Maple syrup is one of Canada’s most iconic sweet treats, loved for its unique flavour and natural origin. However,...
Canadian Botanical Gardens: Beauty and Diversity of Plants
For gardeners and plant lovers, botanical gardens are places of interest. Canada is known for its biodiversity and also for its environmentalism. The country has a significant number of botanical gardens. We have listed those that caught our attention.
Royal Botanic Gardens in Ontario
This site is located west of Lake Ontario, between Toronto and Niagara Falls. It is the largest botanical garden in the country, with an area of 980 hectares. It was designated a national historic site in 1994 and it has been a reference park in terms of biodiversity since 2006. Its flora is particularly rich, but it also presents numerous species of birds and amphibians.
There are a number of animal and plant species, sometimes specific to the region or country, contained in the natural lands and nature sanctuaries of the Royal Botanic Gardens. This is the case for the threatened species of shy bulrush or red mulberry.
Its largest area - Dundas Marsh or Cootes Paradise - is a spawning ground for many fish endemic to Lake Ontario. It is also an essential place for bird watching. His “Project Paradise” constitutes the largest wetland rehabilitation project in Canada. Its arboretum attracts many visitors with its impressive collection of lilacs, which bloom towards the end of May.
The historic gardens of Government House in Regina, Saskatchewan
This national historic site surrounds Government House, a provincial heritage property, both a testament to the town's Victorian past. The historic gardens are Edwardian in style. This type of layout creates outdoor rooms and everyone has their own perspective. Note that there are only two gardens of this type in Canada.
These gardens are home to over 5,000 tulips, as well as a magnificent collection of lilies and roses. You can take an “ecological” walk there or simply sit in the garden for a picnic, relax and let the time pass. Enjoy numerous activities in summer in these magnificent gardens accessible to all. In case of rain, you can retreat inside. Older children will head to the Sylvia Fedoruk Museum or Conservatory. A treasure hunt can keep the children busy: they will stock up on gardening knowledge.
Butchen Gardens in British Columbia
This collection of flower display gardens is located in Brentwood Bay, near Victoria, on Vancouver Island. They attract nearly a million visitors each year. Now a national historic site, it was created by Robert and Jennie Butchart in 1904. It is built on a limestone quarry and there are also traces of the old extraction zone.
Butchart Gardens has several themed areas: Italian garden, rose garden, Mediterranean garden and many others. They contain more than 900 bedding plants and around twenty greenhouses. Several dozen gardeners are responsible for its maintenance and layout throughout the year, as it remains open in winter. During this season, an ice rink is available to the public and the gardens are decorated for the end-of-year celebrations.
Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens
If you are near Niagara Falls in Ontario, this beautiful botanical garden with an area of 40 hectares is worth the detour. It is located 10 minutes by car from these famous falls and allows you to observe many varieties of plants.
Established in 1936, today it contains a butterfly greenhouse, arboretum, herb garden, and themed plant beds that change almost every season. The rose garden is the highlight of this botanical garden: it contains nearly 2,400 roses. Walk the trails through Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens to discover its beauty. There are also some activities and a leisure area.
The Niagara Falls Botanical Garden is home to the Niagara Falls School of Horticulture. Students take outdoor lessons and apply their knowledge in the field.
The Montreal Botanical Park
This park has been designated a national historic site since 2008. Its collections, its size and its facilities make it one of the most important botanical gardens in the world.
It was created in 1931, at the height of the Great Depression, to educate the general public and especially horticulture students. The Montreal Botanical Garden also aims to preserve endangered plants. It is one of the richest gardens in the world, with more than 22,000 species of plants over an area of 75 hectares.
The Ming-inspired Chinese garden covers 2.5 hectares. Completed in 1991, it is the result of the work of 50 craftsmen from the Shanghai Institute of Landscape Design and Architecture. There we find species of plants, some animals and architectural elements representative of the country. The Japanese garden - also on 2.5 hectares - was created in 1988 by designer Ken Nakajima. It houses plants and architecture of the country. Its exterior design borrows Japanese design techniques. The First Nations Garden was opened in 2001 to honor and represent Canada's indigenous populations. It contains plants endemic to Canada as well as First Nations regions, with a particular focus on medicinal and nourishing plants. The Montreal Botanical Garden contains many other gardens: alpine, dangerous plants, roses, etc.
The Bloedel Floral Conservatory in Queen Elizabeth Park
Queen Elizabeth Park is a free-access public park in the city of Vancouver. It has been home to the Bloedel Conservatory since 1969. Its domed structure is a unique architectural feat that comprises 1,400 individual one-size panels, inside an aluminum structure. This site is located at the highest point of the city.
It is not just a botanical garden, it is an indoor conservatory of exotic plants and a bird park. Its botanical importance lies in its three distinct climatic zones: desert, tropical and subtropical, with more than 500 varieties of plants from around the world. Admire its citrus fruits, coffee trees, various fig and eucalyptus trees. Fill up on color while admiring its flower arrangements: gardenias, hibiscus, magnolias, lilies and much more. It also contains more than 200 tropical birds that fly freely inside the dome.
While waiting to visit these botanical gardens, we invite you to discover a little of Canada in our Online Store. You will find the essential maple syrup there, but also other original and authentic products: ice wine, spices and seasonings, cosmetics and well-being, decoration, etc.
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