Bloom Report - October 10, 2026

October 10, 2026

Bloom Report - October 10, 2026

Nothing quite beats a sunny October day!

As autumn settles over Annapolis Royal, nature creates a quiet golden glow. At the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens, roses continue to delight the senses, while autumn blossoms and fall foliage combine to create a magical atmosphere.

As you enter the breezeway, you may notice a sweet aroma in the air (often described as burnt sugar). This is the autumn small of the Japanese Katsura that towers over the Donor Tree. From that start, all your senses will be engaged as you wander the Gardens!

The Gardens are open every day 9am-5pm (holidays included).

We are currently offering an October special of $15 per person.

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!

Visitor Washrooms are open daily 9am-5pm

The Gardens Shop is also open 7 days a week, 9am-5pm

Visitor Information services are available daily 9am-5pm

(with self serve information available 24/7)

The Elm Tree Cafe is open 11am-4pm

The final day of our Cafe season is Tuesday October 13.

(Note the Cafe is available exclusively for members and Garden visitors)

For detailed visitor information, hours and rates, please visit www.historicgardens.com

News...

Lots of progress on the dyke upgrade!

The upgrade to the Allain's River dyke system that forms part of the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens is progressing nicely. This work is being done through the Nova Scotia Dykeland System Upgrades Project and should be completed this fall. Aside from the dykewalk being closed, and a bit of noise from the heavy equipment, the impact for Garden visitors has been minimal.

We are very thankful that the Province of Nova Scotia looks after dyke maintenance around the province, including ours!

A Taste of October...

Upcoming Events...

Guess what?

This year's Conker Championship has attracted the attention of a film crew who will be here to capture the fun for broadcast on Eastlink's "No Ordinary Life".
How cool is that? We'd love to have a big crowd on hand to showcase our community well, so plan to attend either as a spectator or as a player!

What is Conkers?

The game of conkers involves, quite simply, a chestnut on a string. Well, two actually, as each person in the duel requires the same armament. The objective – to break your opponent’s conker. Sounds simple, but it is actually quite difficult and makes for great fun for participants and spectators alike. No experience necessary! Competitive rounds for age 8 to 108 – practice area available for younger kids and any adults who want to try their hand in a non-competitive environment.

The 2026 North American Conker Championship will be held in front of the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens on Saturday, October 17, as participants vie for the coveted Crofton Chalice. Registration begins at 9:30am with the competition kicking of at 10:30am sharp!

Mr & Mrs Bones invite you to some family-friendly Halloween fun in the Gardens.

Seasonal Décor, Scavenger Hunts, BrainSqueezers and more...
and watch for our Little Monster Mash (costume parade & dance) on Saturday October 31.

Be sure to plan enough time to enjoy a walk around our autumn Gardens as well!
All included with our Fall Admission Special of $15 per adult and no charge for kids under 18.

Odds & sods...

The dahlias in the Knot Garden are still a highlight...

The native witch hazels are blooming...

We still have some lovely roses...

I am always fascinated with the various stages of milkweed...

Lovely pinks and purples - cosmos and asters...

Unique plants like a striped pepper in the Innovative Garden
and the Popcorn Cassia near the Shop.

Unique Trees

The Historic Gardens has many unique trees that add colour and interest in autumn.

As mentioned in the introduction, the sweet smell of the Japanese Katsura is hard to beat! In addition to the one in the main Courtyard, there are several more at the top of the Elephant Grass Boardwalk, near the also-unique Paperbark Maple.

The Seven Sons (Heptacodium miconioides), native to China, is a rare tree and thought to be nearing extinction in the wild. The tree is now providing some lovely fall colour near the gate to the Innovative Garden.

Our rare Franklin Tree (Franklinia alatamaha) is blooming nicely with its large "fried egg" flowers. The Franklinia is said to be among the rarest trees in the world and is extinct in the wild. It will bloom through much of October, and its leaves will soon turn a lovely burgundy colour.

In the Gardens Shop

Our calendars are in!

With 12 of our favourite seasonal images, the Historic Gardens calendar is a good representation of what makes the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens such an inspiring site all year round. The calendar is coil bound and printed on heavy card stock so it will not curl in the humidity. It makes a perfect gift, especially for those who live away and do not have the chance to visit the Historic Gardens regularly. $20 plus tax, and a fundraiser for the Gardens.

Purchase in the Gardens Shop or order online: Historic Gardens Calendar

New - Mini Puzzle of Annapolis Royal!

Check out this new Mini Puzzle featuring many of the iconic views of Annapolis Royal!
Featuring the artwork of Downtown Sketcher Wynand van Niekerk of Halifax, each puzzle is a 150-piece jigsaw, crafted at a charming 4x6" size. Designed with adults and avid puzzlers in mind, these mini masterpieces come elegantly packaged in a compact tin travel case with a clear window. At $15, they make a great gift idea, and a keepsake of our lovely town!

Purchase in the Gardens Shop or order online: Puzzles

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.

And in the Elm Tree Cafe...

There is no better place to enjoy the dahlias than from the vantage point of the patio at the Elm Tree Cafe!

The Elm Tree Cafe is only open a few days more, through to Tuesday October 13.
Be sure to pop by this weekend for lunch or a sweet!

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!

And to close...

Wishing everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving Weekend, with a chance to get out and enjoy the beauty in nature. See you soon!

Trish

The Gardens would not be here without lots of amazing community support. Please consider a donation to the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens Society (Charitable # 106714736 RR0001).