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Many of us are vacationing close to home this summer. I went up to Vancouver in the fall and then again just recently and would encourage you to try it. Vancouver has Stanley Park, one of the best urban natural areas anywhere, but there are some other marvelous gardens. Best of all you can be there in a few hours.
I drove up in late September. My friends predicted big waits at the border, but the crossing north through Blaine on a Tuesday took under 5 minutes. Coming south through Sumas on a Sunday afternoon involved a 30-minute delay because of the weekend traffic. From Seattle to the hotel in Vancouver was less than four hours. Not bad, but the train is an even better way to travel.
Earlier this month, I hopped on Amtrak's Cascades train in Edmonds at 8:13 AM and arrived in Vancouver just before noon. The fare was about what I'd pay for gas if driving. The route goes along the coast and is breathtakingly beautiful. Try to get a seat on the left side of the train going up and the right side returning for the best views. You may also want to plan the trip around a low tide. I saw lots of heron, a seal and, near the Skagit River, over a dozen bald eagles.
The modern train has wide, comfortable seats. If you bring your own headphones (standard Walkman-type jack), the music and movie are free. They have both a formal dining car and a bistro car for sandwiches and snacks.
On my fall trip I attended a trade show and seminar series put on by the Canadian nursery industry. The programs were educational and it was interesting to see new plants and products. The nicest part, however, was reacquainting myself with British Columbia's public gardens. I promised myself a return visit in the spring.
I timed my recent trip to coincide with VanDusen's Flower and Garden Show. Garden designers built special display gardens for the four-day show. There were speakers on many topics and, of course, lots of plants, gear and gadgets for sale. (They even had an inspector preparing phytosanitary certificates for those wanting to bring plants back to the U.S.) The show is much like a scaled down Seattle Flower and Garden show, only out of doors. It took me two days to see both the show and the garden.
VanDusen Botanical Gardens occupies a 55-acre site just south of downtown. The wonderful plant collection is beautifully displayed with lots of lakes, one rather spectacular waterfall, meadows and lawns. Sweeping vistas with the city and mountains in the background add to the charm. The Laburnum Walk was gorgeous, dripping gold under-planted with lots of purple-flowered plants like alliums, thyme and hardy geraniums. The Himalayan blue poppies were in bloom and the mass plantings of candelabra primroses cost me most of a roll of film.
Queen Elizabeth Park is near VanDusen. Folks in Vancouver proudly say that it is just like Butchart Gardens, except it is free. Both sites were previously quarries, both have lovely rose gardens and lots of bedded out annuals. Be sure to allow time to see the Bloedel Conservatory, a huge dome greenhouse filled with tropical plants from all over the world. Again the views from the park are great.
While you are in Vancouver, visit the University of British Columbia's Botanic Garden. The alpine garden alone is worth the small admission. Being a vegetable gardener, I am amazed at how many botanic gardens totally ignore food plants. UBC has one of the best edible garden sections I've seen.
The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden and Park shouldn't be missed either. The garden was modeled after private classical Chinese gardens of the Ming Dynasty. Chinese experts and workmen constructed it, mostly of elements shipped from China. Join a docent-led tour for a better understanding of the Taoist symbolism expressed in the garden.
Don't worry about not having a car in Vancouver. For $2 Canadian you can get anywhere on their outstanding public transportation system. The best reason to drive is that it allows you also to visit Minter Garden in Chilliwack, a couple hours east of Vancouver in the beautiful Fraser River Valley. Summer annuals make this garden colorful, but look closer and you will see that much color is achieved with great foliage colors. The maze, topiaries and play area make this garden especially kid-friendly.
Writing about it makes me want to go back. Let's see, the roses and perennials
should be at their prime by now…
Hortsense: Managing plant problems with Integrated Pest Management
