What does it look like to design a home and garden around community? In this Q&A, we explore how one East Van gardener has done exactly that.
The Jenga set-up!
There’s a house in East Van I’ve admired for years. Not because of its size or its beauty, but because of a game of Jenga.
Out front, tucked beneath the street trees, there’s a tiny patio with two chairs and a garden pot full of wooden blocks. On it, a handwritten message inviting passersby to sit down, relax, and play a game. It’s simple, generous, and quietly radical.
The first time I saw the house listed on a local gardening tour, I felt a jolt of excitement. It meant I would get to meet the owner of this fabulous house.
Her name is Karen Reed. When we met on the tour, I told her how much I admired what she’d created. Not just a garden but a space designed for connection.
Karen owns and lives in a six-bedroom community home where both the house and the garden are intentionally set up for sharing. Every path, planting bed, and sitting area reflects that ethos. It’s a home built with community in mind.
Later, I had the chance to interview Karen and photograph her garden for my book, The Wild & Free Garden. Our conversation was so rich and inspiring that I couldn’t fit it all on the page.
Here you’ll find more of that conversation, full of Karen’s advice and her story, as well as photographs to help inspire you too.
Stephanie: You’ve built yourself quite a community, indoors and outdoors. How does intentional community begin to build?
Karen: Someone must be the catalyst. When I first started, I knew my own longing for a deeper experience of community. I had lived alone a good amount of my life, so I’d never lived in a community.
The Vancouver Foundation did a study and found the number one issue in the city is loneliness and isolation. It’s pretty much the case across the board in every urban center.
You may say hi to a couple of neighbours who know you by your name or go to a market and get recognized. This is a sense of social capital and contributes to a person’s well-being. We’re meant as humans to connect and belong, and everybody’s longing for it. It often just needs somebody to be the initiator.
Having multiple places for people to connect within the garden.
Stephanie: And how did you start being intentional about forming this community?
Karen: I would sit on my porch in the morning and greet people one by one. I just started to get to know the neighbours. I would intentionally walk in the same area and have people over for coffee.
Very simple, ordinary things. I value creating spaces for people to gather, and so I don’t have a TV as a centerpiece. There’s a conversation pit where you can talk face-to-face.
We have a practice where no one can bring their phone to the table at meals. There’s research that even if you have it on the table, you won’t be able to move into deeper conversations because you could be interrupted.
Intentionally bridge friendships and invite people into your life as friends. I remember my neighbours next door had a hedger and said I could borrow it. So, I intentionally didn’t buy one. I don’t have to have everything on my own, so I don’t. It requires some vulnerability to receive.
A covered patio for outdoor dinners.
Stephanie: Tell me about soup nights. I know that was one of your ideas to help connect your neighbours.
Karen: The first soup night I had was very low barrier. People didn’t need to RSVP. They could come late, leave early, and bring anyone in their household. They didn’t need to bring anything. I just made good soup.
The whole point is that because it’s soup, it’s easy for them to accept. They don’t have to worry about it being a fancy sit-down meal, and they can escape whenever they want.
People were so jazzed about it. I think it gave people a taste of family. You see intergenerational, socioeconomic, and ethnic diversity, and it just feels like a normal human experience.
After a year, I hardly had to do anything. Everybody just started pitching in. In that first year, I think I had to win some trust. I had several people come to the door saying, “I’ve just come because I want to meet the woman who invites strangers into her home.”
And I thought, when did that become weird?
And so, it took a whole year of building trust. There has to be a willingness on your end. That you offer it with no agenda, and then it takes a life of its own.
The garden is an extended living space for her community house.
Stephanie: Originally, you told me that you had built a communal vegetable garden out front. What else do you use your space for?
Karen: Yes, a small bed. I initially built the bed for my neighbours. And now I want to rebuild something else that’s a little more functional for the front space. I would often find myself with extra produce from my food garden that I would put out there for free.
During COVID, there was a lot of interest. In the beginning, there was concern about food security issues. So, I got a load of dirt and a few neighbours together to share seeds out on a table. People could talk at a distance if they wanted to try planting and growing some food for the first time.
I hold a value that outdoor space can draw the heart toward hope, and you should give attention to it as you would your home. I choose colours that aren’t overstimulating and give attention to the space as a place to gather, for hospitality, for meditation, rest, or solace. And I think my garden space reflects that.
It’s a space that people can gather. We can have parties out there. We can have small dinners. We play cards. I’ve had a movie night out here in the middle of winter.
I have a couple of neighbours who don’t have any yard space. One was in a hard season, and she would just come over a couple of times a week through the back gate to sit there and be in the garden. And that just helped get her through.
I’m not a finicky gardener. It’s not a manicured garden. I keep trying to simplify it. But there is something therapeutic about deadheading, about creating.
I think that’s the only reason they put my garden on the tour. Because it’s not about the plants here; it’s more about sparking inspiration and how you can create your own space.
Shared vegetable gardening.
Stephanie: Would you say you carry the knowledge of gardening to your communal house and community?
