Watercolour: Mastering the Art of Whites

Join Instructor Susan Pearson for a creative journey into making your watercolour paintings shine. While colour plays a vital role, the thoughtful use of white spaces and watercolour techniques can bring your artwork to life. In this 5-session series, you’ll learn how to plan ahead and use well-placed whites to improve your creations.

Susan will provide inspiring image references, but participants are welcome to bring their own for a personal touch. Bring your imagination and curiosity, and let’s explore what we can create together!

January Wildlife Photography Essentials

Located in one of the top wildlife hotspots on the continent, the Vancouver region and its surroundings on the British Columbia coast are home to some spectacular species. With such an incredible abundance of wildlife, it is no surprise that the parks in the region are also popular with photo enthusiasts and wildlife lovers, who visit from near and far.

Join wildlife photographer Liron Gertsman for an in-depth workshop on wildlife photography. We will go over tips, tricks and techniques for wildlife photography that can be applied regardless of your camera of choice, smartphones included.

Speaker Series: Your Brain in Nature (Online)

Presenter: Dr. Amy McDonnell
Topic: Your Brain in Nature

Most of us intuitively feel that spending time in nature increases our wellbeing. A growing body of scientific research confirms this, and points to many beneficial effects of spending time in the natural world, including better health, lowered stress, and higher levels of focus.

In this presentation, cognitive neuroscientist Amy McDonnell will provide us with an overview of the many exciting findings in the growing field of neuroscience and will speak about her own PhD research on how immersion in different types of natural environments affect stress physiology and brain activity.

Winter Plant ID: Native Shrubs & Trees

When seasons change and plants lose their leaves, it may seem like a dull and sleepy time of year—but there is so much to observe and get excited about the outdoors!

In fact, there are some plant traits that you can only clearly observe in winter. Wintertime is a great time to build your plant identification skills and hone your observational abilities.

Free Bird Tours

Vancouver Botanical Gardens Association is delighted to present free, guided Birding Tours at VanDusen Botanical Garden with our knowledgeable volunteer guides. Tours are free with admission, registration is required as space is limited.

During this leisurely 2-hour tour through the Garden, your small group will look & listen for some of the many resident & migratory bird species that frequent the site, while your guides share their birding skills, enthusiasm, and knowledge. Beginners are encouraged to attend! Dress for the weather and bring binoculars if you have them (we will have a few pairs on hand to share).

Register for birding here.

Getting a Head Start on Veggie Garden Planning

Get a head start on the 2025 growing season with Jenna Jaski, Co-owner of Victory Gardens. Participants will learn how to plan their gardens, including what crops to grow, when to plant by seed or starter, and how to maximize their space. We will also discuss crop rotation and garden mapping to enhance crop yields and growing success next season. Bring your questions; there may be time for a Q&A session at the end!

Drawing Tree Shapes and Textures (Online)

Join local artist Katharine Dickinson for an immersive online series on capturing the beauty of trees through drawing. Over three engaging sessions, you’ll refine your observational skills, explore colour matching, and uncover the unique features that define different tree species.

Learn essential drawing techniques inspired by botanical art and tree photography, simplifying concepts like foreshortening and perspective. Practical exercises will focus on textures and details, including bark, twigs, leaves, and cones, using live tree examples.