Summary

Edwards Garden in Toronto is a serene botanical haven offering free admission, various activities, and picturesque landscapes ideal for relaxation and special events.

Abstract

Nestled in Toronto's urban sprawl, Edwards Garden and the adjacent Toronto Botanical Garden provide a tranquil retreat for nature lovers. Open daily with varying winter hours, these gardens were once an estate owned by Rupert E. Edwards, who transformed them into a public treasure. Visitors can enjoy leisurely walks, cycling, and picnics amidst the flora, with the botanical gardens covering nearly four acres. While parking incurs a fee, the lack of an admission charge makes it an accessible destination. The author, Linda Ng, encourages visiting during off-peak hours to avoid crowds and recommends the gardens for a peaceful day out, highlighting the availability of guided tours and the suitability of the park for all ages.

Opinions

Linda Ng expresses a personal appreciation for the beauty of Edwards Garden, emphasizing its value as a place for reflection and enjoyment of nature.
The author suggests that the pandemic has led to a renewed gratitude for such public spaces, indicating a deeper emotional connection to the experience of visiting the garden post-lockdown.
Linda Ng finds the garden's paths, stairs, and bridges to be particularly delightful features, adding an adventurous and whimsical element to the visit.
The author endorses supporting her work by joining Medium, contributing to her Macbook fund, connecting on Twitter, and exploring more about her.

TRAVEL

Let’s Enjoy a Leisurely Stroll Through A Beautiful Garden

We’re going to Edward’s Garden in Toronto!

It’s such a beautiful path, isn’t it? (photo provided by Linda Ng)

Hidden in the bustling city of Toronto is a beautiful botanical garden. At the corner of Leslie Street and Lawrence Avenue East, you’ll find Edwards Garden and the Toronto Botanical Garden (755 Lawrence Avenue East, North York). The area is full of hiking trails, biking paths, and of course, beautiful gardens. It’s conveniently open 7 days a week from 10:00am to 8:30pm. The hours during winter may vary.

Edward’s Garden was a former estate garden, bought in 1944 by Rupert E. Edwards¹. He transformed it into a magnificent garden and eventually sold it to the city. Since then, the gardens have become a beloved area for picnics, family gatherings, weddings, special events, or just to spend a lovely summer afternoon. You can also enjoy the Toronto Botanical Gardens here, which spans nearly four acres!²

Here’s a map of Edwards Garden and the Toronto Botanical Garden. (photo provided by Linda Ng)

There is no admission fee for the gardens, but you need to pay for parking ($2.50 per hour). I would say that’s a good deal! As with all tourist attractions, try to visit during off-peak hours or early in the day to avoid crowds. There can be a lot of visitors during the summer.

I’d love to just sit here and enjoy the beautiful scenery. (photo provided by Linda Ng)

If you would like to learn more details about the park, there are also tours available (90 minutes). I’ve never joined it myself though.

If you’re looking to spend a relaxing day with friends, having a picnic here would be a fabulous idea. There are plenty of activities to keep kids and adults occupied for hours.

I normally like to walk through the park on the trails. There are some fantastic views along the way.

Here are some shots of the views you can see along the way! (photos provided by Linda Ng)

Because of the pandemic, I honestly haven’t gotten out a lot in the past 3 years. As the cases seem to have settled down recently, I took the opportunity to visit more places. I used to take it all for granted.

Now, I treasure these moments from the bottom of my heart. I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did!

Here are some more shots of the park. If you’re in the area, don’t forget to include this as one of your destinations!

The flowers on the side are so pretty! (photo provided by Linda Ng)

I love going up and down stairs like this! It feels so adventurous! (photo provided by Linda Ng)

I like running across bridges too, not sure why! (photo provided by Linda Ng)

Wouldn’t you just love to have a picnic here? (photo provided by Linda Ng)

📕 Join Medium to read all of Linda’s stories (I get a commission!)

💻 Contribute to Linda’s Macbook fund on Kofi (so I can write more!)

🐤 Connect with Linda on Twitter (tweet! tweet!)

👱🏻‍♀️ Learn 10 things about Linda

TRAVEL

Let’s Enjoy a Leisurely Stroll Through A Beautiful Garden

We’re going to Edward’s Garden in Toronto!

Sources