Karen: Yes. There’s something about getting your hands in the dirt, seeing how things grow, and being able to go out and pick your dinner. We have a community meal tonight, and we’re just going to pick from the garden.
I know how transformative growing food is. We’ve distanced ourselves from food, and how we view food says a lot about our value system. Food is just seen as fuel. And then it becomes transactional. We’ve lost the connection.
So, we always say thank you at mealtimes. We use it as a moment to push against the delusion of self-sufficiency. That we are dependent on farmers, truckers, and market people. And that life was forfeited to sustain us, either plant or animal. I think there’s a sacredness to it.
When we do a big feast, I say we need to take an hour to eat this meal. Because when you’ve grown food, and then you’ve done slow cooking, you cannot eat this meal in fifteen minutes.
Even if we have an abundance of food available to use, I think everybody should know how to grow food. Gardening connects you to living things and helps you understand your place in the ecosystem.
In the ecosystem, you are a steward. There’s a humility in that I cannot make a seed grow. I can kill it. I can protect it. I can feed it. But I cannot make it grow. There’s a larger force at work that’s beyond us, and places us in the whole ecosystem of the world.
Thank you to Karen Reed for taking the time to share her story, thoughts, garden, and house with me. Her garden, as well as countless others, is featured in The Wild & Free Garden, which is available for pre-order now and hits bookshelves February 24, 2026.
More Garden Tours to Feel Inspired
A city girl who learned to garden and it changed everything. Author, artist, Master Gardener. Better living through plants.
Secret gardens are some of the most magical spaces. Find a small corner or space tucked away in your yard and turn it into your own personal sanctuary. Take a tour through some secret gardens to find inspiration and learn some tips about creating your own along the way.
Have you been lucky enough to visit a secret garden? As you walk along a pathway, through an ornate gate, or under a rose-covered arbour, you arrive at a welcoming spot, perhaps with a water feature or a bench, to sit and enjoy a small space that is usually beyond view.
It draws you in.
As you turn a corner or open a door, you are met with the answer to the mystery. A garden space that seems to be created just for you.
A secret garden.
Water features offer tranquillity thanks to their sounds and reflections.
Canuck Place
I became interested in the idea of secret gardens after touring the Canuck Place Children’s Hospice gardens and seeing the secluded and unique places that have been designed around the grounds for families and children.
Canuck Place is a truly moving place, filled with beauty and love for the most unimaginably difficult times a family could ever go through. The gardeners work hard to create a secret garden—or a collection of them throughout the larger garden—as a place of joy and tranquillity.
What struck me on my tour of the gardens was the small spaces; the hidden benches and covered arbours that invited you in, like a friendly hug. The volunteers work many hours to create such spaces throughout the garden so they can touch the lives of those who need it.
Moon gates are great at drawing you in.
Secret Gardens Are Everywhere
After my tour of Canuck Place, I began to notice the secret gardens that were tucked in residential houses on garden tours, public spaces, and within botanical or public gardens.
Secret gardens can be a unique way to reflect your personality in the garden.
From doors that open to an outdoor living space to quirky benches built into a hidden corner, a secret garden is unexpected, inviting, and quaint.
Sitting areas are essential for secret gardens.
Each one that I have seen is completely unique, yet the common thread to all of them is that they are fiercely personal.
Modern concrete surrounded by wild-looking grasses is in great contrast to a front yard running riverbed.
The key to secret gardens is that they are a place for privacy.
My First Secret Garden
When I was in my first home and recovering from a debilitating illness, I created a space that I could use to sit out and enjoy the garden during those periods where I barely had the strength to sit upright. The backyard garden was my therapy space, where I would garden to strengthen my body and my mind. Some days I could only work for a few minutes, but just being out in the garden was healing.
My hammock chair was under the deck for comfort on both rainy and sunny days.
I found a hammock chair and hung it up under the small deck. There was just enough room to tuck the chair in, and it was a perfectly cool and shady spot to watch the pollinators buzz and the flowers blow in the wind.
The ground below was covered in river stones and engraved rocks with words like “love” and “smile” set randomly throughout. It may not have been the most elaborate space, but I spent many hours healing in that space, and I’m so very grateful for it.
River stones allowed me to go out barefoot in the space.
Time, Again, to Create a Secret Garden
When I moved, my hammock chair came with me, installed under an arbour in a prominent spot in the backyard. I spent many summer days cuddling with my son, and many more of them spinning him and his friends around in it. The hammock took on a brand new life.
The hammock chair in its new spot.
I missed that secret place under the deck, a quiet but lively space, where the garden can be watched and enjoyed, which inspired me to once again create a secret garden, this time in the front-yard shade garden.
The garden centred around a spillway fountain and river rock bed under a large Pacific dogwood and backed by a Lace-leaf weeping Japanese maple. Even though I have studied these spaces often, I was still surprised by how much pleasure they provided.
It was a secret but not isolated—the garden welcomed family and friends to sit, talk, read, or just watch the wildlife.
The front yard was my favourite garden on the property. It had a fabulous structure and some beautiful mature plants.
My secret garden was in the shade and surrounded by leafy foliage.
