In the cold of winter, the flora and fauna slumber, preparing for springtime renewal. While our outdoor gardens sleep, our Visitor Centre continues to be a lively community hub, used to connect people to nature, foster tourism during the winter season, and promote lifelong learning for all ages.    Activating the Visitor Centre and winter season is possible with the generous financial support from our grant funding partners, Enbridge, Experience Ontario, the Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation, the Henry White Kinnear Foundation, and Gore Mutual Insurance.   Hosting In ..read more

And, just like that, the 2023 season comes to an end. Here at Toronto Botanical Garden, we are lucky to be supported by you, our members, volunteers, and donors. We are thankful for your investments and contributions to the Garden we love.  Because of you, TBG is a thriving community green space, offering nature-based public programming and respite among beautiful landscapes. Let’s review the best of Botanical Buzz and look back to what you had to say about our little slice of Toronto paradise. Make Mistakes Aruna, Adult & Family Programs Supervisor, is the biggest advocate for exper ..read more

As we head into the colder months, many plants rest, preparing to bloom once again in the springtime. The grounds at the Toronto Botanical Garden do become quieter in the wintertime, but the landscapes are just as beautiful. Look forward to winter landscapes during the colder months, and take a peek at what Toronto Botanical Garden staff can’t wait to see. Winter Wildlife Preserve Roger Gettig, Director of Horticulture, reminds us that, “your garden is a winter wildlife preserve. Manage your fall garden cleanup to enhance wildlife habitat. According to the Xerces Society, “The availability of ..read more

“I live in the neighborhood,” says Bianca Da Costa. “Toronto Botanical Garden is an extension of my backyard.”  With a deep sense of pride, Bianca has woven herself into the fabric of the Garden, forging connections and nurturing a sense of community. Bianca’s journey with the Garden began when her team decided to venture out of the office and get their hands dirty. Although years have passed, she smiles, recalling the fond memories of her team working together in the front garden, planting bulbs, and sowing seeds of teamwork. Amidst the hard work, they shared laughs and snapped pictures ..read more

It was easy for Ian McRae to feel at home during his first volunteering shift at Toronto Botanical Garden. Although he didn’t start as a regular visitor, Ian quickly found a sense of belonging, where volunteering seamlessly became a natural part of his weekly routine. Within the TBG community, volunteers like Ian share a distinctive quality: gratitude for the people and the work. Volunteers are at the heart of the Garden and help bring the mission to life. Ian, and many volunteers alike, are deeply passionate and committed to nature and green spaces; their energy and work are a part of the fab ..read more

Gilbert Gallaher, or as his friends call him Gil, may be a new volunteer to TBG, but he has been well acquainted with plants for a while now. Raised in the remote area of Australia, he is no stranger to bush medicine, land care, and growing one’s own vegetables as a form of survival. With roots in nursing, yoga, and horticulture, it became more evident to Gil that plants and health work in partnership together. After a long career in healthcare, he moved across seas from Australia to Toronto. Not long after relocating, did he discover our urban green space, that made him feel at home. Gil’s fi ..read more

Comfortable – that was the first thought that crossed Paul D’Angelo’s mind upon his first gardening volunteer shift. “The people made me feel at ease,” Paul recalls. “Everyone is very relaxed here.” With six years of volunteer experience under his belt, Paul reminisces about everything he had learned. While he has always enjoyed gardening before volunteering, he was eager to expand his knowledge by joining our community. “I learned a lot about what plants are hardy enough are to survive and even transformed my own into a pollinator-friendly garden, full of native plants, because of TBG,” he sa ..read more

Spring has sprung! We are ready to spring into action and are asking you to make the leap with us! With your generous support, our goal, during the Gifts to the Garden campaign, is to raise $10,000 that will go directly to support our volunteer gardeners, our horticulturists, and our learning teams delivering exciting and memorable TBG experiences for you and our community. “Help us kick it up a notch and make the TBG even more beautiful by purchasing much-needed gardening tools and supplies.”—Roger Gettig, Director of Horticulture Our horticulture and learning teams have been working hard to ..read more

Laura and Julia are not just any mother-daughter family duo. What they share is a special bond with the Garden that has blossomed over the years, leading them to volunteer here at TBG. Laura started visiting the Garden in middle school, where she found a sense of freedom among the plants, trees, and ravine. “There was a feeling of safety being surrounded by this beautiful environment,” she says. With such a profound belief in the TBG, Laura knew that she had to share the space with her own children. “When Julia and her sister were babies, their grandparents would bring them here all the time ..read more

As part of volunteer appreciation month, the Toronto Botanical Garden is pleased to introduce Alison, one of the Weston Family Library’s newest volunteers (and member for just over a year now!). “I’ve always been a plant fan, although I’m not a very knowledgeable one. So, I figured I had a lot to learn from working at a place like this,” she says. Join the TBG team today! Not only is Alison eager to learn from the community and immerse herself in the wonderful world of gardening, but she’s taking full advantage of TBG’s educational programs, especially the floral design classes. “The floral de ..read more