Bloedel Floral Conservatory

The Bloedel Floral Conservatory in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, is a conservatory and aviary located at the top of Queen Elizabeth Park. Located 500 feet (150 m) above sea level, the conservatory itself is 140 feet (43 m) in diameter, 70 feet (21 m) high. The triodetic dome (related to a geodesic dome) consists of 1,490 acrylic glass bubbles and is illuminated at night. Over 100 birds of various species reside within the dome and are allowed to fly free. Also on display are an array of tropical fish. The Bloedel Floral Conservatory is a lush tropical experience representative of about 500 species and varieties of plants from deep jungle to desert clime -- all housed within the dome.

In the plaza adjacent to the Conservatory dome is Henry Moore's sculpture Knife Edge - Two Piece. It was donated to the Park Board by avid modern art collector Prentice Bloedel when he funded the redevelopment of original Queen Elizabeth Park Plaza and Bloedel Floral Conservatory. It is one of three casts of this work by the famous British sculptor.

The conservatory opened in 1969 and was constructed through a donation from Prentice Bloedel. That same donation was used to cover the water reservoir on top of Queen Elizabeth Park and to provide covered walkways, lighted fountains and art work.

The conservatory is home to Bougainvilleas and Browallias, citrus and coffee trees, Eucalypti and epiphytes, Euphorbia and various figs, Gardenia and Hibiscus. Magnolia trees share space with delicate lilies, yucca with pteris (ferns).

The Bloedel Floral Conservatory is open seven days a week, and is closed only on Christmas day. There is a modest admission charge.