When you walked along the sidewalk in front of the house, you would find a blooming hydrangea, draping Japanese maple, and colourful shade garden plants like ferns, Hellebores, and Heucheras.
Only a few people noticed the trickling sound and curiously peeked around the corner. The secret garden wasn’t much of a secret; it just felt like one. It was only a few feet from the public sidewalk, and passersby could hear the fountain bubbling as they approached the front steps.
Friends and neighbours (and the occasional off-leash, water-loving canine) would be down the stairs by the sound, see the fountain, and be welcomed onto the bench to sit and enjoy the space. Very much like a friendly hug.
The fountain and bench in my secret garden.
Tips to Create Your Own Secret Garden
I enjoyed that garden for a decade before it was time to move again.I’m currently shaping my new space, and I have a feeling a new secret garden will take shape.
If you want to create your own, here’s what I recommend:
Mark it with a special entrance. This can be something as enchanting as a moon gate or a clematis-covered arbour, or as simple as my pathway in front of a bench. Something that draws you to the space.
Add a water feature. This can be a small fountain, bird bath, or even a wildlife pond. Water brings tranquillity, thanks to its soothing repetitive sound and reflective qualities.
Include a sitting area. You want somewhere to sit to enjoy your secret garden. It’s a place of relaxation and is intended for you to rest.
Appeal to the senses. Add fragrant flowers and herbs to smell, a windchime to listen to, soft plants to touch, and interesting foliage to look at. This will all help to ground you in the space.
Personalize it. All secret gardens are deeply personal and very much reflect the gardener who created them. Add the plants you love, hang garden art, and make it a place just for you.
More Gardens to Inspire You
A city girl who learned to garden and it changed everything. Author, artist, Master Gardener. Better living through plants.
While I think all gardens are beautiful and look amazing in photos, there’s just something about a garden that goes into such detail you can’t help but be wowed the second you step in. Susan Koelink has what I like to call a magazine garden, and you’ll see why it’s been featured by many publications.
The stunning ‘Royal Sunset’ rose.
We break up your dreary cold weather to bring you some summer joy! Last summer, I had the pleasure of scouting some gardens for Garden Gate magazine throughout the Vancouver area.
Susan Koelink was one of the gardeners I met, and I toured her home gardening space. While I wish I could claim credit for finding this beautiful garden to share with you today, the truth is that Susan is a seasoned pro.
Susan has had her garden featured in multiple magazines many times, as well as hosted garden tours for people all over the world.
Her space is truly a magazine beautiful space. She puts perfection into the details but still exhibits creativity you won’t see in any other spaces.
Coral was one of her garden’s colour themes!
Let’s get into this virtual tour!
What Makes a Magazine Garden?
Over the past decade, I’ve attended quite a few Better Home & Gardens Stylemaker events. The first time I went, I was quite naïve at what went into creating a magazine article.
As bloggers, and now influencers, we all have access to post via our phone and laptops. Anyone can share their experiences and photos to a wider audience.
The March edition of Better Homes and Gardens features Susan’s garden.
But at the Stylemaker’s event, I got to truly see all the work they do to design and style a shoot. It’s like watching a Michelin star chef create a meal as opposed to a good home cook. The attention to detail and the overall considered thought go above and beyond.
It’s not necessarily about having style, but it’s knowing how to cultivate it and curate it to be exceptional. And that’s exactly what I saw in Susan’s garden. The level of effort that goes into the details make her garden truly magazine worthy.
Susan in her garden and patio.
Welcome to Susan Koelink’s Garden
At the back of the house, you’re greeted by a beautiful iron gate and the custom plaque reading “Weathercock House”, named after a rooster weather vane which sits atop of their house. Upon walking through, you’re immediately taken into this beautiful space that has a formal lawn backed by a water feature, pots with hostas, and a bronze frog spitting fountain.
I must take a moment to admire this fountain. The magazine and I took similar photos of it and were both clearly drawn to it. Even years apart, the frog has stayed in style. Susan’s garden has remained timeless ever since her big overhaul over two decades ago.
A Garden With History
Susan first moved into the house with her husband Tony in 1979. It was already landscaped with perennials and shrubs.
It wasn’t until the 2000s when their last child left the nest that they decided to put their personal stamp on it. They removed the basketball court, swing set, and even a sunroom that they didn’t use to make the space their own sanctuary.
This beautiful Japanese maple covers a sitting area in Susan’s garden.
Working with the landscape designer Ron Rule, they completely transformed the 66 x 120 ft. space.
Since then, the garden has been on many tours, both local and international, and featured in many magazines. In fact, it’s been featured in Garden Gate magazine three times! Twice in 2006 in March/April and May/June, as well as once in 2007 in November/December.
Over the past twenty years, Susan has collected some very special plants. She has over twenty different kinds of epimedium alone, plus some beautiful hellebores, peonies, and rhododendrons, as well as unusual perennials like P. peltatum. ‘Spotty Dotty and a Cardiocrinum Himalayan lily.
