Happy Father's Day!
What an incredible June bloom we've been having in Nova Scotia!
First, a list of some of the current highlights:
• Peonies - will be a highlight for the next week or two
• Perennial Borders are lovely - lots in bloom
• Shrubs & Trees: the Fringe Tree near the grass collection is in bloom. Nearby, two types of Tulip Tree are just starting to flower. Also the various Kalmias (Mountain Laurels) in the rhodie area are opening. The Satomi Dogwood (pink) on the way to the Acadian Cottage, and the white Kousa Dogwoods near the Cottage, and one down between the ponds, are in bloom and will be highlights for the next couple weeks. Magnolia siebodii in the parking lot is in bloom, and Magnolia virginiana by the Café entry.
• In the Courtyard area, irises are a highlight. Also note the Climbing Hydrangea on the fence by the Innovative Garden.
• Roses: many roses are in bloom, more coming each day. The "best" bloom period for the Rose Collection is likely the end of June or early July.
• The Victorian Garden is planted now and will start filling in - a highlight all season.
• Special:
○ Fringe Tree (Middle path, near Grass Collection)
○ Kousa Dogwood trees - both pink and white
Soon to come…
• Roses - end of June or early July for "best" time, but many will bloom through to October.
• Yellow Wood, Stewartia, Japanese Tree Lilacs, Tulip Trees and lots more
Highlight times ahead:
• Daylilies & Hydrangeas - usually later July
• Heather Collection - early August
The Gardens are open every day (holidays included)
Operating hours: 9am-5pm. (Last entry at 5pm)
And remember: no charge for kids under 18.
Be sure to pick up a scavenger hunt activity for them to work on during your walk!
The Gardens Shop is also open 7 days a week, 9am-5pm.
The Elm Tree Cafe is open daily, 11am - 4pm.
For detailed visitor information, hours and rates, please visit www.historicgardens.com
Seasonal Selections - Part 1
The Perennial Border is lovely...
...including the Oriental Poppies...
...and the purple Knapweed.
There are various types of allium in bloom.
The Innovative Garden always has interesting features...
...including the cool variegated leaf of the Kiwi kolomikta.
Our Faerie Friends have Arrived!!!
We are so pleased that our favourite faeries have once again chosen the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens as their summer home! It looks like Raendriel, Drook, Aesleif and all the gang have been busily building their summer faerie houses.
The little ones will have a great time helping us locate all the faerie houses!
(Ask for a scevenger hunt when you come.)
Seasonal Selections - Part 2
The peonies are a highlight.
Fun fact - most of our peony collection was donated to us years ago by the Canadian Peony Society!
We are very thankful for this generous gift.
The Pagoda Dogwood is a great tree...
...and nearby, the Satomi Dogwood is coming into bloom.
The fringe tree on the middle path is at its peak, and has a beautiful sweet scent.
There are still some later rhodos, including 'Marilyn Brown'.
This rhodo was bred by Nova Scotian Alex Muntz and named for a friend who lived in Annapolis Royal.
The geometric masterpieces that are the buds of the Mountain Laurel...
Water lilies are a favourite for visitors,
and kids love the frogs that often sun themselves on the lily pads.
Funky Features
We'd like to draw attention a couple of our funkier plants today.
The Decaisnea fargesii is also known as Dead Man's Fingers.
It is currently in bloom with its funky flowers, and later in the season
we may be fortunate enough to see its blue finger-like fruit!
The other funky plants we want to draw attention to are our two tulip trees.
They are just starting to bloom in the Spring Collection, and are often easily missed.
(You may want to ask in the Shop)
Buy Your 2025 Membership now!
To purchase online: Buy Now
OR
Phone us at 902-532-7018
Upcoming Events
For something different,
we welcome Nova Scotia's DEVI International Boarding School
as part of their "We Meditate Nova Scotia" tour.
Staff and students plan to offer a peaceful, hour-long event that integrates guided meditation, cultural music, and dance, designed to promote inner balance.
This event is free with admission to Garden visitors and members.
We are so pleased to be working with the Annapolis District Drama Group
on another exciting edition of Shakespeare in the Gardens...
Tickets will be available soon.
In the meantime, if you wish to be notified directly as soon as tickets are available, please email us and we'll add you to our priority contact list.
We have a new selection of pressed flower jewellery
created by Carol MacCulloch of Grand Lake, NS.
Drop by soon to see these and the other many gift ideas in the Gardens Shop.
The Gardens Shop is open 7 days a week for your convenience,
from 9am-5pm. Drop by soon!
And if you can't get here in person,
you can explore our online shop for gift ideas, and have items shipped.
Explore now!
In addition to some great luncheon items,
the Elm Tree Cafe is well known for its homemade sweets and treats!
Selections change daily.
Popular beverages include Sissiboo Coffee, tea, iced tea and lemonade.
And for your sweet tooth, ice cream sandwiches, cookies and more.
The Cafe is open to Garden visitors and members, daily 11am-4pm.
Critters
We've been featuring our feather friends in recent weeks,
and Chippy felt it was time we presented a photo of a furry friend instead!
The Roses are coming!
While it is not peak rose season until late June, there are more and more roses blooming each and every day!
Add that to all the other June blossoms, and the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens makes the perfect place to while away the hours!
'Kakwa' is one of the many Canadian-bred roses we feature.
Rose moyessi is native to China.
'Fruhlingsduft' is one of our Rose Maze residents.
'Campfire' is another Canadian-bred rose.
As part of the Canadian Artist Series it was named for a Tom Thomson painting.
The colours chosen by Thomson for his painting flourish in this rose.
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!
Selfie Challenge
The Victorian Garden has now been planted and will be a much beloved feature as it grows and blossoms through the season. Visitors are always astounded by the Castor Beans in particular, which grow from wee seedlings to 14' tall plants by late August.
Your mission, should you choose to accept it...
is to take a selfie beside these wee plants
and then take more selfies throughout the season
as the castor beans grow to their monstrous full height!
Send us the results!
And with that, I'll sign off. Hope to see you in the Gardens soon!
Trish
“The earth laughs in flowers”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Be sure to enjoy the roadside lupins
along the highways and byways throughout Nova Scotia!
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