The best of Canada Garden Route tour

Garden Making’s coast-to-coast tour of the Canada Garden Route began in mid-May on British Columbia’s Vancouver Island and ended a month and a half later in St. John’s, Newfoundland. And what an exciting, whirlwind trip it was! People ask me, “What was the best part of the trip?” And honestly, there were so many “bests” I thought the only way to answer the question was to jot them down here. I hope you enjoy my reminiscences as much as I loved the experience.

Best display of art in the garden

• Kingsbrae Gardens
• Leo Mol Sculpture Garden, Assiniboine Park

Best display of peonies

• Central Experimental Farm

 Best display of rhododendrons

• MUN Botanical Garden
• Hatley Gardens at Royal Roads University

 Best gardens along bicycling routes

• Domaine de Maizerets, Parc linear de la Rivère-Saint-Charles, Promenade Samuel de Champlain
• St. Albert Botanic Park and Art Walk

Best hands-on experience

• Making a moss basket, The Butchart Gardens

Best media coverage

• The Butchart Gardens, CTV Victoria
• Charlie Dobbin’s Garden and Home Show, Zoomer Radio
• Niki Jabbour’s The Weekend Gardener, News 95.7 FM

Best online conversation

• David Austin Roses, English Garden, Assiniboine Park

Best rainy day experiences

• Sampling food and honey, Toronto Botanical Gardens Farmers Market
• Reaching the most easterly point in Canada, Cape Spear

Best teaching gardens

• Roger Van den Hende Botanical Garden
• Niagara Parks Botanical Garden

Best gardening tips

• Taking flower photos, Devonian Botanical Garden
• Ladder planting, Halifax Public Gardens
• Trying my hand at calligraphy, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden

Exhibition that most took my breath away

• Mosaiculture, Montreal Botanical Garden

Garden most worthy of reaching by a midnight ferry ride

• Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens

Moment of greatest zonal envy

• Banana trees that overwinter outdoors, The Hatley Gardens at Royal Roads University

Most breathtaking display of blue poppies

Are you serious? They all were!

• MUN Botanical Gardens
• VanDusen Garden
• UBC Botanical Garden

Most breathtaking natural landscape

• Lupins growing wild throughout the Atlantic provinces

Most breathtaking native plantscape

• Prairie crocuses, Devonian Botanic Garden

Most breathtaking trees

• Handkerchief tree (Davidia involucrata), The Butchart Gardens

Most heartwarming welcome

• Junior garden campers, MUN Botanical Garden

Most impressive rock gardens

• Alpine Garden, Devonian Botanic Garden
• Bernard Jackson Rock Garden, MUN Botanical Garden

Most interesting garden design element

• Broderie, Halifax Public Gardens

Most interesting research project

• Indigena Skin Care native plant products, MUN Botanical Garden

Most childlike experience

• Walking barefoot in Philosopher’s Court, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden

Most exciting new projects

• Rock Garden renovation, Royal Botanical Garden
• Islamic Garden, Devonian Botanic Garden

Most forward-thinking landscape

• Prince Arthur’s Landing, Thunder Bay

Most spiritual sites

• MacKenzie King Estate
• Chris Booth’s Earth Art exhibit, VanDusen Gardens

Most surprising experience

• Handling bees, Toronto Botanical Garden

Most unusual (and fun!) experience

• Grand Estate Gardener Workshop, Parkwood Estate

What I most regret not having a chance to do

• Climb to the treetops and walk above the Asian Garden, UBC Botanical Garden

What I want to learn more about

• Making compost tea, The Butchart Gardens

What I most wanted to bring home with me that wouldn’t fit into my suitcase

• Glassware sun catchers, MUN Botanical Garden

What I was most thrilled at receiving

• Sou’wester rain gear Halifax Public Garden

What I’ll never forget

The many wonderful people I met along Canada’s Garden Route.