Tale of two visits: Polygon Gallery and Park and Tilford Garden

It has been years since I last walked around Park and Tilford Garden in North Vancouver.

I stopped by with my grandchildren as we made our way home from visiting the new Polygon Gallery at Lonsdale Quay.

We were all delighted at what we found at both the gallery and the garden.

The gallery is a wonderful new exhibition space. The Susan Hiller: Altered States show was strange and exhilarating.

We were surprised and puzzled and shocked and intrigued all at the same time. It is always interesting to see how kids use spaces and how they interacted with art.

But I have to say we had even more fun walking around Park and Tilford Garden.

It was just after a heavy rain and the sun came out and lit up all corners of the garden with soft, new light.

We loved walking around the white posted pergola with the big leaf magnolia towering above us.

But the kids especially loved the Asian garden with its red painted bridge and koi pond and nicely clipped conifers.

“This is my favourite part of the garden,” said Banks, 10.

But he said that before we saw the totem pole in the next section or the rose garden with its lovely circular pond and fountain.

We all left the garden feeling refreshed and uplifted – signs of a happy garden visit.

North Shore residents are lucky to have such a lovely, well-designed, beautifully planted garden  . . .  in their local shopping mall, of all places.