As temperatures rise, many are considering adding public gardens to their summer plans for a chance to relax and enjoy unique green spaces across Canada. These gardens offer opportunities to explore native plants, sustainable horticulture, and the importance of pollinators, providing valuable insights for home gardening.
In British Columbia, the Butchart Gardens in Brentwood Bay attract over a million visitors annually with its 120-year-old horticultural displays spread across 22 hectares. The Sunken Garden, featuring 151 flower beds and a dahlia border, is a popular highlight. The Gardens at Horticulture Centre of the Pacific in Victoria offer themed spaces, including a bonsai garden, a bridal-themed garden, and a children’s garden with interactive experiences.
In Alberta, the Muttart Conservatory in Edmonton showcases over 700 plant species in its four glass pyramids, each representing a different biome. The University of Alberta Botanic Garden in Parkland County is the largest public garden in the province, featuring diverse spaces such as the Indigenous Peoples Garden and the Kurimoto Japanese Garden.
In Saskatchewan, the Patterson Garden Arboretum at the University of Saskatchewan serves as a conservation area for native plants and endangered tree species, thriving in the region’s challenging climate. Manitoba’s Assiniboine Park Conservancy in Winnipeg offers six main gardens and an indoor horticultural experience called The Leaf.
Ontario boasts the Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton and Burlington, covering 850 hectares with various gardens like the rose garden at Hendrie Park and the David Braley and Nancy Gordon Rock Garden. The Toronto Botanical Garden features 18 themed spaces, while Whistling Gardens in Wilsonville showcases 1,300 peony varieties and a grand water theatre.
In Quebec, the Reford Gardens in Grand-Métis span 18 hectares along the St. Lawrence River, hosting gardens created by Elsie Reford and installations from the International Garden Festival. New Brunswick’s Kingsbrae Garden in St. Andrews and New Brunswick Botanical Garden in Edmundston offer unique thematic experiences with thousands of perennials and mosaïculture structures.
Newfoundland’s Memorial University Botanical Garden in St. John’s combines research and education, featuring themed gardens and extensive trails for exploration. Nova Scotia’s Halifax Public Gardens in Halifax provide a historic Victorian garden experience, while Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens in Annapolis Royal offer a blend of horticulture and history with a recreated Acadian house and a rose maze.
