Step into a botanical wonderland this holiday season at VanDusen Festival of Lights. Explore 15 acres adorned with over 1 million twinkling lights, featuring a new interactive mycelium installation, and a display inspired by the Great Bear Rainforest of BC.
đ Give the gift of Garden Membership
Give endless days of beauty and discovery with a Gift of Membership!
A Garden membership provides year-round access to VanDusen Botanical Garden and Bloedel Conservatory, savings on special events like the enchanting Festival of Lights, first dibs on our popular summer kids’ camps, and so much more!
Learn MoreWinter Solstice Medicine Wheel Ceremony
December 22, 12.00pm – 3:00pm
People from varying backgrounds and spiritual traditions are invited to join elders Phil Mechuskosis LâHirondelle and Gisele LâHirondelle from âAll My Relations Teachingsâ to celebrate and welcome the winter season.
The Medicine Wheel is a symbol of holistic teachings based on the cycles of nature.
Learn MoreThe pressures of social media and a childhood spent in lockdown have led to staggering rates of mental health problems among children.
Time in nature is vital for our mental well-being. A donation of just $20 allows a child from a low-income neighborhood to join their classmates on a field trip to the Gardens.
Help a child in need access the Gardens â donate today!
Bloedel Conservatory will be temporarily closed to the public starting October 28, 2024, to accommodate necessary pathway repairs aimed at improving accessibility for visitors and staff.
The project is expected to take approximately two months, with plans to reopen in early January, 2025. Learn more.
In spring the Garden is bursting with cheerful rhododendrons, stunning magnolias, delicate cherry blossoms and bloom-full camellias –  to mention a few…
Learn MoreSummer in the Garden features vibrant colours and fragrant smells for our visitors to enjoy.
Learn MoreAutumn colours are absolutely stunning at the Garden, and there are plenty of blooms still showing.
Learn MoreThe winter Garden features muted colour palettes, stunning silhouettes and a scattering of colour with winter berries and blooms.
Learn More
Join Instructor Susan Pearson for a creative journey into making your watercolour paintings shine. While colour plays a vital role, the thoughtful use of white spaces and watercolour techniques can bring your artwork to life. In this 5-session series, you’ll learn how to plan ahead and use well-placed whites to improve your creations.
Susan will provide inspiring image references, but participants are welcome to bring their own for a personal touch. Bring your imagination and curiosity, and let’s explore what we can create together!
When seasons change and plants lose their leaves, it may seem like a dull and sleepy time of yearâbut there is so much to observe and get excited about the outdoors!
In fact, there are some plant traits that you can only clearly observe in winter. Wintertime is a great time to build your plant identification skills and hone your observational abilities.
Get a head start on the 2025 growing season with Jenna Jaski, Co-owner of Victory Gardens. Participants will learn how to plan their gardens, including what crops to grow, when to plant by seed or starter, and how to maximize their space. We will also discuss crop rotation and garden mapping to enhance crop yields and growing success next season. Bring your questions; there may be time for a Q&A session at the end!
Join local artist Katharine Dickinson for an immersive online series on capturing the beauty of trees through drawing. Over three engaging sessions, youâll refine your observational skills, explore colour matching, and uncover the unique features that define different tree species.
Learn essential drawing techniques inspired by botanical art and tree photography, simplifying concepts like foreshortening and perspective. Practical exercises will focus on textures and details, including bark, twigs, leaves, and cones, using live tree examples.
Whether youâre designing a small green entrance to your home or an expansive backyard oasis, this online series will equip you with the essential principles of landscape design. Join Janis Matson, horticulturist and owner of Shoreline Landscape Design, for this 4-part workshop series.
Learn foundational design concepts, such as soil, slope, sun exposure, and irrigation. Expand your learning with the principles and elements of design like focal points, scale, colour, balance, and more. Bring photos or drawings of your garden and work on your own propertyâs design with feedback and insight from the instructor. Leave inspired and ready to design your garden.
Discover the art of crafting baskets and trivets from invasive English ivy!
In this hands-on experience led by Grace Nombrado, you will learn all the steps of collecting, preparing and weaving ivy. Enjoy refreshments while you connect with fellow participants. You’ll leave with your very own completed ivy creation. No experience is necessary; all materials are provided.
