The Bloedel Conservatory is located in Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It opened on December 6th, 1969 due to a large donation by Prentice Bloedel. At the time, it was the second largest conservatory in the world. It has a diameter of 43 meters (140 feet) and a height of 21 meters (70 feet) at the centre of the dome. The conservatory consists of a single dome and its triodetic design means that the dome does not need any supporting columns.

A small admission fee is charged. The conservatory is open seven days a week and is available for wedding ceremonies and photos. The emphasis of the Bloedel Conservatory is on both plants and birds. It features over 100 species of birds, who are allowed to fly free within the dome, and over 500 different plants.

Within the conservatory, there is a winding path that roughly follows the perimeter of the dome. As you follow the path, you will pass through three simulated climates: tropical rain forest, sub-tropical and desert climates. Once you have passed through the main entrance, follow the path in a clockwise direction. Along the path there is a wide variety of exotic tropical plants, palm trees, flowers and birds.

As the path turns to the right, you will cross over a suspended bridge, which has a bamboo railing. In the pond below the bridge, you can easily spot over a dozen Japanese Koi Carp. Koi are colourful, fresh-water fish that have been bred in Japan since the early 1800's and can live for over 20 years.

From the bridge, look towards the centre of the dome and you will see a beautiful waterfall flowing into the pond with Koi swimming below. Now look to the left of the bridge where you will see a pair of Green-winged Macaws named Maria and Carmen. They have beautiful blue and green wings, with vibrant red feathers on their head and chest. If you are lucky, you will catch them in a playful mood and see them play with some discarded pots.

As you continue to follow the path, you will come across more cockatoos and parrots. The first cockatoo you will see is named Charlie. He is a Salmon-Crested Cockatoo with beautiful light-salmon coloured feathers. Charlie is over 25 years old and loves to talk to everyone as they pass by.

Just past Charlie is a large collection of orchids. There are over 25,000 different species of orchids in the world and over 100,000 hybrids. The orchids at the Bloedel Conservatory come in a variety of colours, including white, yellow, purple and red. Next to the orchids, you will see a statue of a woman holding roses. White and pink Easter lilies surround the statue.

Here the path splits into two, with one side leading up to a small seating area. Looking up, you will see a wood pergola and baskets of flowers hanging down from it. As the two paths join up again, you will come across another talkative bird named Rosie. She is an African Gray Parrot with a gray body and red tail feathers.

As the path bends and starts to head back to the entrance, you will come across Art, who is a Blue and Gold Macaw. He can be very shy; so don't be surprised if all you see is the blue feathers on his back. Past Art, you will come to the desert section of the conservatory. Here you will see cacti, succulents and other drought resistant plants.

On the other side of the path is a large bird feeder made from volcanic rock. Bird seeds and fruit are left out, making this a popular stop for the smaller birds in the conservatory. You have now finished your tour. Before you leave, take a peak in the gift shop and make sure to ask for a list of the birds that call Bloedel Conservatory home.