Mother’s Day is the perfect opportunity to honour the incredible mothers who have shaped our lives with their love, wisdom, and unwavering support. Show your appreciation with gestures that truly reflect the depth of our gratitude and affection. Here are 8 thoughtful gift ideas for Mother’s Day, from heartfelt gifts that speak to her unique […] The post 8 Thoughtful Gifts for Mother’s Day appeared first on UBC Botanical Garden ..read more

Did you know that when you’re visiting UBC Botanical Garden you can directly help us document plant phenology? It helps us understand the timing of life-cycle events in plants and animals, and can be used to study shifts in flowering time due to climate change.  You can contribute to phenology studies at UBC Botanical Garden […] The post iNaturalist – Plant Phenology appeared first on UBC Botanical Garden ..read more

2024 will go down as an exceptional year for ornamental cherries, but one of the least predictable for timing. For example, the flowering schedule outlined in the handbook Ornamental Cherries in Vancouver, published in 2014 after several years of careful phenological observations, has been mostly turned on its head. Early cherries, like Prunus ‘Accolade’, are […] The post April in the Garden 2024 appeared first on UBC Botanical Garden ..read more

UBC Botanical Garden hosts an abundance of cherry trees that explode with beauty throughout the spring season. Read on to hear from Douglas Justice, Associate Director | Horticulture and Curation, about the seasonality of several exceptional varieties. No matter what time you visit UBC Botanical Garden or Nitobe Memorial Garden this spring, there will be […] The post Cherry Blossoms Through the Season appeared first on UBC Botanical Garden ..read more

After 2023’s resounding success, we grew this year’s event – doubling the size – bringing in new and wonderful local vendors, food trucks, workshops, and adventures for all guests.  A symbol of good fortune and prosperity, this year’s zodiac, the Dragon, is celebrated for ruling the weather and fruitful harvest (Duncan, C. (February 9, 2024) Why is […] The post Lunar New Year Market 2024 Recap appeared first on UBC Botanical Garden ..read more

  In the March 2017 blog, I wrote about spring-flowering rhododendrons. I hope you’ll forgive me for returning to this subject, but I’ve seldom seen as extensive a bud-set on rhododendrons as they are providing us this year. Most visitors know that UBC Botanical Garden has an excellent collection of rhododendrons; at last count there […] The post March in the Garden 2024 appeared first on UBC Botanical Garden ..read more

The Garden is excited to welcome Derek Churchill, as interim Principal Horticulture Training Program Instructor. Derek is a seasoned Red Seal Landscape Horticulturist with two decades of experience in the landscape trade. With a long-term focus on plants and soil, Derek is able to impart his of knowledge to ensure the application of horticultural best management practices. His […] The post Welcoming Derek Churchill, Interim Principal Instructor for the Horticulture Training Program appeared first on UBC Botanical Garden ..read more

This January I was very fortunate to be included in Far Reaches Botanical Conservancy’s Patagonian Tour. This was an excellent educational opportunity to join a small group of 12 botanists, horticulturists and plant enthusiasts, led by renowned expert and botanist Marcela Ferreyra. The itinerary focused on observing alpine flora, as January is the best time […] The post Far Reaches Botanical Conservancy’s Patagonian Tour with Laura Caddy appeared first on UBC Botanical Garden ..read more

January was a bit of a sock in the jaw, wasn’t it? Every single flower that was open on January 10th (and there were plenty) was frozen solid by suppertime on the 11th. Let’s hope February doesn’t give us a repeat performance. Not to worry, though—UBC Botanical Garden has plenty of cold-hardy broad-leaved evergreens that […] The post February in the Garden 2024 appeared first on UBC Botanical Garden ..read more

Happy New Year! While meteorologists are mostly in agreement that in our area an El Niño winter will produce milder than average temperatures and plenty of rain, January brings a certain amount of weather uncertainty. This is normally our coldest month, and severe weather can arrive with little warning. So, again, I’ll play it safe […] The post January in the Garden 2024 appeared first on UBC Botanical Garden ..read more