I love green. Its my favorite color. In fact, I have a green backpack that I take with me on my travels. I even live in the evergreen state. Green is neutral and calming. I associate it with Earth’s amazing places like forests and gardens which allows me to naturally relax around it.
And one of my favorite free places to view the greenery is Vancouver British Columbia’s beautiful public gardens at Queen Elizabeth Park. These gardens are artistically terraced among the rocky backdrop and features bridges, ponds, fountains, and waterfalls along with all the plant life. It is situated in an old quarry which adds to its charm. During the summer and spring months, the park is blooming in an ever changing array of colorful and bountiful flowers. But I like it best when there’s just an abundance of green. So thankfully, in the fall and winter months, this park shows off that green I love so much.
At the bottom near the entrance, there are a number of open green spaces where you can set up a picnic and center to it all is a duck pond which actually have several resident ducks eagerly waiting for food from generous on lookers. Along these green spaces are pathways through the trees that lead to the gardens above. These paths do slope upwards and may require some effort. Marisa in the photo below is always happy to help others with the walk up. I usually start my trip to the gardens down here, if not for a picnic, then just to see these adorable ducks. Oh, and did I mention parking is easier here? Its worth it to park and walk up to the gardens.
At the very top of the park is the Bloedel Conservatory, which is in a geodesic dome designed by Buckminster Fuller. There are a lot of noisy birds in there, even some talking parrots. The environment inside is artificial with lots of green tropical plants as well as flowering orchids. Since it is a solarium, its quite humid inside compared to the outside temperatures. Be aware of this as you will surely sweat. If you are not into the birds, like me, they also have a gift shop in there that you can visit. There is a small admission fee to go inside the conservatory, and its worth walking in there on one of those interminably rainy and miserable days in Vancouver.
But the sun does come out, too.
Queen Elizabeth Park is the city’s public gardens and sits at the highest point within the city of Vancouver. It is 501 feet (152 meters) above sea level. From here you have a magnificent view of the city skyline, mountain ranges, and the north shore. Personally, I think the view is best when there is still some snow in the mountains. And you can usually get that view in the fall and winter months, just in time to see all the greenery.
I love these gardens when they are truly green, but I have no doubt you’ll like them at any time of the year.
I love these gardens when they are truly green, but I have no doubt you’ll like them at any time of the year.
4600 Cambie Street
Vancouver, British Columbia V5X 1C5
Canada
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Love seeing posts about my home country of Canada! <3
Really beautiful photos and definitely a place I need to go and hang out someday.
cheryl recently posted..A Magical Moment In Budapest.
Canada is so under appreciated I think. Many beautiful places to enjoy nature up there. At least I think so.
Greenery at Queen Elizabeth Park http://t.co/GkfFGScJ via @sichree23
You’ve captured the park well!
We live about 10 blocks from Queen Elizabeth and often hang out there when the sun is out. It’s awesome to see posts from our neighbourhood!
Cam recently posted..Photo of the Week: Inside Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Thanks, Cam! I’m evnious that you guys get to live so close to this place. I often go up to Vancouver to buy some fruits and other foods I can’t get in the states, then bring it here have a picnic and go home. Must be nice to live in such a lovely neighborhood.
I still haven’t been to Canada. I’ll keep this place in mind for when we go!
Christy recently posted..7 Places to Visit in Southeast Asia
Well, Canada has not typically been a “hot spot” destination. Besides the fact that most towns (and people) are pretty similar what’s in the U.S.A. But if you love nature, I think you’ll love it up here.
Yes, I see, this is very nice place. I think Canada has many of them. Beautiful country.
Victor Tribunsky recently posted..Bad Hofgastein – Ski and Alpentherme Paradise
Glad you liked it. Canada has so many beautiful places. Its such a shame more people don’t venture out to them. I imagine its probably because a lot of those beautiful places are difficult and remote to get to. Luckily this is not the case for Queen Elizabeth Park.
We want to visit Vancouver but we keep delaying it because “it’s so close..” LOL, guess we’re saving it for the perfect green day. Stunning photos above!
Kieu ~ GQ trippin recently posted..Holi Cow.. Groped in India!
And yes, you should save it for a green day
Actually, I go to Vancouver mostly to eat. They have some of the best authentic tasting Asian and middle eastern fares up there within N. America. I’m in food heaven when I reach the city limits. Everything else is just topping on the cake. I’m always glad its “close by.”
Wow, how beautiful, Sherry! I love green as well, especially garden green. It’s so restful.
I also love that entrance is free so everyone can enjoy it. Great post!
