Aug. 5th, Vancouver Garden Visits

This morning we drove from Kamloops to Vancouver. Interestingly this section felt more mountainous compared to driving through Jasper. There was a descent near Hope into the Coquihalla valley (I believe) which definitely surpassed everything I have seen in terms of highway ascents/descents in Europe: Very steep, very long going down into a narrow gorge with cars and trucks in back to back fashion on both lanes and even signs indicating that this section was also open for bicycle riders (we did not see that endangered species ...). Anyway, we arrived at the end in Vancouver and meet Barbara (one of my sisters) in a Sushi place (Kamei Royal Sushi). Judging from this place Vancouver has decent Japanese food at reasonable prices.

Barbara and me in a Vancouver Sushi Place

In the afternoon we embarked on an initial gardening tour. First stop was the Nitobe Memorial Garden located at the UBC campus. This is the best Japanese garden I have seen so far in NA and Europe. During our visit the weather was a bit misty/moist which added to the allure.

Nitobe Memorial Garden in Vancouver

Nitobe Memorial Garden in Vancouver

Nitobe Memorial Garden in Vancouver

Nitobe Memorial Garden in Vancouver

The 2nd garden we visited was also located at the UBC campus: UBC Botanical Garden. This garden is really a collection of multiple different gardens: A tree/canopy type section and across the road a collection of vegetable, stone and Carolingian gardens. I liked their vegetable/herb garden. My own basil never grows as plentiful and lush compared to the one I've seen there ...

UBC Botanical Garden in Vancouver: Canopy Section

UBC Botanical Garden in Vancouver: Canopy Section

UBC Botanical Garden in Vancouver: Vegetable/Herb Section

UBC Botanical Garden in Vancouver: Vegetable/Herb Section

Basil Pot in UBC Botanical Garden

UBC Botanical Garden in Vancouver: Stone and Desert Garden Section

UBC Botanical Garden in Vancouver: View from the Stone Garden towards lower Garden Sections

The last garden we visited was the VanDusen Garden. This is a modern and very large garden. Actually supercool. Vancouver is blessed to have this garden. We walked pretty much through all its parts until sundown.

VanDusen Garden in Vancouver: Insect Eating Plants

VanDusen Garden in Vancouver: Barbara and Margaret

VanDusen Garden in Vancouver

VanDusen Garden in Vancouver

VanDusen Garden in Vancouver: Labyrinth

VanDusen Garden in Vancouver

VanDusen Garden in Vancouver

VanDusen Garden in Vancouver

VanDusen Garden in Vancouver

VanDusen Garden in Vancouver

VanDusen Garden in Vancouver

VanDusen Garden in Vancouver

As it happens there is yet another large garden beside the VanDusen Garden but there was no time left for a visit. The Queen Elizabeth Garden has to wait for another visit. We had dinner in the evening at Vij's Ragnoli (an Indian restaurant) which was a fitting conclusion of the day. Vij's is quite a popular place. Full marks for their samosas. The rest of the food was also very decent. The meal was a fitting conclusion of the day.

Vij's Ragnoli Food

Vij's Ragnoli Food