This spring weather calls for a walk in the garden. No garden? No problem! The University of Alberta Botanic Garden is now open for 2023 season.
The U of A Botanic Garden is a calming and peaceful place to visit any day of the week. The gardens stretch over 240 acres of land, with six major garden showcases to explore. And on top of being a beautiful place to visit, you can also rent these outdoor spaces for events like weddings. And while the Botanic Garden is not an official year-round park, they still offer a reason to visit in the winter. For a select number of days, the Gardens are open for a wonderous winter light display through Luminaria.
The Gardens
The six gardens managed here give you 80 acres of space to walk, unwind, and learn about nature. You can also opt for a free guided tour.
- The Aga Khan Garden is a stunning display of landscape architecture designed to represent Islamic culture and themes while displaying northern forest trees and shrubs. Sit by the reflection ponds or wander through the Aga Khan forests.
- The Botanic Gardens Collection is an incredible display of various plants that can withstand Alberta’s harsher climate.
- The Indigenous Gardens hold plants that have significance and value to the Indigenous people of Canada. You can walk among plants used as medicine, food, and decoration.
- The Kurimoto Japanese Garden is another beautiful display of landscape architecture. All of the plants are native to Alberta but are combined with traditional Japanese architecture.
- The Patrick Seymour Alpine Garden holds numerous beautiful plants which grow above mountain treelines. It is amazing to see, as access to this type of foliage is difficult.
2023 at the Gardens
The gardens and their beauty are a major reason, and the main reason, to visit the U of A Botanic Garden centre. Plus, you can look forward to the regular spring, summer, and fall programming offered here.
You can join Her Honour Salma Lakhani for a celebration of King Charles III’s Coronation at the University of Alberta Botanic Garden on May 13, 2023. The free admission to the garden event features music and dance performances, and commemorative lapel pins and cookies will be available while supplies last. Also, on Mother’s Day, the first 300 visitors will receive a potted pansy seedling to take home.
Plan your next summer date night around the Gardens’ special events. Though not yet announced. throughout summer, the Gardens host a variety of date nights for adults centred on different themes. If you can’t make the specific summer Date Night events, you can alternatively book a Twilight Picnic Experience. These include garden activities, a gourmet picnic basket, and space in the gardens to set up the picnic.
The U of A Botanic Garden Yoga classes can also be a summer date idea, or just a way to spend some time alone in the garden. Other summer events to watch for include art shows, Father’s Day events, stargazing parties, and Japanese tea ceremonies.
Before you go, consider how many times you want to visit the scenic space this year. The Botanic Gardens have a basic Summer Pass which gets you unlimited admission for now until October. The Year-Round Pass gets you’re the unlimited admission plus two single day passes for guests, 10% off dining, special pricing for ticketed events, and first-in-line opportunities.
The Patio Café & Dining in Devon
While you’re here, you can take advantage of the onsite Patio Café concession. They offer fresh soups and sandwiches, freshly baked sweets, and coffee drinks. If you’d rather explore and get a snack on the way home, make a quick stop in Devon. Athabasca Avenue in Devon is a great spot to find the town’s local eateries. Follow Superior Street to find even more!
Planning your trip – University of Alberta Botanic Garden:
What: The gardens are operated by the University of Alberta, with much of the construction and landscaping possible thanks to donors. The gardens have grown over the years now to include six different spaces of totally unique garden areas. The U of A Botanic Gardens are well known for their regular summer programming, as a unique thing to do in the Edmonton area, and for their winter Luminaria light display.
Best time to go: May to October for the gardens.
November-January for Luminaria
Where: 51227 Hwy 60, Parkland County
5 km north of Devon on Highway AB-60
How much: Summer Pass $55-$124.50, Year-Round Pass $25.50-$214.25
Daily admission $5.25-$19.75
Picnics $125 per two people
For more information:
University of Alberta Botanic Gardens