Edwards Gardens – Simcoe County Master Gardener

By Stephanie Brash, Master Gardener, SCMG

Another Installment in our Gardens Not to Be Missed Series.

Edwards Gardens, Toronto Botanical Gardens, North York, Ontario

Edwards Gardens sits adjacent to the Toronto Botanical Garden. This former estate garden features perennials and roses on the uplands and wildflowers, rhododendrons and an extensive rockery in the valley. It is located on the corner of Leslie Street and Lawrence Avenue East, along Wilket Creek, one of the tributaries of the Don West River Branch.

The estate was originally owned by Alexander Milne, a Scottish settler who arrived after the War of 1812, and though it remained in the family for several generations, it fell into disrepair. Rupert E. Edwards bought the land in 1944, and proceeded to oversee the creation of a magnificent garden. He sold the property to the Municipality of Metro Toronto in 1955 on the condition that it become a public park, and it was officially named “Edwards Gardens” in 1956.

There are many wonderful sights to see in Edwards Gardens, from perfectly maintained flower beds, rock gardens, wildflowers, and manicured lawns. However, perhaps the most special is the unique “Teaching Garden”, which makes this a perfect destination for children of all ages to venture into the wonderful world of gardening.

Teaching Garden, Edwards Gardens

A 5-minute walk through Edwards Gardens will lead you to a fabulous, kid-friendly garden that provides a unique space for children to learn by interacting with the environment. Since 1998, the Toronto Botanical Garden has offered school and recreational programs conducted in this garden, designed to stimulate children’s curiosity about nature and gardening through hands-on activities.

The Teaching Garden is located on the west side of Edwards Gardens, across the creek and up the curved path. When you see the red-roofed garden house, the towering white pine trees, and the giant monarch butterfly, you will know that you’re in the right place! Follow the dinosaur footprints all through the garden.

The Teaching Garden features a series of demonstration gardens for children to plant, cultivate & sow vegetables and flowers. Harvested vegetables are donated to the North York Harvest Food Bank.

Located within the Teaching Garden are also these fun areas:

Alphabet Garden: Children are guided along a winding path through the “Alphabet Garden”, visiting plants with names that begin with letters of the alphabet.

Dinosaur Garden: In this garden, which is home to a friendly stegosaurus, children will see and touch plants that dinosaurs once munched on. This garden’s purpose is to help children discover the history of plants.

The Spiral Butterfly Garden: Marked with a giant butterfly sundial, this garden teaches children how the movement of the sun affects plants, and features plants that are especially attractive to butterflies and other pollinators.