Review: Allan Gardens Conservatory

Let’s start big picture. What’s the vibe here? History, architecture, and plant life collide at Allan Gardens Conservatory, a park with a series of connected Victorian-era greenhouses in the center of Toronto with 16,000 square feet of space to hold its botanical collection. Though the Toronto Horticultural Society inaugurated a garden on the site in 1858, the central Palm House, designed by architect Robert McCallum, opened in 1910. Subsequent additions have expanded the gardens’ holdings to include a tropical house, an orchid house, a temperate house, an arid house, and a children’s conservatory. Because the gardens are enclosed and protected from the cold, they’re open 365 days a year. There’s also an (outdoor) arboretum with 55 species of trees, providing lovely green space for Torontonians.

Any standout features or must-sees? Catch the three seasonal floral shows for a multicolored spectacle: the Spring Hydrangea Show, the Fall Chrysanthemum Show, and the Winter Flower Show.

Was it easy to get around? Both the park and the conservatories are easy to navigate. They’re near the center of Toronto, so you can arrive on foot, by public transportation, by bike, or by driving, though there’s limited parking.

All said and done, what—and who—is this best for? It’s free to visit the conservatory, so even if you’re not a garden aficionado, it’s still a lovely place to pass a little time, especially during the cold, dark winter. But if you are a plant lover—or an architecture lover—plan to spend some more time here.