Bird Walk, August 27

Bird Walk, 10 a.m. meet at the Garden entrance of Van Dusen Gardens. Join Jeremy Gordon for a birding exploration in the Garden. Rain or shine. Free for Members or with Garden admission.

Mayne Island Permaculture Course, August 27-28

Saturday to Sunday August 27-28
Red Spectral Serpent, White Crystal Worldbridger, Blue Cosmic Eagle
Fairview Farm, Mayne Island bc

Out on the Land, Permaculture Basics for a Small Farm

led by

Jill Whitelaw of Cascadia North Permaculture, and

Erin Innes of Passionate Permaculture

Step into natural time on Mayne Island... we will be observing the land and the area as it is in the Islands Trust, and working in a gentle manner. We will talk about somethings, get our hands dirty with others, take some walks and maybe go on a field trip to see a great pond and garden. Land observation and intuitional surveying; keyline dam discussion and exploration; no dig gardens; using wood and organic matter to create a sponge to hold water, eliminating the need for watering; orchard care and maintenance; primitive systems; aligning structures for maximum heat gain; and the mulch pit tree system. kids welcome.

Course fee: $75 + 50 for food, includes camping. Other accomodation is available on the island. http://www.mayneislandchamber.ca/

This course is appropriate for Permaculture graduates and non graduates also. The techniques in this workshop can be used anywhere in urban backyards or community gardens, and are mostly small designs by their natures.  

To register please contact Jill at greentempledesign@gmail.com

Music In the Garden- From Cuba to Denmark, August 14th

MusicFest Vancouver:BMO World at the Garden: From Cuba to Denmark (produced by MusicFest Vancouver) On the Great Lawn at 7 p.m. (gate opens at 5:30 p.m.) Cuban pianist Ernán Lopez-Nussa is one of today’s most remarkable jazz pianists. His deeply sensitive style has its roots in Cuban and Afro-Cuban musical traditions, European classics and contemporary music. Direct from Havana with his Trio, Ernán’s fusion of rhythm and beauty, strength and lyricism, will be unforgettable. Touché Vocal Jazz, a 14-member a cappella ensemble from Copenhagen, is known for big band-like arrangements, awesome swing and tender ballads. Hot and sweet, cool and lyrical, vocal percussion and smoky voices – Touché embraces the best jazz styles and arrangements. Ernán and Touché – it’s the recipe for an unforgettable evening of jazz al fresco in the Garden. The BMO WATG concert is festival seating on the Great Lawn. Seating is not provided. Patrons should bring their own blankets or low (8” max) lawn chairs (seated in the centre section). Full-size lawn chairs will be seated at special section on the sides. Please note that the ground is uneven and could be challenging for people in wheelchairs and walkers. Admission at 5:30 p.m. includes the opportunity to explore the Garden prior to the concert - bring a picnic and make an evening of it. Rain or shine - dress appropriately for sitting outside. Prices: Advance - $37/$32. At the door - $42/$37. Tickets for all concerts are available on the Festival’s web site www.musicfestvancouver.ca or through Ticketmaster (code EFEST 4) at 604.280.3311 www.ticketmaster.ca with service charges. Buy by July 29 and be entered to win a VIP reserved parking spot. More information on these and other MusicFest Vancouver concerts and to enter the contest, visit www.musicfestvancouver.ca

Music In the Garden- Family Day, August 14th

MusicFest Vancouver: Music in the Garden: BMO Family Day: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. on the Great Lawn, presented by Music Fest Vancouver. BMO Family Day is back with even more to entertain children, parents, and even grandparents that love music and nature. Surrounding the Great Lawn you'll find a craft tent, an interactive drumming circle lead by Groove Masters Percussion, and the very popular Tom Lee Instrument Petting Zoo, where kids young and old can get their hands on an array of musical instruments.  MusicFest Stage Performance Schedule: 11:30 a.m. Bobs & LoLo; 12:45 p.m. Will Stroet and the Backyard Band; 2 p.m. Bobs & LoLo. Regular Garden admission charges apply. Children under age two are free. Tickets only available at the gate on the day of the event. For more information contact MusicFest Vancouver www.musicfestvancouver.ca

Orchid Society Orchid and Companion Plant Sale, August 13th

Vancouver Orchid Society Orchid and Companion Plant Sale,Floral Hall, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Information: Wayne Riggs 604.597.5709riggskw@interchange.ubc.ca

Zimsculpt

Zimsculpt - Zimsculpt returns to VanDusen for its third and final year bringing stunning stone sculpture from Zimbabwe. More than 300 pieces by several Zimbabwean sculptors are artistically displayed throughout the Garden. Two artists from Zimbabwe, Passmore Mupindiko and Patrick Sephani, will be in attendance throughout the exhibition and carving on site daily. All pieces are for sale with partial proceeds going to support the VanDusen Botanical Garden Association. This will be your last chance to see and purchase these stunning sculptures.www.zimsculpt.com

Poetry In A Chinese Garden, August 11th

Cedar Lecture: Poetry in a Chinese Garden, with noted Sinologist Dr. Jan Walls and calligrapher Yim Tse. Floral Hall at 7:30 p.m. Tonight’s presentation celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden; the only full-size classical Ming Dynasty Chinese garden outside of China. Dr. Jan Walls explores how poetry is used in classical Chinese gardens to examine nature and garden elements. Dr. Walls’ presentation is followed by a demonstration of the Chinese art of calligraphy by Yim Tse. Tickets: in advance from the Administration Office or, subject to availability, at the door on the night of the lecture. Individual tickets: Members $10 and non-members $15. Trio Pack: includes three tickets which can be used on any three lectures in 2011 - Members: $25 (for 3), Non-members: $40 (for 3). Information: educate@vandusen.org

Urban Permaculture Design Course

Urban Permaculture Design Course

With Erin Innes and Grant Watson 

Dates: Sep 9 - Oct 28, 2011 (Wednesdays 10 to 5:30 plus a weekend retreat Sep 30-Oct 2)
Registration: call Langara College at 604 323 5322 - course # 70849

Creating abundant urban communities that don't just sustain themselves, but heal the ecology around them and the people who live in them, is the frontline of sustainability activism; Permaculture gives us the tools to do it. Through 72 hours of experiential learning, earn your internationally recognized Permaculture Designer Certificate and learn what sustainable living really looks like in both urban and rural settings, as well as how they interact and support each other. Growing food in the city, ecological restoration and remediation, green building, community leadership, and sustainable settlement design are just some of the skills you'll learn in this demanding and inspiring course which will take you from urban farms and community gardens to the Fraser Valley, Sunshine Coast, and your own backyard.

In the field: A portion of course material will be delivered onsite at the following locations and will include hands-on activities:

• Langara Community Garden
• Farmers on 57^th, George Pearson Hospital, Vancouver
• Glen Valley Organic Farm, Abbotsford
• Rolling Earth Farm, Roberts Creek
• Deer Crossing at the Art Farm, Gibsons
• Other venues may be added

For more information contact Leslie Kemp at Langara College: 604 323 5981

Course fee: $1100 (additional cost for weekend field trip, approximately $150). Some scholarships may be available; Langara college credits applicable.