Derek Doubleday Arboretum. Have a picnic at one of the tables available and take in the views of the Willow Garden, Dyer’s Garden (featuring plants with natural dyeing properties), Les Clay Rhododendron Garden, and more all while educating yourself on plant diversity.
Do you have a favourite local garden? Leave a comment below to share!
