The Van Dusen Gardens

History of Van Dusen Gardens

Like much of Vancouver, the land now covered by the lush Van Dusen Botanical Garden was once logged and developed by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company. The land was staked out to be a golf course in 1911 and a nine-hole course opened the following year. Shaughnessy Golf Club was one of the keystones in an affluent neighborhood. During its years as a golf club, Warren G. Harding, the 29th President, played his last round of golf on the course in 1923. He died just days later of food poisoning.

After almost 50 years on the land, the golf course moved to the banks of the Fraser River in 1960, leaving the course on Oak Street to become a subdivision. But citizens opposed the subdivision and sought to purchase the land, instead securing it for a city garden. The Van Dusen Botanical Garden was planned on the former golf course. It opened in 1975 under the direction of W. C. Livingstone. From 1976, curator Roy Forster shaped the design of the garden, going on to direct the planting design for nearly 20 years.

Visiting the Gardens

The Van Dusen gardens cover 22 hectares (55 acres) at the intersection of 37th Avenue and Oak Street. Various sections of the garden mimic plant habitats in the Himalayas, New Zealand, and South Africa, as well as the microclimates in the Pacific Northwest.

April is one of the best months to visit, when the cherry trees, rhododendrons, magnolias, and spring bulbs are blooming in the gardens. From April through October guides lead daily walking tours to highlight the variety and fine balance in the gardens. There's also an heirloom vegetable garden that makes an ideal visit in fall.

Shaughnessy Restaurant lies within the greenscape of the botanical garden, its large windows looking out onto trees and plants. Brunch is popular at the restaurant, but the dining room is also open for lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner.

Special Events at the Gardens

Singing choirs, twinkling holiday lights, and Santa Claus make the Festival of Lights the most popular annual event at Van Dusen. Running from early December through the holidays, the festival dresses up the garden in more than a million lights.

During April, the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival plans events in the garden, such as tea ceremonies, music concerts, and sake tastings.

To see more flora in Vancouver besides that at the botanical gardens, visit the nearby Bloedel Conservatory in Queen Elizabeth Park, or the mostly untamed Stanley Park near downtown. You can also enjoy fabulous views when you take a walk along some of the city's best hiking trails.