Bloedel Conservatory

The Bloedel Conservatory is the best green indoor space in Vancouver.

As soon as you walk into that warm green space you feel transported to the equator.

(At least as much as you can without a plane ride!)
Located at the pinnacle of Queen Elizabeth Park, the Conservatory is quite simply, Vancouver's tropical paradise: exotic plants, colourful Koi fish and free-flying birds.

Walk into the geodesic dome and stand still. Listen to the twittering of the 100 bird species flying around over head. Hear the trickling water where the Koi fish swim. Feel the warm, humid air of the equator in the climate-controlled dome.

As you walk by, toss a coin into the wishing well marked by a tiny frog fountain. I pretend that this is like the Trevi Fountain in Rome.

If I throw a coin in, I'll be sure to return, right?! Perhaps not, but it's still fun! (Be careful not to throw coins in any other ponds, as you might injure the fish).

Many sizes and colours of Koi fish swim about in the other ponds. The Japanese were the first to start breeding Koi (carp) for colour. They call these fish Nishikigoi, literally “brocaded carp”. The fish are symbols of love and friendship.

Native of the lowland rain forests of Central and South America, like all parrots, the Scarlet Macaw is affectionate, intelligent and able to mimic the human voice.

Two Scarlet Macaws groom themselves in unison.

Whenever I see a Scarlet Macaw, I am immediately taken back to my childhood, reading Herge's Adventures of Tintin, the Belgian boy reporter and his friend Captain Haddock.

The maritime Captain has a challenging relationship with a parrot, named Iago, in the story The Castafiore Emerald. Iago bites his finger, upon which the Captain cries in anguish, “Billions of bilious blue blistering barbequed barnacles!” The parrot then copies his every word when a lady comes to visit. Rather embarrassing.

Looking across to the bridge. I am in a tropical jungle. Ponytail palm leaves dangle on the left, tea-tree branches poke up from the bottom right.

The Bloedel Conservatory is full of many different types of rainforest plants from all around the world.

I had never seen a “Tea-tree” plant, also known as the Manuka tree, from Australia and New Zealand. I had only seen the oil to use as a natural antiseptic purchased from the drugstore in a little glass bottle.

And there is a Ponytail Palm from Mexico and a Snowflake Tree from Yunnan China. Labels are affixed to explain the name and original location for many of the 500 plant species. Some seem very familiar, what I think of as ordinary houseplants, but are actually native of a far-off tropical land. Seeing them in this jungle environment is a unique change.

Meet Charlie, the peachy-pink “salmon-crested” cockatoo, from South Moluccas in Eastern Indonesia. The cockatoo is a branch of the parrot family notable for the decorative crest feathers on the head.

Charlie is charming, and loves to pay attention to visitors. He will screech loudly if he feels you are ignoring him. Sometimes it's best to admire him from a distance!

A Chinese Golden Pheasant casually walked within a few feet of us on the path. Quite exciting!

It can take only half an hour to walk through the Bloedel Conservatory, but plan on at least twice that.

Take time to sit on the benches and look at the variety of exotic plant and bird species. You will enjoy your experience much more deeply. And who knows when a Chinese Golden pheasant might just wander past!

A pure white Amazon Lily, native of the Andes of Colombia. And a ladybug comfortably at home on a hibiscus bud

Nelson, a red-shouldered Macaw, native of Venezuela, Guyana and Brazil. I watched him for ten minutes and he never once woke up. I wish I could sleep as heavily!

This is a much smaller parrot, 12 inches long compared to 32-inch long Scarlet Macaw. The ends and underside of his wings are red, but I never managed to catch a glimpse.

Walking around under the circular dome of the Bloedel Conservatory, you pass through first the tropical and subtropical ecosystems, then into a simulation of an arid desert region.

Quite the shift from the humid rainforest into dry soil, cacti just out of prickly range, and a few beautiful desert blossoms.

This is where the budgies took up residence. I had always thought budgies were from the rainforest, but they actually live wild in Australia.

Interrupting two budgies in the middle of a very important conversation.

If you are in Vancouver in the winter, visiting the Bloedel Conservatory is like stepping right into an equatorial oasis.

You will need to come in daylight hours – there is no artificial light within the dome. You will step out of the rain and grey right into the warm green of the rainforest.

An enjoyable and inexpensive treat at any time of year, the Conservatory is a dazzling display of plants, flowers, fish and birds from around the world.

The Bloedel Conservatory, at Queen Elizabeth Park, is one of my favourite Vancouver attractions.

NEW: The Bloedel Conservatory is in imminent danger at the hands of the Vancouver Parks Board. They have voted to permanently close it in Spring 2010. A group called the Friends of the Bloedel Conservatory are trying to save it. To volunteer or donate, please visit Friends of the Bloedel Conservatory Opens New Window

NEWER: The Conservatory is still in danger. It is slated for closure, privatization, or re-purposing.

Even NEWER: The Bloedel Conservatory is saved! The Friends of the Bloedel Conservatory are now in charge of preserving this treasure for Vancouver.

I encourage you to show your support for this Vancouver treasure.

Return from Bloedel Conservatory to Vancouver Parks in the City

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