Happy First Day of Spring!
I think we are all looking forward to warmer weather and the gardening season ahead.
And so are the plants!
Our witch hazels are strutting their stuff, the snowdrops are plentiful, and we are seeing many colours of crocus appearing every day.
First of all, a reminder about our current off-season hours.
The Gardens are open for walking every day 9am-5pm
through the off season as long as conditions permit. The Gardens and paths are not maintained from November to April, so you visit at your own risk.
Entry is gained through the Gardens Shop
and admission is by free will offering - 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 – Closed for the winter.
(Public washrooms are available nearby at the Town’s Comfort Station on Drury Lane.)
The Gardens Shop is also open 7 days a week, 9am-5pm.
For detailed visitor information, hours and rates, please visit www.historicgardens.com
We're Hiring!
Is working in a world class garden your DREAM JOB?
Do you know someone who would LOVE it?
Here's the opportunity!
Employment at the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens provides a wonderful opportunity to work in a beautiful environment and it is rewarding to be part of the team that presents a world class facility to visitors from around the world.
We have a number of positions available for the 2026 season, ranging from 8 week student positions to full season adult positions.
Details: Join Our Team
Snowdrops
As the snow recedes at the Historic Gardens, among the first flowers to appear are snowdrops. Delicate, yet able to push their way through frozen soil, these flowers often grow in clumps and create a white carpet in areas recently covered by snow.
The genus Galanthus includes around 20 recognized species (such as Galanthus nivalis – common snowdrop), and within those species there are thousands of cultivars. Rare varieties of snowdrops are highly sought after by collectors and can cost hundreds of dollars.
Fun Fact:
Snowdrops (Galanthus) are a member of the Amaryllis plant family (Amaryllidaceae), which also includes daffodils (Narcissus), Agapanthus, onions and chives (Allium).
Raindrops on snowdrops and whiskers on kittens!
(with apologies to Rodgers & Hammerstein)
What a difference a day makes (taken last week)!
Among the amazing properties of snowdrops is their ability to bloom in the late winter. Under the snow, specially hardened leaf tips allow the snowdrop to push its way through the frost layer. Once it appears, a snowdrop is subject to temperatures that rise and fall below freezing. Snowdrops have developed antifreeze proteins (glycoproteins) that prevent the formation of ice crystals in the plant tissue. This allows snowdrops to thrive in conditions that would be fatal to many plants. (These proteins are so effective that the British army harvested snowdrops to produce antifreeze for tanks during WW1.) When temperatures rise above 10°C, the tepals of the snowdrop move upwards and outwards to take advantage of pollinating insects that are likely to be active in warmer weather. When the temperature is cooler, tepals will stay closed to protect the pollen.
What great plants!
Bird Watching
As the days get nicer, our feathered friends are becoming more present and certainly more vocal - they are excited for spring! The Historic Gardens makes a great place for birdwatching in any season.
This Downy Woodpecker has been happily hanging out in the Gardens.
2026 Memberships
Spring is HERE - have you picked up your annual membership yet?
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
Witch Hazels
We love witch hazel season! We are at our peak season for these wee flowers,
so come out soon for a walk.
(Shown: 'Pallida', Jelena', 'Ruby Red' and 'Arnold Promise')
As a handy reference, we have designed a Witch Hazel map that will help you to discover these interesting plants. Ask us for one when you come in.
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...
These three gentlemen were integral to the creation of the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens. Walking through a very newly planted Governor's Garden are: John Johnson, Chairman of the Annapolis Royal Development Commission; Pat Pelham, Chief Horticulturist; and Paul Buxton, Executive Director of the ARDC and the driving force behind the many development projects of the early eighties.
This photo is from early summer of 1981, showing the making of a Courtyard Pond mere weeks before the August 15, 1981 Grand Opening of the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens. It is amazing how quickly the Gardens were built - under a year from ground breaking to opening. Hats off to the many staff, volunteers and contractors who worked so hard!
Another walk down memory lane, this time from the air. This bird's eye view is from 1983-84. You can see how small most of the shrubs and trees are, with the exception of the older trees that were already on the site and wisely retained and incorporated into the design. It was a very wide open space in the early days. The Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens has come a long way in 45 years!
This photo is from the Official Opening of the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens on August 15, 1981.
The Annapolis Royal School Band, under the baton of Gene Hay, provided music for the event.
Were you in the band? Were you in the crowd? How many faces do YOU recognize?
(Hint - there is one person in the band who may or may not be the author of this email)
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.
The first day of Spring is upon us,
so it's a great time to pick up some gardening books, birding books,
or some of our great new children's books.
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!
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!
Event News...
Saturday March 21 - Drat!
It appears that Mother Nature has other plans for tomorrow
so unless she changes her mind completely,
it seems pointless to have a Welcome Spring bonfire in the rain/snow!
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!
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!
Spring is coming!
We'd like to leave you today with more signs of spring...
Winter heath...
The crocus show begins...
Lean to the left...
Winter aconite...
And the ever-so-funky catkins of the Japanese Fantail willow (Salix udensis ''Sekka')
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