Visiting VanDusen Botanical Gardens in Winter: Festival of Lights, Coyotes and a fun Maze

I find myself in Vancouver just two days before VanDusen Gardens is about to open their winter light show. Even though it’s during the day and before the opening we go anyway and, wow, glad we did. Such a fun garden to walk around and the added lights that are plenty visible against the darkened winter sky, are awesome. Winter defoliated trees come alive with red, purple, green, yellow and white lights.

A Quick Walk Through the Gardens

I keep saying to myself that I must get some of those fantastic icicle lights that appear to fit into the standard light string, which, when included with the tree’s strings of purple lights, the intermittent ‘icicle’ shows are fantastic. Plus, it was warm enough to enjoy a walk through the winter resting garden.

Tree with purple lights and icicles

Lights with Recycled Bottle Covers

Little black squirrels were everywhere, very busy doing whatever squirrels do. A coyote practically stepped on our toes and stayed vigilant until we moved on. A great surprise for the day was the ‘Maze’ – a cedar hedge that looked like nothing to be afraid of, but once inside it was apparent that we needed to keep our senses to find the exit. Phew! when we found it.

A coyote giving us the once over

Lost in the Maze at VanDusen

I’ll try to make it another time to the evening version of the VanDusen Gardens festival of lights (check out this link for evening photos of the lights in action – this year is the 30th anniversary of the show). The gardens are also a must visit in spring, summer and fall – but as you can see, not to be missed during the winter.

Enjoy,
Judy