InsideJourneys recently posted..Weekly Photo Challenge: Arranged
I don’t like mint green and that seafoam green is ick. The green I like are those that reminds me of the beautiful aspects of nature. And that green is all over Queen Elizabeth Park.
I always say that best things in life are free!
Sorry that my old Shanghai post was sent out by FeedBurner automatically. Technical difficulties can drive me nuts sometimes. Don’t know what went wrong.
RT @InsideJourneys “Greenery at Queen Elizabeth Park” #garden #photography #Vancouver http://t.co/9nxm8guE via @sichree23
“Greenery at Queen Elizabeth Park” #garden #photography #Vancouver http://t.co/pZCNOOJp via @sichree23
Beautiful pictures Sherry, this park looks so relaxing.
Angela recently posted..Exhibition in Rome’s Campidoglio, revealing the Vatican’s secret archives
Thanks, Angela. The park below is relaxing. But the gardens above is just inspiring.
RT @NomadicSamuel “Greenery at Queen Elizabeth Park” #garden #photography #Vancouver http://t.co/9nxm8guE via @sichree23
“Greenery at Queen Elizabeth Park” #garden #photography #Vancouver http://t.co/YoiZs4Mr via @sichree23
That pond is so beautiful!! I love the lush green trees. These gardens seems so peaceful — what a wonderful afternoon!
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Yes, the pond is one of my favorite reasons to go here, including all the duckies which are often the best part of it.
Beautiful!
Thanks!
Greenery at Queen Elizabeth Park #garden #photography #Vancouver http://t.co/P0u9yoEe via @SophieR @sichree23
The place is beautiful. It’s a little difficult to keep conservatories interesting but this one is really too pretty to ignore. Amazing shots!
Alexa Meisler recently posted..A Cheese Cave, Wine Tasting and French Food in Baja
Thanks! Glad you like the photos. Though I think the photos don’t give this place nearly enough credit. It is very pretty here.
I love gardens like these – we used to go walking in the botanic gardens near our place in Melbourne all the time. Looks like a great place to explore!
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That’s so nice that you guys had something so close to your home. It must be nice to be able to just walk through the gardens. I would be so happy everyday to be able to enjoy all that greenery.
Love this place, even just in photos. Its nice that they take care of such an oasis in the city. Gorgeous greenery, BTW. I think I’d like to visit the birds, too especially the talking parrots. Would be a nice little stop over in Vancouver.
To be honest, I never really paid to go in the conservatory. I walk in there to go to the gift shop and hear how loud it is from the entrance, that I’m usually dissuaded. Plus, it can get very hot in there and I dislike the humidity. Although, to be fair, I have heard great things about the conservatory from others who did go inside. It might be worth a look. In fact, I’m going to make an effort to go in the next time I’m up here.
Nice that its free. Great place to enjoy the day and get away from it all. Leave it to Canada.
For 91 Days Travel Blog recently posted..Casuarina Beach on Karaitivu Island
Free is always good – especially if its this beautiful.
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Greenery at Queen Elizabeth Park #garden #photography #Vancouver http://t.co/oPXcJAIu via @sichree23
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Wow! The greenery really sticks out. Great photos. This would definitely be a nice place for a picnic … on a nice day, that is.
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The fall and summer are probably the best time for nice picnic days. I usually have a picnic at the bottom and then work my way up to the gardens. Its a nice half a day excursion.
COLORFUL FOOTSTEPS: one woman’s colorful journey to find the most beautiful places on Earth – http://t.co/rPBab7ff
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Oh, Sherry I love all these places you find. I’ve been to Vancouver many times on my visits to the Pacific Northwest, but never heard or gone to this place. Looks like I’m missing out. I love the greenery, especially in your photos. I’ll for sure make a stop here the next time I’m up there, which will be really soon. I can’t believe I missed this place, even if only just to see those duckies
Well, let me know if you go MJ and I’ll come with you
Truly is worth the visit.
Curious … how far is the center of the city from here? Looks like from the photo its not that far away. Great views though.
This is a rough estimate, but I’m going to say between 5-10 miles. The views look great because its the highest point within city limits so you’ll get better vantage point. Sometimes losing perspective, however (making things appear closer than they are).
Those ducks are adorable. I’d love to just go and feed them for hours. The gardens will be like topping on the cake =)
I’m not sure if its “legal” to feed them but people do it all the time anyway. The duckies are always so eager with what they can get. Very cute.
Check out the colors and textures Sherry found while in BC http://t.co/hs5ZOYFw via @sichree23
Love all that green. Its so beautiful. It must be even more magnificent with colorful flowers.
Yeah, I suppose the colorful flowers make this place brighter. But I’m biased. Luckily in the colder months I get what I want, too.
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