Les Verts Terrace™ Indoor Gardens Now on Display at VanDusen Botanical Garden in Vancouver
Les Verts Living and Vancouver Botanical Gardens Association (VBGA) are proud to introduce a new display on indoor hydroponic gardening — now on view in the Discovery Room of the Visitor Centre at VanDusen Botanical Garden.
During the winter months, you don’t usually see much in bloom at the Garden. But this year, visitors will find colourful flowers, fragrant herbs, and vibrant greens thriving indoors thanks to the innovative Les Verts Terrace Indoor Garden systems.
This installation goes beyond showcasing new technology; it invites visitors to imagine the future of gardening itself. As part of VBGA’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, hydroponic growing represents a sustainable and forward-thinking way to produce plants and food while reducing environmental impact.
We asked Milo Dron, Director of Mission Advancement at VBGA, to share his team’s experience with their two Les Verts Terrace Indoor Garden systems.
What has your experience been like working with the hydroponic systems so far?
“The team at VanDusen Botanical Garden has been growing plants for 50 years While we’re experts in traditional growing, the units donated by Les Verts Living have been our first adventure into the world of hydroponic growing and we’ve been amazed at the results so far.
Setting up the system wasn’t difficult, and we’ve found public interest to be even greater than expected; people love seeing bright and colourful blooms in the dead of winter!”
View this post on Instagram
What has stood out to you about the plants’ growth or performance?
“With traditional gardening, you can take every precaution and do everything right, but still not get the growth you had hoped for; weather and wildlife often get in the way.
When people found out that our first batch of seeds had been growing for less than a month, they were amazed. In just a few weeks the display looked full and healthy, and with thoughtful rotation and some basic care, it has stayed that way.
We host hundreds of classes here a year and often need high volumes of specific plants at short notice, something this will help with greatly. And on a personal note, the edible greens taste fantastic!”
From a horticultural and display standpoint, how have the systems integrated into the garden’s indoor spaces?
“VBGA’s mission as a charity is to connect people to plants, which can be more challenging during the winter months. The Festival of Lights at VanDusen Botanical Garden is one of the City’s most popular holiday events, bringing a significant increase in visitation during a time when the outdoor garden is in its seasonal rest.
The hydroponic systems from Les Verts help further enrich that experience by introducing this surge of visitors to living plant displays indoors. These systems make it possible to showcase a diverse range of plants during a season where outdoor collections are dormant, while also helping educate visitors about the evolving field of hydroponic growing. This opens up new opportunities, such as displaying plants at different stages of their life cycle and allowing people to observe root systems up close without disturbing plants in the ground.
We are excited to experiment with all kinds of new species in the new year – be sure to come by VanDusen Botanical Garden to see how things are going!”
How have visitors responded to seeing hydroponics in action, and what kinds of questions or conversations has the display sparked?
“It has been inspiring to see the many ways people have engaged with hydroponics. We have had experts with many years of experience share their tips and compare their set up to Les Verts’. Plenty of life-long gardeners who have only heard about hydroponics are thrilled to see it up close; this group in particular are fascinated by the growing medium and how quickly everything has grown. Lastly, just about everyone loves seeing the zinnias in bloom, the peas grow from flowers, or the taste of the herbs!”
Why Indoor Gardening Matters for the Future
Over the past few years, indoor gardening has grown from a niche hobby into a meaningful path toward a more resilient and sustainable food future. Hydroponic systems like the Les Verts Terrace offer a glimpse of what’s possible:
- Sustainable growing: Hydroponics uses 90% less water than traditional agriculture and eliminates the need for soil, pesticides, or arable land.
- Climate resilience: Indoor gardens thrive regardless of weather, seasons, or climate challenges, making fresh food possible even in harsh or unpredictable environments.
- Self-sufficiency at home: More people are discovering how empowering it is to grow their own food right where they live. You can’t get more local than your own living room.
- A deeper connection to our food: You get to experience the entire process of growing from seed to plate. No pesticides, no food miles. Just pure freshness and nutrition.
VanDusen Botanical Garden’s new hydroponic display celebrates these ideas in a public, educational space and invites visitors to imagine gardening that works in any season, any home, any future.
Growing the Future Together
As they continue on their hydroponic journey and begin experimenting with new plants, VanDusen’s insights will help shape a broader conversation about the future of gardening, one where sustainability, accessibility, and self-sufficiency play a central role.
Indoor hydroponics is more than a trend. It’s a tool for anyone who wants to take part in building a more resilient food system, connect more deeply with what they eat, and grow with confidence. Anytime, anywhere.
Here’s to new ideas, new growth, and a greener, more sustainable future for all of us.
For more information about Vancouver Botanical Gardens Association’s initiatives, please visit their website here.
For more information about Les Verts Terrace Indoor Gardens, please browse our gardens here.
PREVIOUS
Winnipeg Sun: How Les Verts Living is improving Manitoba’s food supply
READ MORE