Wednesday, May 2nd was warm and sunny just as forecasted. Ray and I planned to take Steve and Dianne to Queen Elizabeth Park and the MacMillan Bloedel Conservatory in Vancouver. Ray and I have not seen this park since we were 20 years old.
Before we left though, Ray took Freya for a walk and managed to photograph the beautiful cherry trees lining the street a 1/2 block away from Dad's house.
We left Freya at home as it was going to be a warm day. We arrived at 9am to pick up Steve and Dianne and were on our way. Traffic was good as we timed it to leave after the morning rush hour traffic to go through the Dease Island Tunnel. It only took just over half an hour and we were at our destination.
Dianne paid for our parking ... thanks girlfriend!
The Conservatory did not open until 10 am so we decided to walk the Large Quarry Garden first.
After a leisurely walk around the gardens it was time to go back to the top and head to the Conservatory. Just outside of the Conservatory there are spectacular views of Vancouver.
Inside the MacMillan Bloedel Conservatory it's very warm and humid. Dianne likened it to being in Hawaii. It's very lush and jungle like.
Wander among over 200 colourful, free-flying birds
You will find red, blue and dwarf Macaws, African parrots, exotic Finches and Chinese pheasants at Bloedel. Don’t be surprised if they answer when you say hello.
Chatty parrots and 230 free-flying birds appear effortlessly at home in the exotic environment of Bloedel Conservatory. Handy bird guides and a children’s scavenger hunt are available at the front desk.
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| Carmen and Maria, Green Winged Macaw Parrots |
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| Some kind of Chinese pheasant |
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| Roul Roul Partridges |
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| Red Winged Laughing Thrush |
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| Green Winged Macaw |
Explore our tropical ecosystems
Bloedel Conservatory contains three different climate zones, and demonstrates the importance of habitat protection and plant conservation.
Biodiversity greatly increases closer to the equator, and many of the world’s most endangered ecosystems are found there.
Tropical rainforest habitat
Tropical rainforest habitat is the most complex and diverse ecosystem on earth. One hectare of some rainforests have been found to contain more tree species than exist in all of Canada. Bloedel Conservatory offers a taste of this threatened paradise.
Subtropical rainforest habitat
Subtropical rainforest habitat with brighter light and less humidity is ideal for growing orchids. Banyan and fig trees are the perfect backdrop for these exotic blooms.
Desert zone
In the desert zone, humidity is kept low to simulate life in the desert. Succulents and cacti are the stars in this area of the Conservatory.
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| Art, blue and gold Macaw Parrot |
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| Kramer, the Moluccan Cockatoo |
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| Some kind of Finch ... notice the "mop head". |
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| Interesting desert flowers |
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| Bananas |
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| Ruby, Eclectus parrot |
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| Large Koy in the stream |
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| Zebra Finch |
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| Blue Budgie |
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| Canary |
Once back out we checked out the fountains.
After a couple of hours of walking it was time to find a "watering hole" for lunch. We decided to take Steve and Dianne to Sharky's Bar and Grill in Ladner on the river. Lots of craft beer on tap and great seafood. Service was excellent. We sat on the patio but the inside is very eclectic with hanging lobster traps.
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| From Google |
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| From Google |
Another lovely adventure with Steve and Dianne. Less than 2 weeks now and we move to the island.
Looks like another great time with the Colibaba's! Love the pictures of the unique birds, very beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThat was a great day! Thanks for taking us along on another adventure.
ReplyDelete