A stunning clematis in Susan’s garden, Clematis florida ‘Sieboldii’
‘Lagerfeld’ rose
A Lasting Impact
Susan’s garden is a really great example of how good design can stand the test of time. The original magazine articles featuring the garden were nearly twenty years ago, and you can see in my pictures that the space has withheld its beauty and style.
The garden is really special partly because of its well-designed layout, which creates multiple beautiful spaces. Within the garden, there are three patios, a gorgeous woodland side path, and three areas of lawn. Amongst it all, you’ll notice great hardscaping details and amazing views.
One of the formal lawn areas.
A Colourful Theme
While many components of Susan’s garden are timeless, that doesn’t mean she experiments a little every year. For instance, this year her colour theme was a deep purple and coral.
The fence has been painted a deep purple, while the front door and steps have been painted orange with a purple doormat. This theme weaves its way throughout the garden, where you’ll see many spottings of orange and purple flowers sprinkled.
The painted purple fence.
Even Susan’s outfit for the day was in purple and orange!
Susan has an overall magic with colour. Her patios have a gorgeous selection of container planting, and she loves adding flowers for the hummingbirds.
Susan matched her front door and mat.
Perfection in the Details
It’s rare to see a gardener who has such an eye for detail. She makes small changes every year, while the key components remain the same.
The terracotta pots match the flowers.
Look at all the decorative features on the pots as well!
She picks a coral flower to sit in the birdbath during my visit, reflecting beautifully in the water.
A concrete bird amidst a bird’s nest of branches.
This birdbath statue is covered in a wreath of real branches for extra detail.
One beautiful detail I wasn’t able to capture was that the stained glass window mimicked the colours of the terracotta pot as well as its shape.
The garden is Susan’s passion, and it really shows.
Almost all of Susan’s containers had beautiful detailing.
The White House Gardens and South Grounds are open to the public for tours this weekend.
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How you can get tickets to the White House fall garden tour
Over the next couple days, you may feel a twinge of jealousy every time you visit your favorite social media platform.
You’ll likely be seeing a lot of pictures of your friends, family or coworkers walking on the south lawn of the White House. This weekend, the White House Gardens and South Grounds are once again open to the public for tours.
“We expect to have between 30-40,000 people come through the White House gardens this weekend,” said Elizabeth Alexander, first lady Jill Biden’s communication director.
Alexander explained that the tradition dates back to 1972.
“Twice a year, the presidents and first lady open up the White House and the South Grounds and the White House gardens to the public so they have a chance to experience ‘the people’s house,’” said Alexander.
The fall garden tour offers more than beautiful flowers.
“You get to see the doors of the Oval Office,” said Alexander. “You get to see the beautiful and historic West Colonnade, you get to see the South Grounds of the White House’s South Lawn, where Marine One takes off. You see that on the news all the time, and you get to be there, right there, in person.”
This is Alexander’s second stint working at the White House.
“(This) is now probably my seventh year working in the White House, across the Obama-Biden administration and the Biden-Harris administration. And every day, when I walk in the East Wing, it still takes my breath away. There’s so much history and beauty that is here. It’s an honor to serve the public working here,” she said.
Tickets to the White House’s fall garden tour are free and are given out on a first-come first-served basis starting at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday at the White House Visitor Center — at 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.
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From the peaceful seaside vibes of Ambleside to the lively entertainment at the Shipyard District, the North Shore has plenty to offer for tourists and visitors alike. If you’re visiting Vancouver and would love to take in the local scenery and gardens, you have to try this one- or two-day tour to Vancouver’s North Shore.
Echinacea and other pollinator plants growing at Ambleside Butterfly Garden.
Vancouver has been my home for many years. It’s an alluring place to grow a garden. As a gardening community, Vancouver has so many different personalities.
You’ll find gardening styles inspired by traditional Japanese gardens, rainforests full of ferns and moss, botanical gardens with something blooming year-round, and even seaside pockets complete with imported palm trees.
Across the Vancouver Harbour and Burrard Inlet, the Vancouver’s North Shore is a popular destination for hiking and skiing and features some truly stunning, classic BC landscapes.
While you may have heard about the many famous public gardens like VanDusen Gardens, the Bloedel Conservatory, Queen Elizabeth Park, Stanley Park, UBC Botanical Garden, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, and the Nitobe Japanese Garden; Vancouver’s North Shore is a definite must-see for anyone with a green thumb.
There is a distinct garden personality: upscale but not pretentious, rooted in traditional style, eco-conscious, and at one with the surrounding woodland. The North Shore is an area full of hidden gems, and I found surprises at every turn.
Recently, I was invited to tour the Vancouver’s North Shore gardens and plant hot spots by Garden BC. I’ve lived in Vancouver for decades, and yet there were places I’ve never been to. When I tell you that you’ll find some hidden gems here, they truly are local spots that only the insiders know about.
Luckily for you, I’m going to share all the dreamy green spaces I had the pleasure of visiting.
Here’s what the itinerary will look like…
Get fresh, locally grown, and sustainable produce at Loutet Farms.
