The terrace connects the gardens to the building’s interior through the floor-to-ceiling windows, blurring the line between indoors and out. The Water Channel and Waterfall help to soften and cool the edges of the paved courtyard. The Green Roof can be seen from the northern edge of the terrace near the waterfall.
Highlights
- The alkaline soil has a pH higher than 7.0 and is rich in calcium. It is important to choose
plants carefully for alkaline soils because they prevent minerals from dissolving readily which
makes it more difficult for plants to obtain their nutritional requirements. Certain plants, however, such as the hellebores (Helleborus spp.) found in this garden, are particularly tolerant of these conditions. Toronto soils naturally tend to be alkaline, although pollution and human modification have changed the soil composition in many locales.
- Many of the shrubs in this garden have intensely fragrant flowers. Note particularly the aromatic
foliage of the Amur cork trees (Phellodendron amurense).
- Early-spring-flowering hellebores are featured in this garden.
- Look for a vibrant display late in the year from the dramatically coloured fall foliage of a number
of the trees planted here. Ornamental grasses add colour, texture, movement and sound in the late summer, fall and winter.
- The Green Roof can be seen from the northern edge of the Westview Terrace near the waterfall.
