As the temperatures rise, you might be envisioning a road trip or some leisurely day outings. Have you thought about including a public garden in your summer plans? Various unique green spaces are now opening across Canada, offering visitors a rare chance to relax and unwind.

These exquisite gardens not only offer a tranquil retreat but also present opportunities to learn about native plants, sustainable horticulture, and the crucial role of pollinators that you can apply to your own garden.

Here are some highlights of the most prominent and stunning garden experiences across Canada. Be sure to visit their websites to check their seasonal opening dates, explore tours, special events, and discover what will be blossoming during your visit.

In British Columbia, the Butchart Gardens in Brentwood Bay, Vancouver Island, attract over a million visitors annually. Established over 120 years ago, this horticultural paradise spans 22 hectares and boasts vibrant blooms, including the popular Sunken Garden with its 151 flower beds and picturesque dahlia border.

The Gardens at Horticulture Centre of the Pacific in Victoria offer themed spaces such as a bonsai garden, bridal-themed garden, and children’s garden with interactive experiences. The UBC Botanical Garden in Vancouver, Canada’s oldest university botanical garden, features diverse gardens and the unique Greenheart TreeWalk, which takes visitors 20 meters above the forest floor.

In Alberta, the Muttart Conservatory in Edmonton houses over 700 plant varieties in its four glass pyramids, showcasing different biomes. The University of Alberta Botanic Garden in Parkland County, the province’s largest public garden, features the Indigenous Peoples Garden and highlights like the Kurimoto Japanese Garden and Aga Khan 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 offers six main gardens and The Leaf, an indoor horticultural experience with four biomes and Canada’s tallest indoor waterfall.

Ontario’s Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton and Burlington, Canada’s largest botanical garden, covers 850 hectares with diverse spaces like the Hendrie Park rose garden and David Braley and Nancy Gordon Rock Garden. The Toronto Botanical Garden features 18 themed spaces, offering workshops and events. Whistling Gardens in Wilsonville showcases peonies, conifers, and a grand water theatre inspired by Versailles.

Quebec’s Reford Gardens in Grand-Métis, located along the St. Lawrence River, feature Elsie Reford’s historic gardens and installations from the International Garden Festival. New Brunswick’s Kingsbrae Garden in St. Andrews and New Brunswick Botanical Garden in Edmundston offer themed spaces, sculptures, and unique plant collections.

Newfoundland’s Memorial University Botanical Garden in St. John’s serves as an outdoor classroom and hiking destination with diverse ecosystems. Nova Scotia’s Halifax Public Gardens in Halifax, a national historic site, and Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens in Annapolis Royal with a recreated 17th-century house and a rose maze are must-visit destinations.