What's in Bloom - Niagara Parks, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

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.

From natural areas with native flora to picnic areas and highly sculpted horticulture masterpieces, Niagara Parks offers it all. The diverse plant collections number in the thousands and the Park provides a fitting backdrop for the beauty of the Falls.

The Daffodil Capital of North America

Did you know that the parklands along the Niagara River contain more daffodils than any other park in North America? Crocus, magnolia, redbud and cherry trees are just some of the spectacular blooms that greet Spring each year at Niagara Parks, but daffodils are a special highlight.

Each year Niagara Parks plants over 30,000 daffodils. Over the decades these sunny blooms have naturalized and it is estimated that there are now millions throughout the Park. To honor the overwhelming number of daffodils in the Park and throughout the City of Niagara Falls, the City declared the daffodil its official flower on June 5, 1967. Niagara Parks truly is the Daffodil Capitol of North America.

Among the Parks' permanent collections of perennials, flowering trees and shrubs, themed seasonal display bedding are changed three to four times each year, starting with violas and spring bulbs, a wide variety of annuals in the summer and chrysanthemums, flowering cabbage and kale accenting the brilliant autumn colours. Niagara Parks staff have planted thousands of wildflowers, trees, shrubs and grasses, including meadowsweet, dogwood, Canada mayflowers and running strawberry vines, in locations such as Memorial Grove near Old Fort Erie, Moore Island and Paradise Grove.

Many 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

All of these garden attractions are planted and maintained at no charge to the public and should not be missed in any visit to Niagara.

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