Niagara Parks delights visitors from around the world with beautifully maintained parkland, spectacular gardens and rare floral displays. The practice of horticulture, or the art of garden cultivation, has played a prominent role in the development and maintenance of the Niagara Parks system. Trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals have been arranged to beautify the landscape with a variety of form, texture and colour designed to accentuate each season.
The Daffodil Capital of North AmericaMany other gardens and floral features make up what is called the Niagara Garden Trail. Travel along the entire Niagara River Parkway between Lake Erie in the south and Lake Ontario in the north and experience all Niagara Parks has to offer:
- Old Fort Erie presents a heritage flower and herb garden as part of its recreation of life during the War of 1812
- the Floral Showhouse just south of the Falls celebrated 60 years of horticultural excellence in 2006, with exotic tropicals and eight special floral exhibits presented throughout the year
- immaculately groomed gardens in Queen Victoria Park and Oakes Garden Theatre, including rose and perennial gardens, a tree collection, and carpet and annual beds, provide a beautiful backdrop for the millions of visitors who come to enjoy the views of the Falls each year
- for over 70 years the Botanical Gardens, with nearly 100 acres of gardens including the world-famous Rose Garden and arboretum, have been lovingly maintained by students at our School of Horticulture – this is also home to the lush tropical plants displayed in the Butterfly Conservatory
- the Floral Clock in Queenston continues to be one of the most photographed sites in Niagara
- the Centennial Lilac Garden features dozens of varieties in bloom from mid-May to mid-June
- Queenston Heights Park includes gardens and carpet bedding nestled among the trees of this Niagara Escarpment setting
- A heritage flower and herb garden is a unique feature of McFarland House near Niagara-on-the-Lake
See the calendar below for "What's in Bloom" and plan to visit in every season to enjoy and appreciate all that Niagara Parks' Gardens have to offer.
What's in Bloom
2008 Major Spring Bulb Displays within The Niagara Parks Commission including the Botanical Gardens
Between Clifton Hill and Police station along the walk by the Moraine - Display of minor bulbs such as Puschkinia scilloides, Scilla siberica and Ornithogalum sps. with thousands upon thousands of Narcissus (Daffodils)
Tulips
Historic Fort Erie - colour theme red using tulip Ile de France (red)
Mather Arch Park - red colour theme using tulip Ile de France (red)
Willoughby Museum - pink colour theme using tulip Pink Impression (pink)
Legends on the Niagara Golf Course - Over 7100 Narcissus Dutch Master were planted in the fall of 2007. Camassia leichtlinii ABlue Danube and Allium Globe Master is planted in the front entrance landscape just off the Niagara Parkway.
Queen Victoria Park
Greenhouse Conservatory - Artists Garden - Pink/Purple Colour Theme using the tulip selections called Purple Passion Duo Mix - Ester (soft pink), Negrita (purple) and Raspberry Sorbet Mix - Barcelona (fuchsia), Ballade (fuchsia /white)
Rose Garden Area - tulip Prins Claus
Fragrance Garden - Pink and Blue Colour Theme using tulip Early Glory (pink/fragrant) and Muscari armeniacum Grape Hyacinth (blue/fragrant)
Table Rock Complex and surrounding beds - Pink Colour Theme using the tulip selection called Pink Impression (pink)
Edgewaters Tap & Grill Restaurant - out front - Yellow/Purple Colour Theme using the tulip selections called Golden Oxford (yellow) and Atillas Record (purple/red)
Queen Victoria Park Hennipen Point - Yellow/Purple colour theme using tulip selections Monte Carlo (double strong yellow), City of Vancouver (pale yellow) and Big Smile (golden yellow). Additionally giant purple flowering onions Allium Globe Master are planted which will boast 25cm flower heads.
