Visiting Allan Gardens Conservatory

Founded in 1858, Allan Gardens is one of Toronto‘s oldest parks. While it does have a playground for children and a pair of fenced areas where off-leash dogs can run free, it’s main feature is the conservatory.

Open every day of the year, and free to the public, the conservatory features five magnificent turn of the century greenhouses brimming with plants including hibiscus and orchids; you’ll find plants in bloom no matter when you visit. In all, the conservatory’s greenhouses cover an astonishing 16,000 square feet.

The Palm House, which is the conservatory’s centrepiece, was built in 1910 to replace the original Pavilion Hall, which burned down in 1902. It was designed by former Toronto City Architect Robert McCallum, and features a massive glass dome that shelters palm trees and other tropical foliage from around the world, including an enormous Screw Pine, banana trees, and bamboo.

Inside the Cool House, which dates back to 1924 and which features a beautiful waterfall and a small pond, there are Kashmirian Cypress Trees and several types of wonderfully scented citrus trees. In the Cactus House, you’ll find succulents of every type, plus a vast collection of cacti. The Tropical House, built in 1956, is a favourite destination for anyone who loves orchids; in addition, this greenhouse contains an exceptional collection of bromeliads. The old University of Toronto Greenhouse was relocated to Allan Gardens in 2003, and is connected to the Cactus House. It is used as a children’s conservatory, where kids can discover a passion for gardening.

Built in classic Victorian style, the conservatory’s greenhouse spaces emphasize symmetry, contrast, and repetition throughout; with steel supports for framing and trusses, and with wood-framed glazing and plenty of delightful ornamentation that has inspired artists and modern greenhouse designers alike. The surrounding park and fountains feature diagonal paths and geometric shapes, stone tile, and other natural materials.

The trees in the surrounding park are mostly older than one hundred years old, and include species such as red oaks and sugar maples, sassafras, black cherry, and American beech. Here, you’ll find peregrine falcons hunting from the largest flock of pigeons in Toronto, and three squirrel species, including the common grey squirrel, the black squirrel, and the red-tailed black squirrel, which is found nowhere else in the city.

Events are often held at the conservatory, including annual botanical displays. The Spring display is showcased between January and April, and the Easter Show holds center stage throughout the Easter season with dates varying. The Fall Flower Show takes place throughout October and November, and a stunning Victorian Christmas display brightens days and nights throughout December and into January. During the summer months, a series of free concerts is held in the park.

Bounded by Gerrard Street East on the South, Carlton Street on the North, Sherbourne Street on the East, and Jarvis Street on the West, the conservatory is located at 19 Horticultural Avenue, in the heart of Toronto’s Garden District. Visitors may drive to the park, or take the Toronto Transit Commission’s Yonge-University-Spadina line to reach it. Conservatory hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; on weekends and holidays, conservatory buildings are open between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.