Vancouver, BC has a climate every gardener would love

One question never asked in Vancouver, BC- “Why doesn’t my hydrangea bloom?” Photos by Doug Oster Tribune-Review

Gray skies and a cool breeze off an ocean bay in Vancouver, Canada’s Stanley Park let’s every gardener traveling with me understand why the plants are so lush here. The smell of the sea is intoxicating as are the beautiful gardens.

Lots of rain and mild winters combine for the perfect pairing to create a gardener’s paradise. It’s funny though, begonias and other shade lovers are thriving, but look at the sweet potato vines and cannas and in mid-July they are barely limping along.

The hydrangeas are in heaven and there’s even a lantana pruned into a medium sized tree.

In the park there is something I’ve never seen before an evergreen tree trained as an espalier.

An old shrub rose growing in the park smells like heaven.

This evergreen tree was trained like many fruit trees are, called espalier.

Everywhere you look there are towing trees and giant shrubs all happy in this amazing climate.

We’re headed to Victoria next and will be in Butchart Gardens tomorrow, can’t wait!

This long bed is filled with annuals, but notice how the cannas and other heat lovers are still waiting for some warm days.

Ferns and other flowers sprout happily on the sides of a trail in Stanley Park.

This lantana is trained as a tree, I wonder if the gardener brings it in and out every season.

Everyone on the trip was amazed at how the begonias thrive here.

Another beautiful view in Stanley Park.

I wish I could have gone in to Sylvia’s Hotel, it looked so cool covered in ivy.

This rose smelled like heaven in Stanley Park.