Top 12 gardens near Toronto to visit this summer
For eager day-trippers based in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), if you are looking to visit some gardens this summer, here is a list of the top 12 Ontario gardens that are in or near Toronto.
Keep in mind, though, given that we are still in the midst of a pandemic and the province not yet fully open, please check their respective websites to determine if they are open, hours of operations and public safety guidelines.
1. Allan Gardens, Toronto: One of the oldest gardens in Ontario, is both a park and indoor botanical garden, has six greenhouses and is conveniently located in the heart of downtown Toronto. (https://www.toronto.ca/data/parks/prd/facilities/complex/41/index.html)
2. Casa Loma Garden, Toronto: Canada’s most famous medieval castle has more than four acres of gardens with a lovely roses garden, rare wildflowers, and plenty of rhododendrons and azaleas, on an escarpment overlooking Toronto’s downtown. (https://casaloma.ca/)
3. Edward Gardens, Toronto: The (former) Edwards estate has gardens that features perennials, roses, wildflowers, rhododendrons, a rock garden and a valley view. (https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/parks-gardens-beaches/)
4. Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens, Niagara: Renowned for its carpet bedding and Butterfly Conservatory, in the heart of Niagara. (https://www.niagaraparks.com/)
5. Niagara Parks Floral Clock and Gardens, Niagara: The face of the floral clock is made with about 16,000 carpet bedding plants and the tower portion has Westminster chimes. Centennial Lilac Gardens and Niagara Parks Botanical Garden are located nearby. (https://www.niagaraparks.com/visit/nature-garden/floral-clock/)
6. Ontario Royal Botanical Gardens, Burlington: Canada’s largest botanical gardens, comprising 2,700 acres of land, including five garden locations and 2,400 acres of conservation lands. (https://www.rbg.ca/)
7. Parkwood Estate Gardens, Oshawa. Estate built in early 20th century, now a national historic site, has a large conservatory, pavilions, an ‘art moderne’ garden, indoor Japanese garden and an Italian garden. (https://www.parkwoodestate.com/)
8. Queen Victoria Park, Niagara: Nineteenth century park with carpet bedding, rock garden and rose garden, overlooking the famous Niagara Falls. (https://www.niagaraparks.com/)
9. Spadina Gardens, Toronto: Victorian-era house with a restored garden, formal bedding near the house, including kitchen and cutting gardens, in the style of the 20th century. (https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/history-art-culture/)
10. Royal Botanical Gardens, Burlington: Canada’s largest botanical garden comprising 2,700 acres of land, includes rose and lilac gardens, and a rock garden. (https://www.rbg.ca/)
11. Toronto Botanical Gardens, Toronto: These botanicals are located in Edwards Gardens. (https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/parks-gardens-beaches/)
12. Toronto Music Garden, Toronto: Designed by landscape architect Julie Moir Messervy in collaboration with cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Design is music theme-based on the First Suite for Unaccompanied Cello by J.S. Bach, comprising six garden “movements.” (https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/parks-gardens-beaches/)
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Resources: Ontario Tourism , seetorontonow.com
Source: GardenVisitGuide
