As temperatures rise, many are considering summer travel options, including visits to public gardens across Canada. These green spaces offer a unique opportunity to relax, explore native plants, learn about sustainable horticulture, and appreciate the importance of pollinators.
The Butchart Gardens in Brentwood Bay, B.C., attract over a million visitors annually with its vibrant blooms spread across 22 hectares. The Sunken Garden, with its 151 flower beds and winding paths, is a popular spot, especially during autumn when the dahlia border is in full bloom.
In Victoria, The Gardens at Horticulture Centre of the Pacific feature themed spaces such as the largest outdoor bonsai garden in Canada, a bridal-themed garden, and a children’s garden with educational experiences. The UBC Botanical Garden in Vancouver, established in 1916, offers a variety of gardens, including the Greenheart TreeWalk, which takes visitors 20 meters above the forest floor.
In Alberta, the Muttart Conservatory in Edmonton houses over 700 plant species in its glass pyramids, each representing a different biome. The University of Alberta Botanic Garden in Parkland County is the province’s largest public garden, featuring spaces like the Indigenous Peoples Garden and the Kurimoto Japanese Garden.
Saskatchewan’s Patterson Garden Arboretum in Saskatoon serves as a conservation area for native plants and endangered tree species. Manitoba’s Assiniboine Park Conservancy in Winnipeg boasts six main gardens and The Leaf, an indoor horticultural experience with four distinct biomes.
Ontario offers the Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton and Burlington, covering 850 hectares with ornamental spaces and nature sanctuaries. The Toronto Botanical Garden in Toronto features 18 themed spaces and hosts various events throughout the year. Whistling Gardens in Wilsonville showcases peonies, conifers, and a grand water theatre with fountain shows.
Quebec’s Reford Gardens in Grand-Métis feature gardens created by Elsie Reford, known for their Himalayan blue poppies, and installations from the International Garden Festival. In New Brunswick, Kingsbrae Garden in St. Andrews offers over 50,000 perennials, while the New Brunswick Botanical Garden in Edmundston showcases themed gardens and mosaïculture structures.
Newfoundland’s Memorial University Botanical Garden in St. John’s is dedicated to research and education and features themed gardens and hiking trails. Nova Scotia’s Halifax Public Gardens in Halifax is a Victorian-era national historic site with summer concerts and blooming dahlias. The Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens in Annapolis Royal, N.S., combine history with garden design, including a recreated Acadian house and a rose maze.
