• Overview
• Arrival Courtyard
• Carpet Beds
• Demonstration Courtyard
• Entry Garden Walk
• Floral Hall Courtyard
• Garden Etiquette
• Garden Hall Courtyard
• Herb Garden
• Kitchen Garden
• Knot Garden
• Nature's Garden
• President's
  Choice Show Garden
• Special Exhibits
• Spiral Mound
• Strawbale Shed
• Teaching Garden
• Terrace Garden
• Westview
  Terrace
• Woodland Walk

This garden recreates two distinct habitats that form part of Toronto's native plant heritage. The western area rests on part of the Wilket Creek ravine and exhibits the attributes of the Carolinian Forest. Native trees, shrubs and perennials that disappeared from the area have been reintroduced. The eastern part of the garden recreates conditions found at the southern border of the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Forest and on the Canadian Shield about 200 kilometres north of Toronto. This garden contrasts with the adjoining ravine by reflecting the strong, rugged and windswept terrain typical of the Canadian Shield.

HIGHLIGHTS

The western area of the garden rests on part of
the Wilket Creek ravine and exhibits the attributes
of the Carolinian Forest.

• The soil in the garden is alkaline, derived from local
limestone rock. Native trees, shrubs and perennials
such as sassafras (Sassafras albidum) and eastern
redbud (Cercis canadensis) that disappeared from
the area have been reintroduced.

• Specific species of native shrubs common to ravines such as golden current (Ribes dureum) and bush honeysuckle (Diervilla spp.) have been planted to prevent erosion at the edge of the ravine. The eastern part of the garden recreates conditions
found at the southern border of the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Forest and on the Canadian Shield about 200 kilometres north of Toronto.

• The vegetation grows on shallow layers of acid soil
in full sun or partial shade along forest edges and
in clearings. Varieties of blueberries (Vaccinium
spp.) grow with bayberries (Myrica pensylvanica),
bearberries (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) and sweet
fern (Comptonia peregrina).

• This garden contrasts with the adjoining Wilket
Creek ravine by reflecting the strong, rugged and
windswept terrain typical of the Canadian Shield.
The plants in both areas of this garden attract,
shelter and sustain wildlife, including birds,
beneficial insects and butterflies. Perennials,
trees, shrubs and grasses provide shelter, nesting
material and food from fruit and seed production.