VanDusen Gardens ~ The Council of Elders

The Council of Elders is present at VanDusen Gardens this summer. 

There are eleven in the group and as one approaches,
a meeting of some sort is obviously taking place.

The Council of Elders is the work of Denman Island artist Michael Dennis, and is part of a collection of art works set to open at VanDusen on June 20th. The collection, featuring twenty-four wood sculptures and installations, celebrates the culture of wood, is called Touch Wood.

Michael Dennis arrived on Denman in the 1980s, the same time he left the academy of science for the practice of art. Dennis has a PhD in Neurophysiology from Standford University. He creates large figures from salvaged cedar and the Elders are all in excess of 3.5 m in height. They are abstract yet intentional, with power and personality, and they certainly seem to be purposeful standing in the Garden.

VanDusen Gardens

VanDusen Gardens has become our backyard of sorts. It is always inviting and relaxing.

Compared to many municipal gardens around the world VanDusen Botanical Gardens is relatively new.






In 1910 it was scrub land owned by the Canadian Pacific Railway, when it was leased to the Shaughnessy Golf Club until 1960 when the CPR proposed a subdivision. This was opposed by citizens and ultimately the land was purchased for a park with monies coming from the City of Vancouver, the provincial government and the Vancouver Foundation led by a donation by W.J. VanDusen, noted industrialist and philanthropist, after whom the Garden was named.

VanDusen Botanical Gardens officially opened in 1975 and features 22 hectares of thousands of plants and many wonderful views.

Vancouver Coffee Shops ~ part 3

The Blue Parrot has been around a long time. Established in 1979 at Granville Island, it has changed ownership only once in thirty-three years and continues to be a family-owned business. It takes its name from the rival bar to Rick`s American Cafe in the movie Casablanca.





There are now two Blue Parrots, the busy Granville Island flagship and the newer Hillcrest Community Centre location, between the swimming pool and ice rink and not far from the library and the fitness room. The coffee is fine; nothing exceptional but adequate and served in a mug.




Not all that far from Hillcrest Centre, and still well within my walking zone, near the corner of Main and 33rd Avenue is an amazing little indie coffee shop called Little Mountain Coffee Company. Friendly and clean, with amazingly strong espresso drinks. An added bonus is the nice selection of gelati and sorbetti. I have a feeling the people here would remember names and favourite drinks. And the coffee is long on strength and flavour; did I mention strong?