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Get the Jump on Spring and Seedy Saturday
March 25, 2023 @ 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Toronto Botanical Garden’s annual Horticultural Open House IS BACK with OVER 25 seed and garden-related vendors and exhibitors including local horticultural societies, garden clubs, and environmental organizations.
Saturday, March 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
FREE Admission: $2 suggested minimum donation
This one-day garden extravaganza includes:
- Free Garden Chats and Demonstrations (see schedule below)
- Free Gardening Advice Clinic offered by the Toronto Master Gardeners
- Free Drop-in Family Nature Activities and Facepainting
- TBG Bloom Café and Coffee Bar for onsite noshing and refreshments in the Garden Hall
- Garden Shop will be brimming with essentials for gardeners of all ages. You’ll find a thoughtful selection of seeds from West Coast Seeds, Renee’s Garden Seeds, and Ontario’s Wildflower Farm, seed starting kits, live houseplants, sustainable products, Ontario honey, helpful gardening tools, nature-inspired home décor, and other necessities for stylish outdoor living.
- Free sampling of Twigz Pretzels, Canada’s original craft pretzel
- Seedy Saturday – Free Seed Swap – Bring your seeds to trade and take home something new to try! Scroll down for more information on how to participate in the seed swap.
- Meet the Maker during informal interactions with artists, floral designers, and plant people in the Garden Hall
Click here for directions and parking information.
Talks and Demos Schedule
| TIME | TOPIC | LOCATION |
| 10:30 to 11 a.m. | My Favourite Garden Tools Garden Chat with Toronto Master Gardeners |
Weston Family Library |
| 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. | Spring Floral Design Demonstration with Pat Ware |
2nd Floor – Studio |
| 12 to 12:30 p.m. | Terrace and Balcony Gardening Garden Chat with Toronto Master Gardeners |
Weston Family Library |
| 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. | Easy Summer Bulbs Presentation with Michael Erdman |
2nd Floor – Studio |
| 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. | Get to Know the Orchid: The Diva of Houseplants Presentation with Tena Van Andel |
2nd Floor – Studio |
| 2:30 to 3 p.m. | Incorporating Native Plants into your Existing Garden Garden Chat with Toronto Master Gardeners |
Weston Family Library |
| 3 to 4 p.m. | Starting Seeds in Spring Presentation with Roger Gettig, Director of Horticulture |
2nd Floor – Studio |
2023 Exhibitor and Vendor List
| 1 in a Millean | 1inamillean.com |
| Add Love & Stir | Add Love and Stir |
| Agincourt Garden Club | |
| Bees Are Life Inc. / Ontario Honey House | ontariohoneyhouse.ca |
| Birdhouse Designs | instagram.com/birdhousedesigns |
| Canadian Succulents | canadiansucculents.net |
| Drop Tha Bomb | instagram.com/drop.tha.bomb |
| Centered by Plants | centeredbyplants.ca |
| Eastcliff Farm | eastclifffarm.ca |
| Gaia Organic Seeds | gaiaorganics.ca/ |
| Greater Toronto Bulb Society | gardenontario.org/society-listing/entry/2382 |
| Ikebana International Toronto Chapter #208 | ikebana-toronto.com |
| Lora’s Lovables | linktr.ee/loraslovables |
| May Craft Tribe | Maycrafttribe.com |
| Milne House Garden Club | milnehousegardenclub.ca |
| North American Native Plant Society | www.nanps.org |
| North York Garden Club | gardenontario.org/society-listing |
| Ontario Rock Garden & Hardy Plant Society | onrockgarden.com |
| Roses Without Thorns | roseswithoutthorns.net |
| Rueneau | Rueneau.com |
| Sayehsunstudio | instagram.com/sayehsunstudio |
| The Garden Club of Toronto | thegardencluboftoronto.ca |
| Toronto Cactus & Succulent Club | www.torontocactus.club |
| Toronto Master Gardeners | torontomastergardeners.ca |
| Urban Nature Store | UrbanNatureStore.ca |
How to participate in our FREE SEED SWAP
Seedy Saturday is a community event where gardeners share their heirloom seeds and help to preserve our horticultural heritage. Bring your extra, open-pollinated or heirloom seeds and discover something new! Drop your seeds off at the swap and then browse the seed exchange tables to see what others have brought. Also at the event, take advantage of local seed growers and vendors to stock up for this year’s garden, and learn about seed saving from seed conservation organizations.
It’s also a great opportunity to discover varieties that are not available commercially. Click here to learn more about Seedy Saturdays. Learn more about seed saving with TBG Library’s online guide.
How to participate in the seed swap:
- Bring seed in envelopes labeled with:
- Plant name (common and botanical name if you know them both)
- Year of harvest
- Place of harvest (postal code)
- Your name (if you wish)
- A bit about where the seed came from (if you wish)
- Register at the table and add your seed to those available for swapping
- Swap seeds – try to leave with around the same number that you brought
- Buy seeds from the vendors – you can use these for swapping as well if you’re not able to bring your own
Ways you can help reduce waste at this event
- TBG will have waste stations for your recyclable and compostable materials with hands-on volunteers to assist.
- Bring your own water bottle and take advantage of our complimentary water station, bring your own mug, plate, or cutlery when visiting the cafe.
- You are encouraged to bring your own reusable bags or boxes to carry your seeds, plants, or garden-related treasures home with you.
Interested in participating as a vendor or exhibitor? Click here to add your name to our pop-up market list. We’ll be sending out information soon.
