Toronto Botanical Garden

Toronto Botanical Garden: A Shopper's Guide

Why You Should Visit

• A Serene Escape: You'll find a peaceful oasis from the city's hustle. The location offers a tranquil experience, perfect for a relaxing walk, a picnic, or simply enjoying the fresh air.
• Diverse Gardens: You can expect a diverse collection of over 20 themed gardens, including the serene Woodland Walk, Perennial Border, and Herb Garden, showcasing a variety of plant species.
• Engaging Activities: The location hosts activities like guided garden tours and hands-on workshops suitable for all ages.
• Gift Shop Delights: The visitor center features a charming cafe and gift shop with unique garden-related items. You can purchase items like beautiful birthday cards with pressed flowers created by the Pressed Flower Group for a reasonable price ($6.99), which is cheaper than the drug mart prices.
• Photo Opportunities: The location provides many beautiful photo spots with lovely landscapes and well-maintained grounds that are decorated aesthetically for pictures.
• Nature Immersion: You'll find a place to connect with nature, observing squirrels, butterflies, and birds. There are options for both carefully designed gardens and wild natural spots to explore.
• Family-Friendly: This is an ideal spot to spend a weekend with kids with nice trails and picnic spots.
• Convenient Amenities: The location offers well-conserved greenhouses, vegetable gardens, drinking water, and toilets. Dandelion Cafe is available for food and drinks. Plants are also available for purchase.
• Accessibility and Location: The location is easily accessible by public transit. It is a great location to escape from the city.

Why You Might Consider Alternatives

• Size & Variety: Be aware that some shoppers find the variety limited, expecting a larger selection of plants.
• Crowds on Busy Days: If you visit during a special event or on a busy day, prepare for potential crowds. Mother's Day, for instance, led to a two-hour wait for parking and a crowded experience inside.
• Parking Costs: Parking is paid at $4 CAD per hour.
• Parking Availability: On busy days, parking can be problematic, so arriving early or considering alternative parking nearby is recommended.
• Lack of a Comprehensive Map: It could be helpful to have a large public map near the entrance to better navigate.
• More Park-Like Atmosphere: Some visitors find it feels more like a park than a full botanical garden.