Vancouver’s North Shore is comprised of North Vancouver and West Vancouver, where mountains meet oceanside. You can visit the North Shore like a local, treating and experiencing it like you’re part of the community. It’s a year-round destination where you can enjoy the greenery and wilderness every day of the year.
Gardens BC, officially the British Columbia Garden Tourism Coalition Society, is a non-profit organization that showcases the beauty of our province and helps plant lovers discover new gardens. Visit their website to find more garden destinations throughout the province!
Light reflection at Chiba Gardens.
Day One
I highly, highly recommend this tour to anybody coming to visit Vancouver. After you’ve seen the Vancouver top spots, dedicate at least a day to exploring the North Shore. Depending on what tickles your fancy below, follow either Day One or Day Two’s itinerary, or better yet, do them both!
Stop 1: Jam Café
100 1st St E, North Vancouver, BC V7L 1B1
I started off the first morning with a trip to the insanely popular Jam Café. A Vancouver staple, the North Shore location is one of their newest locations.
The food at Jam Café brings looooong lines, and I can see why. The interior is cool and fun, and the food is even more DECADENT. I had a chimichurri pork belly benny (how Canadians call Eggs Benedict!) with red onion jam (yum) and got to taste the blueberry pancakes and blackstone benny.
Stop by here for a guaranteed good breakfast to kick off your morning.
My #NorthShoreLikeaLocal tip: Dine at Jam Café for breakfast from Monday through Thursday. You’ll have a better chance to skip the long weekend lines and start the day off perfectly.
Jam Cafe has other locations as well across the Vancouver area.
Stop 2: Park and Tilford Gardens
333 Brooksbank Avenue, North Vancouver, BC, Canada, V7J 3S8
Vancouver’s North Shore’s official botanical garden, Park and Tilford Gardens, consists of eight different themed gardens. Originally, it was created in 1957 as a marketing tool for Park and Tilford Distilleries. It was a gift to the North Shore and covers three acres.
When I say that there are hidden gems all over Vancouver’s North Shore, Park and Tilford Gardens is proof! Essentially, you go through a strip mall parking lot, and in between the JJ Bean and Starbucks coffee houses, you and end up in these beautiful, themed gardens full of plants, structures, and water features. You would never know, looking at large hedge on main street that such a treasure lies behind it.
You can’t miss this entrance sign!
Back when Kiddo was just 18 months old, we used to visit the Park and Tilford Gardens and sit in the light of the three spinning frog’s fountain. We used to tour the garden every other week during the year since it was a great place to take a baby, then toddler, who loved plants and gardens as much as his mother does.
The garden is free to enter and can get really busy with the locals. It’s just big enough to enjoy a coffee and a quiet stroll to see what’s blooming. It has great accessible pathways for people with disabilities and little, short lets that are still learning how to walk.
As Kiddo grew older, we visited the Park and Tilford Gardens about once a year. On one trip, we were sad to see that the three frog’s fountain had been stolen. Devastated that the frogs were taken, it was a time of learning and discussion about emotions for Kiddo—it’s important to respect our environment and that even things as small as a frog fountain can bring meaning to those who enjoy its spaces.
It’s been a few years since I visited, and I was eager to see it through a different lens, no longer the young mother enjoying the space, quiet, and the delight of her child amongst the plants. This time around, I was looking through the lens of a tour guide.
The Oriental Garden is one of eight different garden themes.
What I saw were unique gardens with their own personalities thriving together as one botanical garden. It celebrates plants and their ecology without using wasteful practices to sustain them. The gardens are lovingly tended to and planted with many annual plants grown onsite in the greenhouse next to the herb garden.
With the current summer water restrictions, there is no supplemental water, so the plants are left to sustain themselves.
This meant that the water features were also turned off during my visit. While I appreciate the city’s commitment to saving water, the gardens provide a habitat and safe haven for many wild species. Having the water features on could help the insects, birds, and mammals in the area that were likely suffering from the drought conditions as well.
Some of the plants were a bit dry and stressed. About 10% showed signs of stress or had grown crunchy, while 90% were still faring very well. That speaks quite highly for receiving no water for a month in the heat of the summer. When the rain came again, I went for a visit, and everything quickly bounced back to the green lushness it had for the entire year.
The changes of colour of the Japanese maples and ferns in the Native Garden and the Oriental Garden might be a personal favourite.
My #NorthShoreLikeaLocal tip: You will find something unique no matter what season you come to tour the North Shore’s Park and Tilford Gardens. In the spring, there are plenty of bulbs. In the summer, you’ll see the blooming and cheerful annuals and perennials. There’s always the Native Garden and the Herb Garden to enjoy as well. And if you stop by in the winter, the gardens are decorated with lights for the festive Gardenwalk.
Enjoy a cup of coffee and go for a stroll.
Stop 3: The Ambleside Butterfly Garden
1460 Argyle Ave, West Vancouver, BC V7T 1C2
Just last year, I visited the Ambleside Butterfly Garden when attending the Harmony Arts Festival. I was with my friend from out of town and Kiddo, and I was utterly delighted. Both of them paused at the beauty of the garden. Still, they immediately lost me as I ran inside to meet all the plants and pollinators flying around.
