The Van Dusen Botanical Gardens in Vancouver are enchanting, especially on a late afternoon in June, the trees are exquisitely layered in green, yellow greens and deep burgundy. Purple, yellow and orange flowering plants and shrubs are artfully clustered around winding paths that take you from Mediterranean to Sino Himalayan landscapes, from vast lawns with dappled edges to intimate paths through stands of redwoods and a quiet fern dell.
My friend Martha and I spent yesterday walking and talking our way through the garden. We had covered most of the garden, and it was getting late, but there was one corner we hadn’t visited. As we followed what we believed to be the path there, we seemed to be approaching the boundary of the park, a service road and building were visible ahead.
“I think we passed the trail to the pond,” I said. “Oh, well, I guess another day”.
Then Martha said, “Wait, is that it?” On our right a slight opening in the foliage that was mostly hidden and not obvious. I was doubtful, but we entered. A few yards in front of us lay a lily pond surrounded by lacy cypress trees. A floating bridge crossed the pond.
Martha and I laughed with delight. This is a good reminder of how easy it is to abandon the way when success is just around the corner…and it is.
Until next Tuesday.
Elizabeth