Happy new year! We are thrilled to announce the return of UBC Botanical Garden's Lunar New Year market. We've expanded our market to feature over 30 local makers, artists, crafters and food trucks. UBC Botanical Garden will also offer fresh flowers, dried floral arrangements and potted plants for sale. We welcome back UBC Kung Fu Club to show us their exciting lion dance and kung fu performance. There will also be exciting workshops for you to participate in! Come learn the basics of calligraphy, how to make sweet dumpling desserts, and understand more about the plants in the Asian garden! 

Feb 3rd & 4th 10am-4pm

We are also currently seeking volunteers for the Lunar New Year Market. Please email garden.events@ubc.ca for more info 

Daily Hive is proud to be a media sponsor of UBC Botanical Garden’s Lunar New Year Market

While meteorologists are mostly in agreement that in our area an El Niño winter will produce milder than average temperatures and plenty of rain, January brings a certain amount of weather uncertainty. This is normally our coldest month, and severe weather can arrive with little warning. So, again, I’ll play it safe and highlight our diverse collection of resilient, cold-hardy, broadleaf evergreens.

To celebrate national bird day, we wanted to do a birding spotlight on seasoned birder, Debbi Hlady. We interviewed her after her sighting of the Bohemian Waxwing and Swamp Sparrow.

Where is your favorite spot in the UBC Botanical Garden to birdwatch?
"My favorite spot to bird in the garden is between the Carolinian forest & alpine because of the various garden vegetation and eco-niche habitats. This area also includes the 'open sky' which I've seen uncommon black swift, Townsend's solitaire, rarely seen cliff swallow, many warblers, flycatchers, thrushes, snow geese, various hawks eagles and even turkey vultures!" 

How many new species of birds have you spotted in the last year?
"I'm always on the lookout and especially listening for what birds are present, but I do check specific trees like Sorbus to look for winter resident birds such as Hermit thrush which are solitary & uncommon The weekly inventory can bring new surprises which last week included the Bohemian Waxwing, and Swamp sparrow. These two bring the 2023 new garden species to five, three of which I've found. Those species are Nashville warbler, Wilson's snipe & House Wren."

At the garden, we have observed over 127 different species (according to eBird). When you're here, ask our admissions staff for our birding brochure to see if you can spot some of these species! UBC also has a birding club that frequently visits and you can check our their most recent tour here. 

In partnership with SPEC School Gardens Program, we will take your Christmas tree and recycle it for a suggested donation of $5 until January 8th. Your contribution directly supports students at Britannia Community Elementary School. Donations will contribute to the replacement of damaged garden beds, compost material and the creation of pollinator-friendly habitat. Simply drop it off to us at the UBC Botanical Garden between 10am-2pm before Jauary 8th!

When you're done with your wreath, bring it back to the shop between March 1st-March 31st to receive $10 off your purchase of $30 or more, before taxes and excluding books. Can not be combined with other specal offers or discounts.