Parks Canada Celebrates the Year of the Garden

Visit the ornamental gardens of Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site and let yourself be charmed by the vibrant colours of the many flowers, shrubs, and trees that surround the site. Explore these stunning gardens established in 1956, which tell the story of Mabel Hubbard Bell: an avid horticulturist, an advocate for women and children’s education, and the first woman to manage an aviation company.

Explore the colourful, historic gardens designed by radical leader of French Canadians, Louis-Joseph Papineau. Known for his passion for politics, Papineau also shared a love for botany. He designed the landscaping with inspiration from the English gardens he visited.

Admire the blooming landscapes as you walk these beautiful garden paths and who knows? You might even bump into the Gardener Papineau this summer!

Discover a colourful mosaic of cosmos, marigolds, delphiniums and more at Sault Ste. Marie Canal’s English garden! The plants here were carefully selected to accurately reflect what was grown in the early 20th century. Dating back to 1911, Superintendent J.W. LeBreton Ross was able to secure funds through the “Beautify Canada” campaign to plant tree seedlings and flower beds.

Head to Lower Fort Garry and explore the different gardens! Stroll past the Monarch garden and spot the chrysalises before the butterflies emerge. Find produce gardens that feature heirloom seeds passed from one generation to another or go for an afternoon stroll along the Victorian flower garden at the Big House.

Get a glimpse into the world of land based living as you explore the gardens and meet the animals at this homestead!

Half-filled with a bounty of heirloom fruits and vegetables, explore two ever-changing gardens where traditional gardening practices and scientific agriculture methods meet. Learn how people were connected to the land of the prairies, and how the heirloom varieties included in this garden were bred to thrive Saskatchewan’s harsh winters, and short, dry summers.

Have you ever wondered how food was stored before modern refrigeration was invented? Visit the produce garden at Bar U Ranch and stop by the storehouses and root cellar to learn the secrets of preserving vegetables back in the day.

In the fall, roll up your sleeves, stir up the dirt and bring home some fresh vegetables!

Head to Fort Langley and visit a heritage garden filled with potatoes, rye, carrots, apples, peas, and beans; the same crops grown by Hudson’s Bay Company settlers in 1827.

Curious about nature and passionate about history? Talk to the guides dressed in historic costumes as they tend to the garden to learn the secrets of 19th century agriculture and food production. They’ll explain why potatoes were one of the most popular crops grown by the settlers!

When you are done admiring the garden, make sure to check out Fort Langley’s very own demonstration farm in the summer months.

Discover the scenic gardens at the Commissioner’s Residence in Dawson, a mansion restored to its 1912-1916 state when George and Martha Black resided there. Martha was an avid gardener and landscaper who even went on to become a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society for her research and lectures on Yukon flora. In addition to being an accomplished horticulturist, Martha was also the second woman to be elected to the Canadian House of Commons (1935-40).