It was yet another gloomy wet day here in Vancouver, but at least it appears to be coming to an end and was just drizzling today. Where better to be than the VanDusen Botanical Gardens, a 55-acre public oasis in the Shaughnessy district of town, south of the city. Back in the early 20^th Century this was the Shaughnessy Heights Golf Course, located on ancestral Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations land, but following its closure in the 1960’s, concerned citizens stepped in to save it from developers. In 1975, the Vancouver Botanical Gardens Association, aided by the philanthropist, W.J. VanDusen, transformed this place into an extensive garden featuring diverse plant collections from all over the world (arranged by region) with innovative landscape design. 

I’m glad we saw this garden in the rain, we practically had it to ourselves. Gentle drizzle and mist rising from the lakes and waterways. Raindrops hanging on the moss-covered branches. Characterful wooden Totems weathered by the rain. And a glorious collection of mature trees including Giant Sequoias, Douglas Firs, Western Red Cedars, Japanese Maples, Magnolias, Ginkgo, Bald Cypress, Dawn Redwoods and, one of my favourites, the Monkey Puzzle Tree Araucaria Araucana from the temperate rainforests of the Andes. It’s a gorgeous contemplative peaceful garden and, I’m sure glorious at any time of the year. 

We were warned and were on Coyote watch throughout the garden, now familiar with the drill…’Be big, be brave and loud. Stand tall with arms overhead. Yell “Go away Coyote!” Stand your ground and never run’. However, all we saw was some cute black Squirrels.