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.
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This workshop involves creating small pine needle baskets using pine needles collected from the Okanagan, sinew, and a lot of patience. Over this six-week series, taught by Dave McKeown from Terri’s Native Crafts, you will make your own small basket to take home.
Terri’s Native Crafts was established 30 years ago by Terri and Dave McKeown to help Terri reconnect with her St’at’imc heritage. Following Terri’s passing, her husband Dave and granddaughter Jess McKeown continue to follow the powwow trail in her memory. Dave, who has been weaving for 15 years, was taught by elders.
Discover the stark beauty of silhouettes in this 4-session watercolour painting series!
Learn how to capture the essence of leafless trees, the striking North Shore mountains, plants, and even human figures using simple watercolour techniques. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, this course offers an opportunity to unleash your creativity.
Instructor Susan Pearson will provide image references for inspiration, but participants are also encouraged to bring their reference materials. Bring your imagination and curiosity, and let’s explore what we can create together!
Let’s explore the possibilities, from flowers to fruit to foliage and form!
Presented by Janis Matson, this seasonal landscape design session includes a discussion of design ideas focusing on plant selection and solutions that create year-round interest in the garden. The integration of colour, texture, and structure of plants adds value and enjoyment to the garden regardless of the season.
Join this three-session series with artist and educator Katharine Dickinson to enhance your drawing skills.
Observational drawing focuses on accurately depicting what you see directly from nature using pencil on paper. Through this process, you’ll learn to identify and record the unique characteristics of plants by applying the elements of artâline, shape, form, and colourâand developing your own distinctive botanical drawings.
Explore various techniques for quickly capturing plants from different angles and with close-up details. Additionally, you will gain tips for organizing your pages so that images and text flow together in harmony.
Have you ever struggled to keep tropical plants healthy and thriving?
Build your confidence and gain practical plant care tips at this interactive workshop. You’ll learn about the specific needs and preferences of tropical plants with straightforward advice on light requirements, fertilizing, watering, and more.
By the end, you’ll have a solid understanding of best practices to help your tropical plants flourish in your home environment.
