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April showers... will bring May flowers!
April is a time of renewal,
and to that end we are so happy to have the seasonal return of our outdoor staff.
It's amazing how quickly the Gardens start to transform
once the gardening team hits the ground!
The Gardens are open for walking every day 9am-5pm
Entry is gained through the Gardens Shop and admission is by free will offering for the rest of April - suggested donation $5 per adult.
(If you have a Garden Membership, there is no expectation of an entry offering,
although donations are always gratefully accepted.)
Visitor Washrooms – are now open daily 9am-5pm.
The Gardens Shop is also open 7 days a week, 9am-5pm.
For detailed visitor information, hours and rates, please visit www.historicgardens.com
They're BACK!
As mentioned above, it is always amazing to see the difference once our gardeners return in the spring.
That's when the magic truly begins.
Ashlea and her crew do phenomenal work!
Be sure to give them a hearty welcome when you see them.
And on a related note,
we are also thankful for those who do contract work for us, including local arborists.
Atlantic Arborists have been providing tree services at the Historic Gardens since construction days. Joey and his team were here in late March to do some work on our elms - something we take very seriously is the protection of our stately elms from Dutch Elm Disease.
And a shoutout as well to Adam and his team at Timberline Tree Services,
seen here dealing with the willow that fell in January.
Spring Blossoms
The crocus display has been very colourful
Lots of blues all over the Gardens, from the scilla...
... and the chionodoxa (Glory of the Snow)
The Dwarf irises are vibrant
The giant hyacinths are getting ready to dazzle us.
Special Projects
We've been busy beavers this past winter with some projects geared towards enhanced marketing and promotion of the Gardens. We've gotten some wonderful new photography, thanks to Andrew Tolson, and a fantastic new website, thanks to Boreal Digital.
Both of these were made possible with funding from the Tourism Digital Assistance Program, a partnership between Tourism Nova Scotia and Digital Nova Scotia.
Explore our new website at www.historicgardens.com. We are still making improvements, and always will be, so your feedback is welcome!
2026 Memberships
With our May 1 Opening Day almost upon us,
it is definitely time to pick up your Annual Membership
In addition to our popular options for Adult/Senior/Student Memberships and our elevated Gold Membership, in 2025 we introduced a new option of special interest for those who may live alone and would love to have a friend or family member to walk with or join them for lunch at the Elm Tree Cafe. Our PLUS ONE Membership allows you to bring along a friend, family member or support worker to accompany you when you visit the Gardens. It is very flexible so you can bring a different person each time you visit if you wish.
To purchase by mail
just print the following form and pop it into the mail with a cheque or credit card information and we'll send your memberships to you:
Donation & Membership Form
To purchase online: Buy Now
OR
Phone us at 902-532-7018
Event News...
Spring Cleanup
April 20-24
Join the 2026 Historic Gardens Spring Cleanup efforts April 20-24 (Mon-Fri) 9am-4pm.
A community tradition, the first "Spring Clean-up" at the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens occurred in April 1987. Decades later, the Gardens Clean-up has expanded to a multi-day event. Typical shifts are 9-12 or 1-4 each day. Volunteers can work several shifts during the week, or if you only have an hour to give, we'd love to see you regardless!
Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens Society
Annual General Meeting
is scheduled for
Wednesday April 29 at 7pm in the Cafe building.
All Society members welcome!
Our Season Opening is just around the corner!
Memory Lane
The Gardens officially opened to the public on August 15, 1981.
Save the Date: for our 45th birthday party on Saturday, August 15, 2026.
Meanwhile, we're happy to share some photo memories with you...
Today we thought it would be appropriate to share some photos of some of our earliest Spring Cleanup events. Many of these volunteers are sadly no longer with us, but their memories live on.
Greg Kerr and Ian Davidson... just a few years younger!
John Johnson and Allison Dalton were both regular helpers.
Daurene Lewis was always an avid supporter.
This gang of helpers includes many past supporters. How many do YOU recognize?
Do you have photos or memories from the "early days" as we call them?
If so, we'd love to hear from you!
Keep an eye on our Facebook Page for frequent posts,
and we'll make them a regular feature in our Bloom Report as well.
In the Gardens Shop
NEW: Char and Marv are urban gardeners from Toronto who fell in love with growing food, not only for the fresh homegrown vegetables, but to show that small spaces can still produce big harvests. With step-by-step instructions, you will be able to plan, plant, and maintain an abundant garden that not only provides you with fresh, healthy produce, but also adds beauty to your outdoor space, no matter how big or how small.
Original artwork by Nova Scotian artists...
among the treasures you will find in the Gardens Shop.
Represented here: Sally Davies, Chaba Conrad, Shauna MacLeod and Paul Bolland.
Fun Fact:
This photo was taken for inclusion in the Annapolis Royal Art Map, a project spearheaded by Sally O'Grady that serves as a Visitors' Guide for exploring local artists' studios, galleries, shops and public art in Annapolis Royal.
The 2026 Art Map will soon be available at the Gardens and all around town - be sure to pick one up so you too can explore!
So many Nova Scotian gift ideas!
The Shop is open daily, year round, from 9am-5pm. Drop in to browse.
And if you can't get here in person, you can explore our online shop for gift ideas, and have items shipped.
Explore now!
Please also note that we currently have a
SPRING SALE
on select items in the Gardens Shop,
making it an even better time to drop in and explore!
More Spring Blossoms
Pulmonaria / Lungwort
The hellebores are putting on a show
So many pinks, like corydalis...
... heath...
... and the incredible Dawn Viburnum on the lower path.
Donations to the Gardens
The Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens Society is a registered charity whose purpose is stewardship of these Seventeen Acres of Paradise. Without the charitable donations we receive every year, the Gardens could simply not exist. We encourage you to support the Society in this important work to help to ensure the Gardens continue to blossom for future generations.
Please consider a donation today!
Coming soon!!!
This early bud today is telling us that it's almost magnolia season.
Something else to look forward to!
All for now. Cheers!
Trish
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