These public parks in Ontario are a must visit

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This is the perfect time of year to get out and enjoy some of the great public gardens that this district offers.

As immunization rates continue to rise, we understand the need for a mixed landscape change. Here are some of the landscapes we like to enjoy:

  • The Niagara Parks Commission is a special operator enterprise agency established in 1885 by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports. Today, he oversees more than 3,000 acres of public land and the Niagara Parks School, founded in 1936. Highlights of Niagara Parks include a garden, a butterfly conservatory and a flower show, with a choice of tops. It was rebuilt from the old gardens and small village. We were the director of the Niagara Parks Commission, Steve Bamford, at the green file, where we gave a landscape architect’s perspective on many of the park’s great features (bit.ly/2VS9iF9).
  • We recommend whistling parks in Wilsonville, southwest Ontario. Whistle parks have more than 4 km of footpaths on 22 hectares of manicured land, including more than 2,000 species and North America’s largest peony group (1,200 different species at the end of May). Go to bit.ly/3sb38ff for more,
  • Further east, Manidu Ogigaan (Spirit Garden) is a new garden on the shores of Lake Kingston, Ontario, designed to tell the story of Alderville First Nation, which moved from Kingston area to Coborg North in 1837. It is intended to test the legitimacy of colonialism and cultural integration of indigenous communities after a history of brutality with the United Kingdom Loyalist settlers of Alderville First Nation. Useful stop to stop and reflect (bit.ly/3jQ1MTt).

Note: The City of Toronto recently approved a $ 2 million grant to build a spiritual garden at Nathan Phillips Square, and we look forward to seeing these important gardens in public places across the country.

  • The City of Ottawa takes public gardens seriously. Many of the city’s gardens are managed by the National Capital Commission and promoted by the garden: a self-guided tour of more than 75 public gardens. One of the highlights was the renaissance of the Canadian War Museum, one of the largest in the world, and the Canadian gardens at the Canadian Museum of Natural History in one garden. For a more formal landscape experience, spend some time in the garden of Rido Hall with a unique British feel. Go to www.gardenpromenade.ca.
  • Closer to home, the Royal Herbs Garden (ARBG) is a short walk from Toronto on the GO train to Aldersho station. We recommend that you bring your own bike, which saves time and gives you a better chance of exploring this Niagara Scorpion corner. RBG is undoubtedly a crown jewel for public gardens in Canada. RBG’s new Nancy Roland on a green file (bit.ly/3xDDYqx) is a little-known princess in Cote d’Ivoire’s paradise. Check out the recently upgraded Rock Garden and Rose Garden, both of which have undergone millions of dollars in renovations since 2018 to put it in the golden range for modern garden design. Go to www.rbg.ca.
  • Our hometown hero, Toronto Botanical Garden (TBG) is one of our favorites. TBG offers the best value on this list: for a world-class garden, in our own backyard (description Ben is on TBG). Take a moment to look at the entrance garden designed by Dutchman Piet Odolph, the father of the new multi-year design movement. For more, go to torontobotanicalgarden.ca.

When we boldly return to the world, why not enter one of the great public gardens in our own backyard and capture the landscape.

Mark Kulen is a professional gardener, author, distributor, tree advocate and member of the Canadian Order. His son, Ben, is a fourth-generation urban gardener and a graduate of Halifax University at Golf University and Dalhousie. Follow them on markcullen.com, @markcullengardening and on Facebook.

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