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Through the Garden Gate: Secret Gardens of Wychwood
June 12 @ 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Through the Garden Gate presented by Cullen’s Foods is Toronto’s largest tour of private gardens. This self-guided walking tour has been showcasing the unique gardens in Toronto’s diverse neighbourhoods for over 30 years. After a two-year hiatus, Toronto Botanical Garden will once again host its annual garden tour highlighting the beautiful private gardens in the mid-Toronto neighbourhood of Wychwood, known for its Arts & Crafts architecture, artistic and entrepreneurial residents, and some pretty amazing gardeners!
SAVE THE DATE
Saturday, June 11, and Sunday, June 12, 2022
Online tickets will begin on Thursday, April 14, 2022.
Stay tuned as we will continue to post updates on this page, through our social media and GardenEnews as our plans develop.
The tour is organized by a dedicated volunteer committee in partnership with the Toronto Master Gardeners for the benefit of the Toronto Botanical Garden.
The tour is generously supported by Cullen’s Foods and #ShowLoveTO
HISTORY OF WYCHWOOD
Long before the area called Wychwood was imagined, a First Nations portage trail passed by the area of Davenport Avenue near Spadina, enabling indigenous people to travel between the Humber and Don rivers to arrive at hunting and fishing grounds. That history is now honoured by a group who formed ‘Davenportage’ – hardy souls who portage the trail for a day annually.
The Wychwood area is relatively new. It began with the estate known as Wychwood Park, which was developed beginning in 1907 by landscape artist Marmaduke Matthews and businessman Alexander Jardine, who envisioned it as an artist’s retreat. Most of the original houses were designed in the English Arts & Craft style by well-known architect Eden Smith, the designer of many Toronto churches as well as of Upper Canada College.
Shortly after, in 1913, the Wychwood car barns were built as a streetcar maintenance facility; they are now the oldest surviving TTC buildings still kept in their original form. The barns now function as a popular community centre that hosts a number of arts-related enterprises and a thriving Saturday morning market.
In 1985, as a response to residents’ concerns about the demolition of some of the original homes, the Wychwood Park area was designated as an Ontario Heritage Conservation District.
Wychwood is bordered by Davenport Road to the south, Spadina to the East, St Clair to the north, and Dovercourt Road to the west. The area is still home to many artists, as well as politicians, prominent business people, and, some pretty amazing gardeners.
THANK YOU TO OUR 2022 GENEROUS SPONSOR
PREVIOUS MEDIA COVERAGE
- Garden Gawking in the Beaches, National Post by KC Hoard
- See how Beaches gardens grow in this year’s annual tour, Toronto Star by Mark Cullen and Ben Cullen
- Sanctuaries from climate change thrive in GTA backyards, Toronto Star by Carola Vyhnak
- Beach gardens to be featured in upcoming Through The Garden Gate tour, Beach Metro by Mary Fran McQuade
- Beauty and The Beach, Botanical Buzz by Lorraine Hunter
- Through the Garden Gate: a great summer tour, Toronto Star by Sonia Day
- Toronto’s ‘Through the Garden Gate’ Celebrates 30 Years! by Janet Davis
- Through the Garden Gate — 30 Gardens for 30 Years by Lorraine Hunter
- Through the Garden Gate: North Rosedale and Moore Park by Three Dogs in a Garden
- Through the Garden Gate: The Kingsway by Helen Battersby
- Break out those walking shoes, garden tour season has started by Sonia Day
- TBG’s Through the Garden Gate Tour in the Kingsway by Cristina da Silva
- Sneak Peak of the TBG’s Through the Garden Gate: The Kingsway by Barbara’s Garden Chronicles
TORONTO NEIGHBOURHOODS THE TOUR HAS VISITED
2022 – Wychwood
2021 – Postponed due to COVID-19
2020 – Postponed due to COVID-19
2019 – The Beach
2018 – Windfields Estate
2017 – Rosedale North
2016 – The Kingsway
2015 – Lawrence Park
2014 – Hogg’s Hollow
2013 – Forest Hill
2012 – Rosedale
2011 – Swansea Village
2010 – The Beach
2009 – Beyond the Bridle Path
2008 – Riverdale
2007 – Wychwood Park and Davenport Ridge
2006 – Toronto Islands
2005 – Rosedale East
2004 – Rosedale
2003 – The Kingsway and Sunnylea
2002 – Lawrence Park
2001 – Bennington Heights & Moore Park
2000 – Rosedale
1999 – Grenadier Pond
1998 – Hogg’s Hollow
1997 – Spadina, Casa Loma & Davenport Hill
1996 – Riverview Drive, Teddington Park & Mason Blvd.
1995 – Shades of the Humber (Baby Point)
1994 – A Sunset tour of Arjay Crescent
1993 – Rosedale & Forest Hill
1992 – Lawrence Park
1991 – Hogg’s Hollow
1990 – Forest Hill & Belmont Street
1989 – Downtown Toronto Private Gardens
1988 – Downtown Toronto Private Gardens
