Hello Fellow Garden Lovers!Write "East Van Garden Tour" in your calendar for Father's Day, Sunday, June 16th. Like last year's, the 2013 tour is extremely walkable, and we already have at least twelve splendid gardens lined up for your touring pleasure! Our home base this year will be at Figaro's Garden Centre (1896 Victoria Drive at 3rd Avenue), as usual, and the gardens will be in the Grandview neighbourhood, just a few blocks north of Figaro's.
At Figaro's we will be serving coffee, juice, and goodies (by donation), and there is a restroom available for attendees during the tour.
On the day of the tour, start at Figaro's, pick up your tour map, and then head off to the gardens.
(Note that the tour is on the same day as Car-Free Commercial Drive, so, if you can, plan to walk, take transit, or ride a bike.)
The tour runs from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., but this is not an event you need to come to right on time! We often get a big rush of people right at 10:00, but there's no need. You can come and go as you please. You'll see exactly the same gardens if you get started at 11:00 or noon or 1:00 or even as late as 2:00! (Do, however, make sure you have enough time to see all the gardens. We don't recommend starting the tour after 2:00.) You could, for example, pick up your tour map at 11:00, go visit a few gardens, zoom over to Car-Free Commercial Drive for an amusing lunch and stroll, and then come back to see the rest of the gardens on the tour. Do, however, plan on being done by 4:00!
You can get your tickets — now $12 per person — ahead of time either at Figaro's or at Britannia Community Services Centre. (And we do recommend that you sign up ahead of time to avoid disappointment. The tour is very popular, and, although we do have a few cash-only tickets available at Figaro's on the day of the tour, tickets are limited.)
Drop in to Figaro's Garden Centre to buy tickets or order your tickets for the tour at Britannia Centre's Info Centre, 1661 Napier, in person or by phone at 604-718-5800. (If you already have an online account with the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation, you can also register online at britanniacentre.org.)
Important: Note that most gardens are not wheelchair-accessible, children must be 12 years or older or babes in arms, and pets are not allowed. Also, photos are not allowed unless you get the gardeners' permission.
