AN April Visit to VAnDusen Botanical Garden

A giant gong is surrounded by camellias, rhododendrons and other spring flowering shrubs.

It was the end of April when my daughter, Jessica and myself, visited one of my favorite places, the VanDusen Botanical Gardens. It was a pleasant sunny day; a perfect day to enjoy the many beautiful flowers that were strategically featured throughout the 55 acres.

Going to any garden or park is always good for the soul and VanDusen doesn't disappoint with its natural plantings as well as its more formal designs. I took lots of pics, grabbing ideas as we sauntered through the displays. 

It doesn't matter if you miss April's floral treasures at VanDusen, because no matter what time of year it is, even in the depth of winter this garden doesn't disappoint. 

Livingston Lake fountain is framed by the white flowered bough of a serviceberry shrub.

Serviceberry, Amelanchier canadensis, is a Canadian native.

Tulips and pink forget-me-nots.

White Splendour windflower anemone.

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Anemone nemorosa (white) and Cyclamen repandum prefer shady, moist conditions.

Mediterranean Spurge, Euphorbia characias deftly hides a bench at the entrance to the Rose Garden.

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A great pastel combination of tulips and forget-me-nots.

A path along Livingston Lake is lined with many types of magnolias.

There are numerous statues and art installations throughout the gardens.

An Alexandrina magnolia provides beautiful pink shade among the petals.

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Daffodils and magnolias make a delightful pairing.

The stone archway entering the formal rose garden adds formality.

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A bench in the Scottish Garden has a great view of the lake.

Lake Lolog Barberry, Berberis x lologensis.

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Purple leaved 'Britt-Marie Crawford' Ligularia, green and yellow foliage of Japanese Forest Grass and orange Crown Imperial Fritillaria with orange tulips.

The Cascadia Garden.

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Another of BC's natives, the fawn lily, Erythronium sp.

A shooting star, Dodecatheon meadia, is a BC native.

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Magnolias create an arch at the water's edge.

The Floating Bridge lies atop a very busy pond that contains fish and other aquatic denizens.

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A stone bridge leads to a stand of impressive Douglas fir trees.

Ferns and native bleeding hearts are backlit by the temperate spring sunshine.

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A horned tulip, Tulipa acuminata.

How lovely! A container of floating hellebore flowers surrounded by Italian arum.

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A close-up of the spring flowering bulbs, Crown Imperial.

Crown Imperials, Fritillaria imperialis, are dotted around the gardens for good reason.

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A salmonberry flower, Rubus spectabilis. Another beautiful BC native.

An exquisite narcissus.

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A close up of a Trillium, aka Stinking Benjamin (Trillium erectum f. albiflorum).

A gazebo at the potager garden.

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Colours and spring bulbs galore, delight and are an inspiration to plant more bulbs!

A mulched path with a bench is a perfect place to sit amid the trilliums.

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