And with that... a new season has begun!
While our blossoms are a bit behind other years, we still have a great spring display on this, our opening weekend. To give you an idea of what you might see when you visit, below is a summary of our current highlights. Things are changing every day, so best to come often!
Currently in bloom:
• Magnolias - have just started opening. The stellatas on the Lower Path, and one in the Victorian Garden are almost in full bloom. Wada's Memory (Parking Lot) will be a highlight in the coming week. Tons more to come from now to mid May.
• Rhodies/Azaleas - a couple early ones just starting to bloom (Nancy Steele - yellow), PJM (pink). The majority will not bloom until late May through early June.
• Bulbs - scilla, daffodils, hyacinth, etc all around the gardens. Tulips soon…
• Shrubs: Dawn Viburnum (pink on Lower Path), forsythia, quince, pieris japonica, others coming.
• various colours of heath, plus buttercup winterhazel (yellow), daphne (white) all in the Winter Collection
• Other: bloodroot, hellebores, lungwort, Anemone blanda (Windflower), pasqueflower, fritillaria, trillium
Highlight times ahead:
• Rhodies/Azaleas - mostly mid May through early June
• Laburnum & Wisteria - late May or early June
• Roses - last week of June or early July will be biggest highlight, but they bloom all summer
• Daylilies & Hydrangeas - usually later July
• Heather Collection - early August
The Gardens are open every day 9am-5pm
In May we are offering an Early Bird day pass of $15 including tax.
(No charge for kids under 18)
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 will open in early June.
For detailed visitor information, hours and rates, please visit www.historicgardens.com
The Emergence...
Spring is a time of renewal, and we really enjoy watching the emergence of plants that have been hibernating for the winter!
The leaves of the water lilies...
The funky peonies, and the even funkier Chinese mayapple...
And the leaves of our trees, including the red horsechestnut.
Spring Blossoms
Who doesn't love daffodils?
The Anemone blanda (Windflower) are putting on quite a show near the bridge (above & below)
The hellebores are in bloom (above & below)
Pasqueflower
Grape hyacinth...
An eye-popping pink hyacinth near the front sign...
And a wonderful mix of hyacinth near the Courtyard Pond...
Special Projects
In the last email we let you know about some of the exciting marketing projects underway. Today we want to tell you about another project.
What are we doing?
We are re-roofing the Acadian Cottage (la Maison acadienne)! This unique structure has evolved in many ways since its initial construction in the early 1980s, reflecting a variety of early Acadian construction techniques. Most recently, the building had a thatched roof but it now needs replacing. This summer we are returning to the vertical planking which served the building for the first half of its life and was a common roofing material in the 17th century.
What's next?
Once we have a sound roof, we will be making some other repairs and improvements. We expect to re-open the interior by early summer so Garden visitors can once again go inside and get a sense of 17th century Acadian life. We are very excited for that!
On the longer term, we plan to thatch the small bake oven shelter as a staff & volunteer project to demonstrate thatching as another early Acadian roofing method, and an important part of the Acadian story. We will use native grasses that would have been readily available in the 17th century.
2026 marks the 45th Anniversary of the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens,
and we can't think of a better time to bring new life to la Maison acadienne.
If you would like to help us with this project and future improvements to our Acadian section,
you can donate online or in person at the Gardens Shop.
2026 Memberships
Drop in soon to renew, or to get your first-ever Gardens Membership!
And food for thought...
a membership makes a FANTASTIC Mother's Day gift!
To purchase online: Buy Now
OR
Phone us at 902-532-7018
Our Feathered Friends
We are very fortunate to have so many feathered friends around the Gardens. Cardinals are among our favourites, and we enjoy the woodpeckers as well.
Event News...
Our volunteer Spring Cleanup included several young volunteers who worked very hard to rake up leaves!
We are ever so thankful to all those who contributed their time to help!
Be sure to bring Mom out to enjoy the blossoms.
Grab some family photos while you are here!
A highlight each May, the Rare & Unusual Plant Sale is a great opportunity to buy some new additions for your garden. Do some nursery hopping on your way to and from Annapolis Royal, and be sure to leave lots of time to visit the Historic Gardens while you are in town!
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.
Looking back... this is a shot of our new rose maze in 1981, just weeks before the Historic Gardens' August 15, 1981 Grand Opening. In the background you can see the old St George Street bridge that passed over the rail line. That bridge was an iconic feature of our town from 1891 until 2004.
This photo led me to look online for some other old photos of the railway bridge...
This photo circa 1940 shows the bridge in the distance...
This view from 1975 shows the Train Station...
"under the bridge" is a place fondly and not-so-fondly remembered by people who grew up in Annapolis Royal!
And this series would not be complete without a current shot of the Train Station, lovingly restored by Jane Nicholson in the mid 2000s, and a true showstopper in daffodil season!
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
It's mayflower season in Nova Scotia, and here in the Gardens Shop we have mayflowers that will bring you joy year round. These clay floral sculptures were created by Chabaket Conrad and are incredibly realistic. Drop into the shop soon to see them first hand!
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.
Preparations are Underway at the Elm Tree Cafe
Spring is in the air, and the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens is open for the season.
Adjacent to this lovely Knot Garden, our Elm Tree Cafe will soon be opening for the summer, on or about June 1.
Meantime, our creative Cafe staff are busily creating a spring line of jellies for sale in the Gardens Shop. Can you guess from this photo what flavour will be among them?
More Spring Blossoms
Cowslip Primrose
Skunk Cabbage
Double Bloodroot
Trillium
Pieris japonica
Daphne
Fritillaria
And a highlight... Rhod 'Nancy Steele' is opening!
This unique cultivar is always an early May star!
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... magnolia season has begun!
In the Gardens...
And all around Town!
Annapolis Royal has a great collection of magnolias - many are currently in bloom, as shown. As these early ones fade, later cultivars will bloom. Be sure to explore the streets of Annapolis Royal before or after your visit to the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens!
All for now. Cheers!
Trish
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