Parapet River View Walk, - Orange Colour Theme using the tulip selection called El Nino (orange) and Viola baskets (18) using a mix of: Karma Orange (50%), Karma Deep Orange (50%)
King George Monument- Red/yellow colour theme using tulip selection Mickey Mouse
(Gold/Purple Red)
Police Station - View to American Falls - Light Carmine Red Colour Theme using the tulip selection called Renown (light carmine red)
Parkway Road Mediums Queen Victoria Park - Light Carmine Red Colour Theme using the tulip selection called Renown (light carmine red) .Viola baskets (20) using blue Violas Bingo Clear Blue (100%) and 14 baskets using Viola Atlas- Sunset
Queen Victoria Park Fountain and Moon shaped beds - Light Carmine Red and White colour theme using tulips Renown (light carmine red) and Maureen (white)
Oaks Garden Theatre and north to and including Rainbow Gardens, plus QVP Cenotaph beds Red Colour Theme, using the tulip Ile de France (red)
Maid of The Mist Plaza -raised beds. - Red Colour Theme, using the tulip Ile de France (red) and tulip Pretty Women (red)
Maid of The Mist Plaza other beds - Red Colour Theme, using the tulip Ile de France (red)
Oak Hall foundation plantings, have a Blue/ Orange spring Colour Theme using tulip El Nino El (orange) Camassia leichtlinii ABlue Danube, giant alliums Globe Master (lilac) and Narcissus Dutch Master (yellow)
Aero Car - Red Colour Theme using tulip Canadian Liberator (red)
Note: "Canadian Liberator" This is the tulip that Vanhof and Blokker (Park Tulip bulb supplier) named "Canadian Liberator" in honour of the Canadian soldiers that helped liberating Holland in WW II. This is a Triumph Tulip (Mid Season Blooming)and resulted as a sport (mutant) out of another Tulip Judith Leyster. (Mid-season)
Feather in the Glen - Orange Colour Theme using tulip Ad Rem (orange)
Whirlpool Golf Course Club House - Pink and White Colour Theme using tulips Maureen (white) and Renown (pink)
Whirlpool Golf Course behind Club House - Rock Garden - Camassia leichtlinii ABlue Danube, giant alliums Globe Master (lilac), Muscari armeniacum Grape Hyacinth (blue) and Narcissus Dutch Master (yellow)
Floral Clock -Pink/Purple/White Colour Theme using tulips Don Quichotte (pink), Claudia (purple/white) and Negrita (purple) and Ollioules (dark rose silvery white edge )
Queenston Height Restaurant area and Laura Secord Monument - Pink Colour Theme using tulip Menton (pink)
Brock's Monument - Pink Colour Theme using tulip Menton (pink)
Old Stone Gate Entry - Red Colour Theme using tulip Canadian Liberator (red)
*2008 Spring Park Displays designed by Tom Laviolette, Superintendent - Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens and Butterfly Conservatory, Floral Showhouse and Parks Greenhouse Production, Parks Landscape Design
Botanical Gardens
Rose Garden - Pink/purple Colour Theme, to highlight the Magnolia soulangiana, using tulip Claudia (magenta/white, Burgundy (purple). The driveway borders with a blush of apricot using tulip Blushing Beauty ( soft pink tipped yellow orange)
Residence - Purple/White Colour Theme using Shirley ( white/purple) and Cum Laude (purple/blue).
Old Train Station - Apricot/yellow/pink Colour Theme using tulip Blushing Beauty (soft pink tipped yellow orange ) American Dream (orange/yellow ) and Perestroyka (pink orange tip) in combination
New Lecture Hall - Pink/Purple Colour Theme using tulip Kings Blood (dark red) and Blushing Beauty (soft pink tipped yellow orange)
Butterfly Café - Yellow and purple Colour Theme using tulip West Point (yellow) Cum Laude (purple/blue). Baskets and containers planted in Viola Matrix yellow
Parterre - Red/purple Colour Theme, using the tulip Kings Blood (Dark red) and Queen of the Night (dark purple)
*2008 Spring, Botanical Gardens Displays designed by School of Horticulture students and staff member Sue Clark - Instructor Curator.
These are the approximate dates that the botanical features at Niagara Parks will be in their prime. All dates are subject to weather conditions.
Legend:
FS Niagara Parks Floral Showhouse
QVP Queen Victoria Park
OGT Oakes Garden Theatre
FC Floral Clock
BG Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens
QHP Queenston Heights Park
MFH McFarland House
MAP Mather Arch Park
KBP Kingsbridge Park
| Approximate Dates | Botanical Features | Location(s) |
| January 15- March 31 | Spring Floral Show | FS |
| April 2 | Easter Lily Floral Show | FS |
| April 15-June 15 | Spring Flowering Bulbs | QVP, OGT, FC, BG, QHP, MFH |
| April 15- October 15 | Carpet Bedding Displays | QVP, OGT, FC, BG, QHP |
| April 15-October 30 | Perennials | QVP, OGT, FC, BG, QHP, MAP |
| April 15-October 30 | Nature Garden, Herb Garden | BG |
| April 15-October 30 | Rock Garden | QVP,. OGT, FC, BG |
| May 24-October 30 | Period Herb Garden | MFH |
| May | Hydrangea Show | FS |
| May 12-June 15 | Lilacs | Adjacent to FC |
| May 15-May 20 | Japanese Flowering Cherries | BG, QHP, KBP |
| May 15-June 30 | Rhododendrons, Irises | BG |
| May 30-September 30 | Annual Displays | All Gardens |
| June | Regal Geranium Show | FS |
| June 15-September 30 | Roses | FS, QVP, BG |
| September 15-October 30 | Fall Displays | QVP, OGT, FC, BG |
| September 15-October 30 | Hiemalis Begonia Show | FS |
| November | Chrysanthemum Show | FS |
| December | Christmas Floral Show | FS |
| December 1-January 5 | Christmas Displays | QVP, OGT, BG, QHP |
| Year Round | Tropical Plants | FS, Butterfly Conservatory |




