Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, 鈥淭he earth laughs in flowers.鈥� UBC Botanical Garden is bellowing with laughter then. The Garden, located near Thunderbird Stadium on the UBC campus, is not just about flowers of course, but it is alive with blooms and the animals that love them. Everybody has their favourite, but here鈥檚 three summery reasons to visit UBC Botanical Garden right now.
1. The Physic Garden: This traditional garden is full of rich fragrance and colour as we move into August. The Physic Garden showcases important plants from the early years of European drug-making and is a historical link to the original botanical gardens built for the education of physicians and apothecaries or early pharmacists. You can learn all about the traditional medicinal uses of the plants while in the Garden. For example, it was once recommended to apply the mashed roots of Cynara cardunculus, or globe artichoke, to armpits to 鈥渟weeten offensive odours!"
2. Hummingbirds: Did you know hummingbirds are the only birds that can truly hover? They love to spend time in the Garden, pollinating the New World sages abundant in the Entrance Plaza and the thousands of flowering plants in the Alpine Garden. If you鈥檙e lucky, you might catch one resting on a branch of Koelreuteria paniculata, or golden rain tree, at the entrance. Bring your camera and be quick!
3. Hydrangeas: Always popular in flower shops, hydrangeas are in bloom all across the region and in a stunning array of colours. Pink, white, blue and purple 鈥� they come in almost every shade of the rainbow. You can find them throughout the Asian Garden and along the Arbour next to the Contemporary Lawn. The bees love them, too!
Every day there is something new at the Garden. Share your finds using #ubcgarden!
is open 7 days a week and is located at 6804 SW Marine Drive at 16th Avenue on the UBC campus. Connect with UBC Botanical Garden on , , and .
