Unspecified/General

Crowning the highest point in Vancouver atop Queen Elizabeth Park, the Bloedel Conservatory is a domed tropical garden and aviary where visitors can step out of the temperate coastal climate into a warm, humid world of exotic plants and free-flying birds. Opened in 1969 and given by the lumber magnate Prentice Bloedel as a gift to the city, the conservatory is housed beneath a striking geodesic dome, a lattice of triangular panels that lets in abundant light and was an admired example of the futuristic architecture of its day. Within, a controlled climate sustains several hundred species of tropical and subtropical plants, arranged to recreate rainforest, subtropical and desert environments, from palms, orchids and bromeliads to towering tropical trees, koi ponds and cacti, so that a short walk takes visitors through contrasting habitats. The great delight of the place is its birds, more than a hundred of which fly freely among the foliage, including brilliantly coloured parrots and macaws, finches and other small tropical species, whose calls fill the dome and who often perch close to visitors, making the conservatory a lively and intimate encounter with both flora and fauna. Saved from threatened closure by public support, the conservatory has been maintained as a much-loved attraction, and its hilltop setting offers, just outside the dome, sweeping views over the city to the mountains beyond, together with the formal gardens and quarry gardens of the surrounding park, making it a rewarding destination in any season. The conservatory occupies a special place in the affections of the city, both for the exotic refuge it provides through the grey winters of the coast and for the architecture of its dome, a lattice of aluminium and acrylic that was an emblem of forward-looking design when it was built. Within, the carefully maintained warmth and humidity sustain a lush collection of tropical and subtropical plants gathered into themed zones, from steamy rainforest with its palms and orchids to a drier desert of cacti and succulents, with koi gliding in small pools beneath the greenery. The free-flying birds are the heart of the experience, more than a hundred of them, from large and vividly coloured parrots and macaws to small jewel-like finches, many tame enough to perch nearby. When threatened with closure some years ago, the conservatory was rescued by a wave of public support and has been cared for ever since, and just outside, the surrounding Queen Elizabeth Park offers landscaped quarry gardens and panoramic views over the city to the mountains.

Type: Tourist Attraction

Address: 4600 Cambie Street, Vancouver, Canada

Opening Date: 06/12/1969