Casa Loma Estate Gardens – These formal ornamental gardens feature a beautiful array of foliage, textures and form. Elegant perennial borders provide a contrast to the vibrant show of spring wildflowers and ever-changing displays of annuals. The Casa Loma Estate Gardens are included with admission to Casa Loma.
Corktown Common – A jewel at the base of the Don Valley Parkway, this park features a lush landscape maintained using organic horticultural methods.
Edwards Gardens (Toronto Botanical Gardens) – This former estate garden features beautiful perennials and roses along with drifts of wildflowers, a collection of rhododendrons and a rockery in the valley.
Guild Park and Gardens – The park is a sculptural sanctuary with beautiful gardens and links to artists and political figures of the past.
Hillside Gardens in High Park – This extensive collection of gardens lies in the centre of High Park and features a dynamic mix of cultivated and more natural plantings.
James Gardens – This former estate is known for its flower garden, terraced stone pathways, sparkling spring-fed pools, streams and mature trees.
Nathan Phillips Square – The square is home to the beautifully landscaped City Hall Podium green roof, which features an array of plant species and the new Peace Garden, an oasis featuring a diverse collection of plants, grasses, flowers and shrubs.
Rosetta McClain Gardens – Situated atop the Scarborough Bluffs, this garden features decorative raised beds, a beautiful fountain and an outstanding view of Lake Ontario.
St. James Park – Located next to St. James Cathedral, these Victorian-inspired formal gardens features a central fountain and grand gazebo.
Toronto Music Garden – Inspired by Bach’s First Suite, this garden features beautiful ornamental gardens and an ode to the Boreal Forest in northern Canada.
Toronto Sculpture Garden – A small park opposite St. James Cathedral on King Street East that commissions two contemporary sculpture projects each year.
Village of Yorkville Park – Originally a parking lot, this imaginative, award-winning park incorporates elements of the neighbourhood’s history with garden features that represent Canada’s diverse geographical landscape.
Ashbridge’s Bay – This is an extensive lakefront park, with recreational facilities including a skatepark, a boardwalk and a long sandy beach. Picnics, bird watching and hiking are all popular activities available at Ashbridges Bay.
Humber Arboretum – Situated in the West Humber River Valley, the Humber Arboretum offers a balance of managed and natural areas, featuring a wide variety of plants and wildlife. Several kilometres of self-guided trails connect the various areas of the Arboretum, providing a wonderful way to experience nature.
Humber Butterfly Habitat – This butterfly habitat features native wildflowers, shrubs, trees, grasses, sedges, and physical features known to support butterflies throughout all life cycles.
Milliken District Park – A large park with playgrounds, a splash pad, a children’s garden, trails and a pond, this is a great place to connect with the outdoors and watch for wildlife.
Riverdale Farm – A working farm in Toronto’s downtown, children love to visit the animals (sheep, goats, chickens, pigs, horses and cows), talk to the farmers, stroll the many trails and enjoy a rural idyll in the city.
Franklin’s Children’s Garden – Join Franklin and his friends at the Children’s Garden on the Toronto Islands. Child-size sculptures of Franklin, Bear, Beaver, Rabbit and Goose surround this fully accessible organic garden. Children can learn about fruits and vegetables, help water the plants, and play in the water feature.
Cedar Ridge Creative Centre And Gardens
The beautifully landscaped gardens at Cedar Ridge host a number of traditional elements such as arbours and outstanding views through the woods and scenic trails of these former estate grounds. Cedar Ridge Gardens surround a historic mansion built in 1912. The mansion, once an exclusive summer residence, is now home to the Cedar Ridge Creative Centre. The outdoor gardens can be permitted for wedding ceremonies and photography.
At the foot of Lee Avenue lies the Gardener’s Cottage, a historic building also known as Kew Williams House surrounded by attractive seasonal plantings.
An elegant Edwardian mansion with beautiful gardens, Spadina Museum offers a glimpse of Toronto during the 1900-1930 period. The six structures on the site include a stable/ gardener’s cottage circa 1850; and a greenhouse built in 1913. Guided tours of the house and garden, school programs, changing exhibits and workshops, and also hosts one-of-a-kind special events throughout the year.
A 9.2-hectare wildflower preserve with a walking trail adjoins the Todmorden Mills museum site where a number of natural habitats can be explored, including upland and bottomland forests, dry and wet meadows, swamplands and a pond.