While on my tour of the North Shore this summer, I arrived and again got promptly lost. Even though I followed Google Maps’ directions, I still couldn’t find it. Instead, I happened upon the community garden at Ambleside like I had the previous year and was again taken by it.
Ambleside Butterfly Gardens also seems to be under the names of Argyle Gardens and Argyle Village Pollinator Garden.
The Ambleside Butterfly Garden was started by a group of Master Gardeners and volunteers alongside the District of West Vancouver. They’ve planted a combination of 70% native plants and 30% hybrids that are all easy to grow and waterwise. Something blooms every day of the year to provide nectar and habitat to local pollinators.
The community space is a delight of beautiful vegetables and flowers growing together. High up is a central collection of hydrangeas and raised beds that tower over your head rather than how we typically look down in our gardens. Sweet peas, roses, and cosmos also tower over, and it’s such an interesting perspective.
The gardeners who care for this garden grow vegetables not only for their practicality but also to mix them amongst the annual and perennial flowers. They know the secret that to make a beautiful garden, you must attract pollinators to ensure the vegetables grow robust and fruitful.
But I got turned around when I went to see the Ambleside Butterfly Gardens. On Google Maps, they’re listed as the Ambleside Butterfly Garden, but it takes you to a parking lot on Bellevue Avenue near 17th St. The true location is just east of the Harmony Arts Festival Space on Argyle Ave, on the east side of the ferry building gallery.
On Google Maps, they’re listed as the Argyle Village Gardens, and the sign has been renamed to include all pollinators or to be considered a community garden space. Perhaps the butterfly garden project has changed, or it’s simply an evolution of the name.
My #NorthShoreLikeaLocal Tip: Put the address for Argyle Village Gardens in Google Maps to get to the right location. The address is 1460 Argyle Ave W. This is where you will find these beautiful pollinator gardens! I’ve recommended to Google Maps that they adjust the pin to show the true location, so maybe by the time you’re reading this, it’s been corrected.
The garden has a variety of pollinator-friendly flowers that are in full bloom, as well as a few vegetable plants and some community plots. The true showstopper of the garden was the two planted spaces on the exterior of the garden that host a variety of pollinator plants. And sure enough, they were buzzing with activity and even had a few pollinator baths that were being cared for.
Plenty of bees seen to be enjoying plants, such as these yarrow and echinops.
Stop 4: The Boatshed at Ambleside
1200 Argyle Ave, West Vancouver, BC V7W 1C1
After spending the morning gazing at all those eye-catching flowers and plants, you’ll want to head to The Boatshed for a light lunch or snack. The location is just a short walk from Argyle Village Gardens along the seawall. Be sure to take your time to enjoy the seaside plants and the view of Vancouver and the Lions Gate Bridge.
At The Boatshed, I had tacos and a ginger beer for a light lunch between tours. The location, right on Ambleside Beach, can’t be beat. It makes you feel like you’re in this little seaside town when you’re really just in the heart of West Vancouver!
My #NorthShoreLikeaLocal tip: You can easily spend a full day at Ambleside Beach. You can walk along the seawall, enjoying both the beach and the plants that surround the area. There’s also the Boatshed container garden, the parking lot pollinator heavens, and the seaside plantings of hardy, drought-tolerant grasses and blooms.
Bonus Stop! GardenWorks North Vancouver
95 Philip Ave, North Vancouver, BC V7P 1B5
GardenWorks has long been one of my favourite garden centres in the Lower Mainland, and I when I heard their newest location was in North Vancouver, I just had to stop by. Each GardenWorks location has a unique and individual style, so you can have a different garden shopping experience at each one.
GardenWorks is known for their buyers who stock not only the best and beautiful-est plants, but they also showcase some serious gift and home selections. Leave your partner at home and get some shopping therapy time at the store. It’s also my Kiddo’s favourite place to buy me gifts!
The new North Vancouver location didn’t disappoint. It flowed with the vibe of the North and West Vancouver garden styles, which are upscale and clean and lean toward plants that naturalize in a mountain environment.
They sell annuals and perennials for the garden, as well as indoor tropicals and succulents.
The garden centre looks small from the front, but as you go, it expands to massive proportions. It was created in an old bus terminal with high glass ceilings that give it an incredibly modern industrial vibe. It has the perfect air space, protected areas for plants to thrive, and a really comfortable shopping experience.
I enjoyed the beautiful selection of perennials, but even more impressive was the trees and shrubs. The hydrangea selection had some great varieties of panicle hydrangeas that would become the star of any garden.
I had a great chat with Tyler and Alex, the store manager and assistant manager, and asked for some suggestions of plants to use as the foundational plantings of my front garden containers. I wanted to change out my existing plants to create something that can have different designs throughout the season but also thrives in a container in full sun.
Beautiful plants and well stocked shelves at GardenWorks.
Their suggestions were fabulous and not what I had previously considered. The knowledge is truly there, as is the availability of high-quality plants. I highly recommend a stop at this garden centre.
