This past Sunday I had the pleasure to visit the VanDusen Botanical Garden in Vancouver, B.C.

As a bit of a history on the site, it was originally owned by the CPR (Canadian Pacific Railway) and was leased to the Shaughnessy Golf Club from 1911 – 1960. The site was slated to be rezoned and become a residential area, however, citizens and the Vancouver Park Board banded together to create an association and on August 30, 1975, the golf course had been transformed and opened to the public as the beautiful gardens we enjoy today.

The 55 acre site is divided into a number of different themed gardens. Each garden is unique and distinct and features varietals of vegetation and plant life from various regions from around the world. There are main pathways to follow, however, there are additional side paths that you can wonder to get up close to truly enjoy the specimens.

It’s highly recommended to take a map; the directional signs are ambiguous, however, it’s also a perfect opportunity to just wander and see where the path may lead you, or take one of the guided tours to get the complete story on all the plants and where they come from.

VanDusen Botanical Garden is the perfect Sunday afternoon destination for a relaxing stroll to enjoy some of the most beautiful vegetation. There are peaceful ponds and you won’t want to forget to bring along some bread to feed to the ducks.  If you’re looking for the perfect afternoon date, give this place a try, it’s very romantic! And hey, if you’re grandma or favorite aunt is in town, be sure to bring them by, they would probably enjoy sitting out on the patio above the rose garden, enjoying a scone and a cup of Earl Grey tea.

The gardens are open year-round and host a variety of events from the Spring Plant Sale to the winter festival of lights. Admission in the summer is just $9.75 for adults or $15 for a family – incredible value!