Edmonton
Muttart Conservatory Photo Credit: Edmonton Tourism
Discover the magnificent gardens of Alberta!
Enjoy the lovely flower beds maintained by volunteers at St Albert Botanic Garden, the garden that extols Japanese-Canadian friendship at Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden, tropical plants inside Edmonton’s pyramids, prairie hardy plants at Olds College gardens, an extensive peony collection at Devonian Botanic Garden, butterflies fluttering amongst fragrant flowers at Calgary Zoo conservatory, blooming flowers set against the back drop of Cascade mountains at Cascade Gardens, and the gardens that pay tribute to George Pegg, whose work resulted in identifying Alberta’s Flora unique to Lac Ste Anne County.
1. Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden, Lethbridge
Photo Credit: Doug-Zwick
You will be greeted by a host/hostess in traditional Japanese attire as you enter this 4-acre Japanese style garden established during Canada’s Centennial in 1967 to celebrate contributions made by citizens of Japanese ancestry to Lethbridge and the friendship between Japan and Canada. Situated near Henderson Lake, the garden symbolises mountain and prairie scenery of southern Alberta. The structural components of the garden, whose name was derived from a clever play of words meaning Japan-Canada friendship, were handcrafted in Kyoto, Japan. Details
When to Visit: Spring to Fall.
Where: corner of 9th Ave and Mayor Magrath Drive South, Leithbridge.
How much: Adults: $9.00; Seniors (60+): $6.00; Youth (6 to 17 years) – $4.00; Children (5 and under) – Free
2. Devonian Gardens
An indoor garden located in CORE shopping centre in Downtown Calgary, it has over 50 varieties of plants, children’s playground, and ponds with fish. Calgary Philharmonic often hold free concerts at this indoor garden. Details
When to Visit: Currently closed for maintenance.
Where: 400, 317 7 Ave. S.W. (4 floor in the CORE Shopping Centre), Calgary
How much: Free
3. Conservatory & Gardens in Calgary Zoo
Canada’s second largest zoo is home to not only fauna, but also flora from all over the world. Explore six acres of the Dorothy Harvie Gardens that displays Alberta hardy plants and trees and the indoor oasis at ENMAX Conservatory where hundreds of butterflies flutter amongst tropical plants and shrubs. Details
When to Visit: Year Round
Where: 1300 Zoo Rd. N.E. Calgary
How much: General Admission (16 – 59) $23.00
Senior (60+) $21.00; Child (3 – 15) $15.00; Infant (2 & under) Free; High Season Rates are $1.95 extra.
4. Cascade Gardens Banff
Cascade Gardens in Banff National Park is a well-landscaped garden with a varied mix of annuals and perennials surrounding the park administrative building. Enjoy a stroll in the garden feasting your senses with the beauty of blooming flowers set against the back drop of Cascade mountains. Details
When to Visit: Late spring and summer.
Where: 101 Mountain Avenue, Banff, AB
How much: Free
5. Olds College Botanic Garden and Treatment Wetlands, Odds
Photo Credit: Olds College
Wander along 1.3 kms of lush pathways of this exquisite gardens that follows flowering trees and shrubs, fabulous displays of annuals, hardy peonies, lilies and roses, herb garden and AAS Selection Display Gardens, and wetland ponds. The Gardens are comprised of three phases spread over 25 acres and are populated with a wide ranging collection of prairie hardy plant material, both native and ornamental. The gardens were built to expand Olds College’s role in horticulture in Alberta and the Canadian Prairies through demonstration and applied research. Details
When to Visit: April to October | Dawn to Dusk; Guided tours are available during Horticultural week held in July.
Where: Olds College, 4500 50 St, Olds
How much: Free
6. U of A Botanic Garden
This 240-acre garden is maintained by University of Alberta’s Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences display a wide diversity of plants, with an emphasis on plants suitable for a hardiness zone (4 – 3), including ornamentals, fruits, vegetables, trees and shrubs. Explore Kurimoto Japanese Garden, a tropical conservatory with exotic butterflies, gardens that showcase an amazing collections of herbs, a zone 3 hardy Rose Garden, diverse collection of fragrant peonies, Martagon and Asiatic lilies and primulas in the Alpine Garden and the Native Peoples Garden that grow plants used by indigenous people. Details
When to Visit: May 1 to Thanksgiving Weekend.
Where: 51227 AB-60, Parkland County.
How much: Adult: $13.50; Senior(65+); $9.75; Student: $7.00
Youth (13-17): $5.00; Child (4-12): $3.00
Child (3-): Free
7. Muttart Conservatory, Edmonton
Photo Credit: Edmonton Tourism
A distinctive part of Edmonton’s skyline, the Muttart Conservatory offers a year round escape into the beauty of the world’s plant life. Since it opened in 1976, the Muttart’s vibrant, colourful, tranquil and inspirational pyramid display gardens have been a welcome oasis for visitors. The Muttart Conservatory was designed by award-winning Canadian architect Peter Hemingway. It has four themed pyramids: Arid, Temperate, Tropical and Feature. The exhibits in the Feature pyramid change between five and seven times per year. Details
When to Visit: Year Round; Closed Dec 25
Where: 9626 – 96A Street, Edmonton
How much: Child (Ages 2 – 12) $6.50
Youth (Ages 13 – 17)/Senior (Age 65+): $10.50
Adult (Ages 18 – 64) $12.50
8. St Albert Botanic Garden
Visit this lovely volunteer run Botanic Garden in Alberta! This five acre botanical garden grew from an idea conceived in 1990 by two St. Albert citizens and has grown into a jewel in the heart of St. Albert. Themed gardens provide the setting for displays and trials of roses, lilacs, daylilies, Asiatic lilies, peonies, and lilacs to name a few, as well as vegetables and annuals. Details
When to Visit: Open Year Round, Dawn to Dusk – The best time to visit is May to September.
Where: 265 Sturgeon Road, St. Albert, Alberta T8N 1N2
How much: Free
9. George Pegg Botanic Garden
Photo Credit: George Pegg Botanic Garden
George Pegg Garden was the homestead of George Pegg, a nature enthusiast whose painstaking and philanthropic research helped to identify more than 100 species of plants and birds in Alberta. The garden was started by George Pegg and contains many plants that are rare and unique to the region.This is also Alberta’s first declared historic resource and is a protected site. Details
When to Visit: June to August
Where: 56015 Range Road 43, in Lac Ste Anne County
How much: Free