Spring

In spring the Garden is bursting with cheerful rhododendrons, stunning magnolias, delicate cherry blossoms and bloom-full camellias –  to mention a few…

Summer

Summer in the Garden features vibrant colours and fragrant smells for our visitors to enjoy.

Fall

Autumn colours are absolutely stunning at the Garden, and there are plenty of blooms still showing.

Winter

The winter Garden features muted colour palettes, stunning silhouettes and a scattering of colour with winter berries and blooms.

December & January Bird Tours

Vancouver Botanical Gardens Association is delighted to present free, guided Birding Tours at VanDusen Botanical Garden with our knowledgeable volunteer guides. Tours are free with admission, registration is required as space is limited.

During this leisurely 2-hour tour through the Garden, your small group will look & listen for some of the many resident & migratory bird species that frequent the site, while your guides share their birding skills, enthusiasm, and knowledge. Beginners are encouraged to attend! Dress for the weather and bring binoculars if you have them (we will have a few pairs on hand to share).

Register for December birding here.

Register for January birding here.

Winter Plant ID: Ornamental Shrubs & Trees

When seasons change and plants lose their leaves, it may seem like a dull and sleepy time of year—but there is so much to observe and enjoy outdoors! In fact, there are some plant traits that you can only clearly observe in winter. This season is an excellent opportunity to build your plant identification skills and sharpen your observational abilities.

In this session with instructor Julia Alards-Tomalin, we will begin with an indoor lecture covering the basics of winter plant identification, including key traits and terms. The second part of the class will be an outdoor walk through the garden, where we will explore and observe the interesting features of various ornamental shrubs and trees.

The Home Gardening Series (Online)

Presented by VBGA & Vancouver Master Gardeners

This 8-session online series offers a unique opportunity to expand your gardening knowledge through lectures by some of BC’s most esteemed gardening experts.

Covering essential gardening principles and a diverse range of topics, this program features a partial but impactful offering of the Master Gardeners Basic Training course and is designed for both beginner and seasoned home gardeners.

Watercolour: Mastering the Art of Whites

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!

January Wildlife Photography Essentials

Located in one of the top wildlife hotspots on the continent, the Vancouver region and its surroundings on the British Columbia coast are home to some spectacular species. With such an incredible abundance of wildlife, it is no surprise that the parks in the region are also popular with photo enthusiasts and wildlife lovers, who visit from near and far.

Join wildlife photographer Liron Gertsman for an in-depth workshop on wildlife photography. We will go over tips, tricks and techniques for wildlife photography that can be applied regardless of your camera of choice, smartphones included.

Speaker Series: Your Brian in Nature (Online)

Presenter: Dr. Amy McDonnell
Topic: Your Brain in Nature

Most of us intuitively feel that spending time in nature increases our wellbeing. A growing body of scientific research confirms this, and points to many beneficial effects of spending time in the natural world, including better health, lowered stress, and higher levels of focus.

In this presentation, cognitive neuroscientist Amy McDonnell will provide us with an overview of the many exciting findings in the growing field of neuroscience and will speak about her own PhD research on how immersion in different types of natural environments affect stress physiology and brain activity.

Winter Plant ID: Native Shrubs & Trees

When seasons change and plants lose their leaves, it may seem like a dull and sleepy time of year—but 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.