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| 5630 Dunbar St. at 41st Ave. 604-684-4613 |
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Things to do in the Neighbourhood - Visit UBC Botanical Garden |
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Founded in 1916, UBC Botanical Garden is the oldest continuously operated university garden in Canada. John Davidson (1878 -1970) was the garden's creator and first director. He had been the Curator of the Botany Museum at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland and established the UBC Botanical Garden as a resource for teaching and research even before the University moved to the Point Grey campus in 1925. By 1966 the UBC Botanical Garden had become a separate, non-academic facility, reaching its current size of 110 acres (44 hectares). During the 1980's and 1990's the UBC Botanical Garden fostered a successful plant introduction scheme and in 2002, the Centre for Plant Research was established to facilitate academic scholarship in plant science. |
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| The garden is in two parts, the largest is on the west side of Marine Dr. and is called the Asian Garden. Dedicated to former BC Lieutenant Governor David Lam, it is surprisingly mature-looking. | ||
 Streams, lotus ponds and rambling trails thread through a forest of Pacific Red Cedar, with patches of lawn and groves of unusual plants offer surprise vistas.
Although very interesting and enjoyable, most of the shrubbery are rhododendrons, so the optimum time to visit would be April - May. At the east end of the Asian Garden is the Greenheart Canopy Walkway, a research and educational showcase for forest biodiversity. Rising to a height of 17.5 metres (57.5 ft) and extending 308 metres (1,010 ft) through the woods, the non-invasive aluminum catwalks and platforms offer breathtaking views of the ecosystem. The Asian Garden collection continues to expand thanks to expeditions by garden staff and donations from other institutions. |
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| A Chinese-style gate leads to a tunnel under Marine Dr. to the North Garden, a complex of many different regions. First is the Food Garden, a demonstration of home food planting. Produce here is donated to the Food Bank. Next is the Physic Garden, a 16th century medicinal herbal planting. Between them, the Arbour, displaying climbing varieties of wisterias and clematis leads to a lawn, on the other side of which is the BC Native Garden.
Uphill from that is the Alpine Garden, one of North America's largest alpine deset gardens and the highest point in the complex, with views of all the areas of the rest of the North Garden. It is directly adjacent to Thunderbird Stadium. |
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| After winding down through rocky trails to the lower reaches, you cross a large lawn to view a fountain in a pond of bulrushes and a grove of young hardwood trees native to eastern North America. Moving toward the exit you pass the Garden Pavilion, surrounded by an ever changing herbaceous border with rare versions of common plants.
Although they say that it can be done in an hour, plan on most of the day to explore and take pictures. Juice, pop, muffins and sandwiches can be purchased at the entrance. During the summer, there is a first-come, first-served free tour in a golf-cart-on-steroids at 2 pm every day, otherwise, they can be reserved in advance. From All Nations, go north on Dunbar to 16th Ave. and turn left. When you get to Marine Dr. turn right and drive 200 m, then turn left into the garden parking lot. For a more complete picture tour, go here. Newsletter about the UBC 100th anniversary commemorative stamp. UBC Botanical Garden web site. |
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| Other Things to do in the Neighbourhood Newsletters: | ||
Newsletter #147 Newsletter #148 Newsletter #149 Newsletter #150 Newsletter #151 Newsletter #152 Newsletter #153 Newsletter #166 Newsletter #169 Newsletter #173 Newsletter #174 Newsletter # 180 Newsletter #182 Newsletter #196 |
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5630 Dunbar St. at 41st Ave. Phone: 604-684-4613 Fax: 604-266-4515 e-mail: collect@direct.ca |
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