My #NorthShoreLikeaLocal tip: If you’re a tourist and don’t have a place to plant anything, I still recommend you stop at the indoor gift shop. It has so many things you just wouldn’t find anywhere else. I fell in love with some birdcage candleholders and an adorable cabbage dish that has made it onto my wish list for future Mother’s Days.
The indoor selection of gifts is vast and worth a stop.
Stop 5: Shipyards Night Market
19 Wallace Mews, North Vancouver, BC V7L 0B2
Every year, I enjoy at least one evening at the Shipyards Night Market. It runs on Friday evenings during the warmer months and is definitely worth a visit if you’re here during this time. It’s fun, low-key, and accessible, as both dogs and children are welcome.
You’ll find plenty of delicious food and even more lovely people. Visit the shopping stalls and listen to the free live music.
While there, I popped over for a local craft beer, some vintage shopping, and a little bit of dancing before my sunset dinner reservation.
My #NorthShoreLikeaLocal tip: The Shipyards Night Market is every Friday from May to September. It has free parking and admission and is one of the best options for a night market in the Lower Mainland, especially with the live music and beer gardens!
The Shipyards District is easily accessible from downtown Vancouver through the SeaBus.
Stop 7: Pier 7
25 Wallace Mews, North Vancouver, BC V7L 0B2
At this point, I was famished and happy to sit down for some wonderful views of downtown while eating fresh seafood at Pier 7.
Our table ordered the fresh-shucked oysters and burrata with a pistachio basil pesto and focaccia to start.
Then, we enjoyed the surf and turf, which included striploin, butter-poached lobster claw, tiger prawns, mashed potatoes, and seasonal veggies. We also had the seared halibut, which came with more potatoes, sauteed kale, and sundried tomatoes.
Of course, we also sipped on some bubbly while we enjoyed the view. The food was so balanced, but the best part was the service. We even got a visit from the chef!
My #NorthShoreLikeaLocal tip: Pier 7 is just a short walk from the Shipyards Night Market. I highly recommend coming on Friday night so you can visit both. Make a reservation in advance to ensure you get a good spot with a view.
Surf and turf at Pier 7.
Stop 8: The Pinnacle Hotel
138 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver, BC V7L 0B1
After a day of visiting some of the most beautiful gardens in town and eating THE best food, my head was truly ready to hit the pillow. Luckily for me, I was staying at the Pinnacle Hotel in The Shipyards, which houses Pier 7.
The location is really unmatched, as you can enjoy all the delights of the North Shore and are also very close to taking the SeaBus into downtown Vancouver.
And did I mention the view???? You can see all of Vancouver’s coastline and it’s just stunning. They also have a pool, hot tub, sauna, steam room, and gym for you to use and unwind with at the end of your long day exploring.
My #NorthShoreLikeaLocal tip: The entire Shipyards district and the hotel are dog-friendly. I met lots of furry visitors and gave them some scratches. I vowed to bring Ozzie the next time I visit!
The incredible views of Vancouver from the North Shore.
Day Two
If you’ve got the time and want to explore more of the North Shore, there’s plenty more to see. Here’s what I suggest as a second-day itinerary for those who want to see more of the gardens that the Vancouver area has to offer.
Stop 8: Pinnacle Hotel, The Lobby Restaurant
138 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver, BC V7L 0B1
The day starts off where yesterday ended! We ate right at the hotel at The Lobby Restaurant + Lounge at the Pinnacle Hotel. This restaurant highlights West Coast foods, but it was hinted that I HAD to order the Lobster Benny. It did not disappoint! This Eggs Benedict was prepared with garlic butter-sautéed lobster and hollandaise sauce, plus a side of potato lyonnaise.
Talk about delicious!
My #NorthShoreLikeaLocal tip: If you have a car, leave it parked for the morning and take the elevator to The Lobby restaurant. After breakfast, the stroll to Chiba Gardens will help you digest all the yummy food.
Enjoy the views of Vancouver while you walk in the Shipyards District.
Stop 9: Chiba Gardens
267 Esplanade W, North Vancouver, BC, CA, V7M 1A6
As a Master Gardener living in Vancouver for decades, there are very few gardens in the area I haven’t seen. Imagine my surprise when I saw that the itinerary had a garden I’d never heard of! The entrance is tucked away under a sea of foliage which makes for a magical but hidden garden.
Chiba Gardens is a traditional Japanese garden located on the northwest corner of Waterfront Park in North Vancouver. It is a short walk from the Shipyards. The garden opened in 1986 to honour North Vancouver’s sister city, Chiba.
Chiba donated two Japanese stone lanterns to North Vancouver, and local landscape architect, Toshimasa Ito, designed a garden to feature them.
The gifted stone lantern from Chiba.
Even if you don’t know the meaning behind the space, it feels quite special the moment you step in. Light filters through the tall maples onto the zigzag pathways that change from wood to stone to gravel. The lushness of the ferns, mosses, and native plantings chase every colour of green.
The circular pathways in the garden allow you to do a walking meditation where you can breathe deeply while finding peace in your mind amidst the city.
