Toronto is a city that offers beauty and quality in many forms, from music and theatre to sports and landscape.& One of the gems of this Canadian city is Allan Gardens Conservatory, a 16,000-square-foot botanical garden located entirely indoors. In a setting at 19 Horticultural Avenue (Carlton Street between Jarvis and Sherbourne streets) Allan Gardens Conservatory holds plant specimens from around the globe.
The gardens are actually five greenhouses that, although connected, are distinct in theme. The greenhouses display flowering and tropical plants, including such items as cacti, orchids and much, much more. Getting its name from community leader and politician George Williams Allan, the conservatory features Madagascar tropical pine, bromeliads, caladiums and amaryllis.
Some of the displays in Allan Gardens Conservatory have been open for more than a century. The eye-catching Palm House (opened in 1910) is one of the favorites for visitors. Seasonal displays also attract visitors by the hundreds. For example, many enjoy the results of the spring bulbs from January through March.
Allan Gardens Conservatory hosts a show each summer that features tropical and sub-tropical collections, along with plants that are common to arid climates. Couples often choose the garden for wedding photos, while Toronto residents and visitors often enjoy classical concerts in the wonderful setting. The conservatory is also one of the stops on regular English as a Second Language tours provided in the city.
There is free parking off Horticultural Avenue, though spaces are sometimes difficult to find. General hours for Allan Gardens Conservatory are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. (416) 392-1111. (416) 392-7288.
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