Royal Botanical Gardens

Recently I visited Hendrie Park, one of the large display gardens within Royal Botanical Gardens not far from Toronto. Hendrie Park contains several formal, informal and natural gardens. I always enjoy visiting formal gardens because of their design elements.

The infinity edge reflecting pools are stunning and pick up the reflection of the gardens on each side. In June, when the roses are in full bloom the reflections on the water are full of colour.

I was there at the end of July when the full rose bloom had passed and found serenity in the reflecting pools when the jewel-toned water lilies take precedence showing their chiseled stalks and flowers softened by their round lily pads below, skimming the water.

Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) began as a work project during the Great Depression when it was given formal permission in 1930 from King George V to call the gardens “Royal Botanical Gardens”.

Patterned after Kew Gardens in England, RBG was created as both a tourism destination and as a regional environmental agency for the development of Conservation, Education, Horticulture and Science. RBG is an ecological treasure of 2300 acres of varied ecosystems connecting the Niagara escarpment to the western tip of Lake Ontario including land within the cities of Burlington and Hamilton, Ontario.

RBG is known all over the world for its wide-ranging display gardens of over 400 acres. Royal Botanical Gardens is one of the largest institutions of its kind in North America.