• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to footer

Garden Making

Inspiring ideas and information for great home gardens

  • Design
  • Containers
  • Food
  • Gardens to visit
    • British Columbia
    • Alberta
    • Manitoba
    • Ontario
    • Quebec
    • New Brunswick
    • Nova Scotia
    • Newfoundland
    • England
    • U.S.
  • Events Calendar
    • By organizing group
    • By location of events
    • In British Columbia
    • In Alberta
    • In Saskatchewan
    • In Manitoba
    • In Ontario
    • In Quebec
    • In New Brunswick
    • In Nova Scotia
    • In Prince Edward Island
    • In Newfoundland & Labrador
    • Local garden tours
    • Plant sales across Canada
    • Outside Canada
    • Form to list your event
  • Reader photos
    • Reader images of gardens
    • Container gardening images
    • Reader images of plants in 2019
    • Reader images of plants in 2018
    • Reader images of plants in 2017
    • Reader images of plants in 2016
    • Submit photo to Garden Making
  • Shop
You are here: Home / Gardens to visit / Alberta / 5 ways to experience U of Alberta Botanic Garden

5 ways to experience U of Alberta Botanic Garden

By Lorraine Flanigan Filed Under: Alberta

Along the Alaska Highway and 25 kilometeres outside of Edmonton, the University of Alberta Botanic Garden covers 190 acres with beautiful gardens and ecological preserves full of a dizzying variety of more than 11,000 plant species.  (In 2017, the Garden assumes a new name to reaffirm its university roots, after four decades of being called the Devonian Botanic Garden.)

U of Alberta Botanic Garden

During my visit along Canada’s Garden Route one day in May, general manager Ruby Swanson led me to a hillside covered with prairie crocuses (Pulsatilla patens), and that was my first experience of the Devonian. As first impressions go, it was gobsmacking. As we climbed the hill for a view of the gardens below, we brushed past the softly nodding heads of the purple-blue flowers that bloomed at our feet.

Prairie crocuses bloom on a hillside at the Devonian Botanic Garden.
Prairie crocuses bloom on a hillside at the Devonian Botanic Garden.

This is just one of the many collections of plants within the gardens. There’s the Primula Dell hidden in a forest glade, quietly awaiting discovery. In contrast, the Patrick Seymour Alpine Garden basks in the glorious open sunshine, while the Martagon lily collection edges the banks of a gently flowing stream.

You’d think the plants and gardens would be enough of an invitation to explore the Devonian, but there are events galore that show off the garden in many different ways. Here are five ways to experience the Devonian this season.

1. Kurimoto Japanese Garden Spring Festival, June 2. Held in the Devonian’s classic Japanese strolling garden, this spring festival draws more than 800 people. Under the cherry blossoms, visitors take part in the music, food and culture of Japan.

2. Opera al Fresco! June 21. Enjoy wine and hors d’oeuvres with your arias as Edmonton opera stars sing among the flowers at this popular annual midsummer event.

3. Canada Day Celebration, July 1. Pick up a packed lunch from the Birch Patio, operated by Chef Nate Box, and picnic among the plants during this daylong celebration featuring live music and outdoor events.

4. Perseids Pajama Party, August 16. What’s that up in the night sky? It’s a meteor shower! Don your PJs and nestle into cozy sleeping bags for a family adventure full of stars, stories and nighttime adventures.

5. Luminaria, December 7, 8. The glow of 1,700 candles light the way through the snow-rimmed paths of the Kurimoto Japanese Garden during this popular seasonal festival. Carollers, bonfires and apple cider complete the magical evening.

More from the Devonian Botanic Garden

Photo tips from Devonian Botanic Garden

Ruby Swanson talks about her favourite spot in the main garden:

Published: May 27, 2013 | Updated: February 7, 2019

About Lorraine Flanigan

Lorraine Flanigan is a freelance garden writer and regular contributor to Garden Making. She is a Master Gardener and editor of the Toronto Botanical Garden’s Trellis magazine. Follow her Citygardening comments and posts on Twitter, Facebook and Flipboard.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Aldona Satterthwaite says

    June 5, 2013 at 9:26 am

    A hillside abloom with Pulsatilla! Talk about gentle beauty. And I like the idea of a PJ party under the stars (provided that red ants don’t decide to come join the fun)!

    Reply
    • Lorraine Flanigan says

      June 6, 2013 at 9:30 am

      Surely the red ants will be sound asleep under the stars!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Footer

Search

Reader submissions

  • Enter draw to win a prize
  • Form to list your event
  • Submit photo to Garden Making

Garden Making magazine

  • Buy magazine back issues
  • Garden Making list of magazine issues
  • Garden Making index of magazine articles

When you’re looking for

  • Books for gardeners
  • Containers in your garden
  • Design
  • Food to grow
  • Gardens to visit
  • Growing from seed
  • How to
  • Plant ideas
  • Tips for gardeners

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

We do not share emails. Your information will be used as outlined in our Privacy Policy.

Please look for our email. You must click on the link in the email to confirm. Check your inbox or spam folder.

Copyright © 2021 Inspiring Media Inc. | GARDEN MAKING is a registered trademark | About | Service | Terms of use | Privacy policy | Account