Bloedel Conservatory walkabout

The following photos are taken at Queen Elizabeth Park where the Bloedel Conservatory resides and houses a variety of exotic flowers and plants, various tropical birds and ponds filled with Koi.

I was on one of my many walkabouts - this time with Katharina. She's visiting from Germany and this was her first time in the park.  We were both busy taking in the beauty around us with the help of our cameras.

Enjoy - and may these pictures inspire you to go on a walkabout in your own city and play tourist for a day!


First off, here's a photo of the Conservatory from the outside...  

         

Here it is from the "back side"...

Let's head inside...

It's warm and the air is thick, very tropical; on a cold Winter's day it's great to be inside!

A colourful inhabitant catches our eye!

Orchids are one of my favourite plants. I have recently figured them out!

Don't let them sit in water - submerge them in a tepid water bath, hold them there for a moment and as they come out of the "bath" let the water run out from the bottom of their container.

Seeing them like this is amazing.

From the picture above, I zoomed in on these gorgeous flowers growing out of the tree's trunk.

Here are some more flower shots...

I really liked the water-wheel in this shot.

This sweet little gal could speak and whistle - very clever!

She hammed it up for the camera too - so she deserves her 15 minutes!

Say goodbye! Yes, she really does wave!

The visit wouldn't be complete without a little dry climate Cacti!

Outside we go...into the large Quarry Gardens.
It's a misty, damp day but the beauty still shines through.

A sentinal of trees watches over us...eerie but very cool!

Through the small Quarry Gardens our journey continues...

Looking up, from the small Quarry, we see our final destination.
Seasons in the Park Restaurant - where Katharina and I sat enjoying a cup of hot cocoa and cheesecake! It's my most favourite restaurant in Vancouver!

Note - the first two photos of the Conservatory are archival photos I took one sunny day last year!

Here's a little 411 for those of you that made it this far. If you look closely at the second photo, behind the Conservatory to the right, are the mountains known here as The Lions. They are the mountains you see in my Blog Header.

Here is a photo of the view from just in front of the Conservatory taken in Nov. 2010.

If you want to really see this photo as it should be seen, right click and open it in a new window.

This is my desktop photo and on rainy days I just have to look at this photo and I'm good to go!

If you are a Vancouverite and haven't been up to QE Park lately, lace up your shoes and do a walkabout; then, stop off at Seasons and enjoy their newly renovated "lounge" where the fireplace invites and the view mesmorizes!

If you're not from Vancouver and are thinking of taking a trip here, be it personal or business, this park is really a 'start' and 'finish' point of any trip. I take my out-of-town guests here and it leaves a lasting impression - even on an overcast and misty day! And...as a local, I never tire of it!

Happy walkabouts,

Jenny