I chose to visit the Chiba Gardens after breakfast to do this walking meditation, resetting my intentions to be of gratitude and peace. It’s a great way to be thankful and accept the nourishment of a lovely meal while cooling off a heated body on a hot day.
The meditation pathway.
My #NorthShoreLikeaLocal tip: I encourage everyone locally or on a North Shore garden tour to stop by the Chiba Gardens so they can slowly walk through the space and meditate. Try not to focus on any one element but take in the feeling of the entire space. Alternatively, slow down, sit, and focus on a tiny point on one tiny leaf or one reflection of light that comes through the maples, and just breathe in the calm peace.
Once you exit the Chiba Gardens, you’ll be reborn and ready for the excitement of Vancouver’s North Shore while feeling calm and full of gratitude.
Loutet Farm is the first urban farm located on public parkland in Canada. It’s a joint effort from the North Shore Neighbourhood House, North Vancouver, and UBC.
You can buy fresh produce as well as the locally grown flowers.
Located within a residential area, the farm grows plenty of produce right on the farm and is financially sustainable. This means all funds generated go back into operating the farm and creating jobs for North Shore residents.
The farm hosts tours, workshops, and other events. It also hosts a twice-weekly market where people can purchase locally grown and affordable produce and connect with other local vendors.
My #NorthShoreLikeaLocal tip: You can buy fresh produce grown at Loutet Farm on Saturdays from 10 AM to 2 PM and Wednesdays from 2 to 6 PM during the growing season from May-end to October. Check out the markets if you’re in the area!
Local vendors also sell at the Saturday Community Market.
Bonus Stop: Gerry’s Garden
1400 Rufus Ave, North Vancouver, BC V7L 2N2
Next door to Loutet Farm is Gerry’s Garden and it was such a wonderful surprise, a true bonus. The garden was started by 96-year-old resident Gerry MacPherson. After losing his son to cancer in 2007, he turned to gardening as a form of therapy.
What was once a beaten-up piece of land between Loutet Park and Brooksbank Elementary School, is now Gerry’s Garden. He spent 10 years turning it into a beautiful space full of perennials for everyone in the community to visit. It’s worth stopping by for a walk and to sit and listen to the birds in Gerry’s Garden.
This is exactly what Vancouver’s North Shore is all about—community and beautiful, natural spaces.
My #NorthShoreLikeaLocal tip: Sit on the red benches throughout the space and take in all that has been lovingly planted in Gerry’s Garden. In the quiet, some things become more audible, like birdsong, buzzing bees, and perhaps some music from the band at the farm market.
Gerry’s garden has plenty of places to sit throughout.
Stop 11: Nook Restaurant, Shipyards
150 Victory Ship Way #160, North Vancouver, BC V7L 0B2
In the Shipyards District, you’ll find the most beautiful plates at Nook. For lunch, we had a tasting menu of lovely treats, including:
Marinated olives
Pate with port-glazed onions
Burrata and prosciutto
And their famous meatballs!
We also enjoyed some sips, including the Lampone (raspberry, lemon, and soda) and the Zenzero (lemon, ginger cordial, and soda).
My #NorthShoreLikeaLocal tip: bring your family! Kids, dogs, and everyone is welcome in the Shipyards District. Nook’s patio is on the Shipyards Splash Park, so you can sip and snack while spending a day with kiddos. Oh, and order the meatballs. Did I mention the meatballs?
Stop 12: Maplewood Flats / Wild Bird Trust of BC
2649 Dollarton Hwy, North Vancouver, BC V7H 1B1
I’ve gone to Maplewood Flats before for birding. It’s a birders paradise and an amazing spot to see other local wildlife. Probably because of the native plantings!
Located on the land of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation (TWN) and Coast Salish Peoples, you’ll find a space dedicated to celebrating the diversity of the North Shore. Before settlers came, the area consisted of contiguous mudflats that stretched across the Burrard Inlet. These spaces were used by the TWN to hunt and gather fish, shellfish, waterfowl, and more.
From salmonberry to hardhack to sword ferns, many native species cover the lands of Maplewood Flats. Walking down Maplewood Flats will allow you to see it all if you’re interested in the local flora and fauna.
My #NorthShoreLikeaLocal tip: Bring some bug spray or wear long sleeves. The native species are definitely thriving, and so are the food sources for those native species, especially the mosquitoes. Where there is life, there is beauty and history.
Sorbus aucuparia is an excellent food source for birds and is a native tree you can find all over.
Final Thoughts on Vancouver’s North Shore
Discovering the North Vancouver North Shore like a local was a really fun experience. I got to experience the restaurants and the vibrant waterfront, from the Shipyards to the peacefulness of Ambleside.
This is a great tour to discover the quieter side of Vancouver, all while experiencing the stunning gardens and history of the area. This can easily be a one-day tour, but it can also be extended into two for those who have the time for more exploration.
Again, a huge thank you to Vancouver’s North Shore and Gardens BC for inviting me on this tour and introducing a few new favourite spots.
Let me know which stops you try out and which ones are your favourite in the comments below!
