A year-round mild climate and ample green space means the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region is lush with fragrant gardens.
The iconic Stanley Park, with its multiple themed gardens, is a National Historic Site and has been recognized internationally as one of the top city parks in Canada: it was named by the UK’s The Independent newspaper in 2007 as one of the “Five Best Urban Escapes in Canada” and Frommer’s called it the “green jewel of Vancouver.”
Wander through a tulip farm near Mission, relax in the tranquil setting of the multi-themed Minter Gardens in Chilliwack and see a unique “floating garden” on the Sunshine Coast.
Other gardens in the region are sure to appeal to any nature-lover, or those simply wishing to enjoy some peace and quiet.
Stanley Park
As North America’s third largest city park, this 400-ha/1,000-ac urban oasis in the heart of downtown Vancouver is a haven for tourists and locals alike. With much to see and do it’s no wonder Stanley Park draws an estimated 8 million visitors each year. Picnic amid the colourful displays of the Rose Garden or stroll through forests of towering trees. Take a horse-drawn carriage ride or visit the totem poles at Brockton Point. Other gardens within the park include the Ted & Mary Greig Rhododendron Garden, a community garden, and the city’s first public garden, a rock garden that was started in 1911.
Asian Gardens
Explore the small but beautiful Japanese Friendship Garden in Hope. It was built by local Japanese-Canadians as a memorial for those who were detained in a Japanese internment camp near here during WWII. The garden features a circular walkway, a covered gazebo, a pond and beautiful cherry blossom trees.
Multi-themed Gardens
The famous Minter Gardens in Chilliwack is a treat for the senses. Located at the foot of the towering 2,133-m/7,000-ft Mt. Cheam, 12 themed gardens burst with colour in artistic floral designs. See the garden’s 100,000 tulips imported from Holland and its 1,000 rhododendrons. Stroll through quiet woodlands, by waterfalls and brooks, and view garden art by local artists. Amenities include two restaurants and a gift shop.
Specialty Gardens
See a unique tulip farm at the “Tulips of the Valley” garden in Agassiz (near Mission). Across 16ha/40ac, more than 30 varieties of Canadian-grown tulips spill across the landscape and are a medley of colour against the snow-capped mountains. The tulips are best viewed in spring.
A profusion of dahlias can be found at Ferncliff Gardens in Mission. Visit the show-garden (open August to September) to see rows of more than 150 varieties of dahlias. An on-site nursery can help green-thumbed visitors get their own dahlia gardens started.
The Tuscan Farm Gardens are located on 5ha/14ac of original Hudson Bay Company farmland in Langley. A large hayfield is bordered by rows of fresh herbs, and wild lavender and echinacea are strewn throughout. See the vegetable garden and smell the perfume of plants in the apothecary garden.
Gardens on the Sunshine Coast
A unique “floating garden,” which was noted in Lonely Planet’s Canada guidebook (2008), is located in Gibsons. Three floating barges (of a private houseboat) are connected and overflow with vibrant annuals, trees and shrubs. This colourful wonder is best viewed from Gibsons Wharf.
The Sunshine Coast Botanical Society’s 16-ha/40-ac botanical garden in Sechelt is home to a large vegetable garden; native plants, including a grove of rare quaking aspen; and other mature trees. Guided tours take visitors along a walkway through the gardens and past ponds with frogs and ducks.
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