Visiting the beautiful Van Dusen Botanical Gardens was our third sightseeing stop for one day while vacationing in Vancouver, Canada.  It may have been last on our list...but not least by way of pleasure.

We started this same day by visiting the Capilano Suspension Bridge and Park; we revisited the Queen Elizabeth Gardens and as you can probably tell, this last planned event would complete a day of spending our time enjoying outdoor natural beauty.

My mother, niece and I had planned five days in Vancouver (out of a 15 day vacation in 1989) to explore the region and after strolling the grounds of the Van Dusen gardens, we pretty well filled this one day to the brim with memorable pictures in our minds and souls.

I also had my camera in hand to capture some photos of what we were seeing.

The Van Dusen Gardens sits on a 55 acre ( 22.5 hectare ) site of what used to be the Shaughnessy Golf Course. When the golf course was abandoned, thought was given to turn the area into a development of condos.

Citizens of Vancouver spearheaded the idea of preserving this land for the public and with the help of the City of Vancouver, the Vancouver Foundation and even the Government of British Columbia, the idea for this botanical garden became a reality.

The garden was officially named after Mr. W.J. Van Dusen who happened to be the president of the Vancouver Foundation and who also donated money for the development of this botanical garden.

The Van Dusen Botanical Gardens are now under the oversight of the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation. The Botanical Gardens Association of Vancouver helps with the direction the garden has taken.

The site contains all the elements needed for a gorgeous garden. The weather is mild. There are wonderful water features. The variety of plants that can grow in that climate are diverse.

In laying out the design for the gardens, it was decided to use the numerous plants from around the world and group them as to geographic origin. This provides many different areas of the garden to enjoy and experience as one part of the acreage may look entirely different from another part.

As an example, there is a medieval garden maze!

A rose garden takes up some space.

The rhododendron garden was in full bloom when we passed by that area.

The Oriental features of the garden add to its distinctive beauty.

Sculptures dot the grounds and add interest.

As we walked the grounds of this very peaceful setting there were many sculptures that were placed as focal points gracing the gardens with their expression of artistry.

Vancouver hosted a World Exposition in 1986 and this Korean Pavilion was a gift from the Korean people to the people of Vancouver.  It now graces a spot in the Van Dusen Botanical Gardens for people from every part of the world who visit the gardens to enjoy.

Each year towards the end of the year a Festival of Lights is held in Van Dusen Botanical Gardens.  Of course, since we were there in the summertime, we did not get to see that extravaganza, but these videos give one an idea of what there is to see if one is there during the time of the year conducive to this type of display.   

It must be an amazing site to see these gorgeous grounds transformed and lit with thousands of twinkling multi-colored lights.

The three of us absolutely loved strolling through the Van Dusen Botanical Gardens. The winding paths took one over wooden bridges where one could look down upon lily-pads in bloom. It also led one to vast expanses of lawn with borders of the majestic trees and blooming shrubs punctuating the scenery with color.

The sculptures stratigically placed throughout the park are each labeled with the sculptor's name and country. Many of these huge pieces of art were carved on site during the International Stone Sculpture Symposium that occurred in 1975. It would have been fun to see them being carved, but also very enjoyable to see the end result of the different artist's interpretations of their medium whether stone, wood or other raw material.

You can find these gardens at 5251 Oak Street (at the corner of Oak and West 37th Avenue) in the heart of Vancouver.

They do charge fees to enter the gardens, but the charge is nominal and helps to maintain and further develop these gardens. Parking for those arriving in their own vehicles is free.

If you enjoy nature in a more natural setting, consider visiting the Van Dusen Botanical Gardens if you are ever in Vancouver, Canada with a little extra time to spare.