Toronto Botanical Garden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Toronto Botanical Garden |
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| Type | Non-profit, public |
| Location | 777 Lawrence Avenue East, Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Area | 4 acres (2 ha) |
| Open | 7 days a week, sunrise to sunset |
| Building hours | 9am to 5pm daily |
The Toronto Botanical Garden (TBG) is a special place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. You can find it at 777 Lawrence Avenue East. It's often called 'The little garden with big ideas.' The TBG is almost four acres big. It has 17 different themed gardens. These gardens are like "city-sized" green spaces.
The TBG is located in the north-east part of Edwards Gardens. It is a non-profit organization. This means it uses any money it makes to help the garden grow. Its main goal is to help people connect with plants and nature. It does this through learning, inspiring visitors, and showing leadership.
Contents
History of the Toronto Botanical Garden
The Toronto Botanical Garden started a long time ago. It was first known as the Toronto Civic Garden Centre. The Garden Club of Toronto created it in 1958.
The main building for the Civic Garden Centre opened in 1965. A famous architect named Raymond Moriyama designed it. The garden officially became a botanical garden in 2003. That's when it got its current name, the Toronto Botanical Garden.
How the TBG Gets Money
The Toronto Botanical Garden is different from many other large gardens. It does not get money from the government. Most of its money comes from other sources.
Over 95% of its budget comes from its own activities. This includes money from people who become members. It also comes from special events and classes. Many people and companies also donate money to help the garden.
Exploring the Gardens at TBG
The Toronto Botanical Garden has about four acres of land. On this land, you can find 17 different themed gardens. Each garden has its own special look and plants.
The Woodland Walk
The newest and largest garden is the Woodland Walk. It has trees, shrubs, and wildflowers that grow naturally in the area. This garden shows what the Carolinian forest and prairie savannah look like. These types of natural areas are native to the Toronto region.
The Entry Garden Walk
When you first arrive, you will see the Entry Garden Walk. The Garden Club of Toronto sponsored this beautiful area. A Dutch garden designer named Piet Oudolf created it. This garden features many different perennials and ornamental grasses. They have grown together to create a lovely meadow.
Special Water Features
The garden also has cool water features. There is a water curtain and a water channel. These add to the beauty of the Arrival Courtyard and West View Terrace.
Green Roofs and Rainwater Collection
The main building at the TBG has two green roofs. One roof is flat and has native plants growing on it. The other roof is slanted and covered with sedum plants.
The TBG collects rainwater from its water features and the building. This water is stored in two large tanks. This helps the garden save water. It is part of the TBG's Silver LEED Certification. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It means the building is very eco-friendly. Garden staff also work from a special shed made of straw bales. It also has a green roof with native plants.
Learning for Kids at TBG
The Toronto Botanical Garden offers many programs for children. These programs started in 1998. They help kids learn about nature and gardening. Children get to do hands-on activities.
TBGKids Programs
Each year, TBGKids teaches over 6,000 children. They come for school visits and special camps. There are summer camps and March break camps. The garden also offers family programs and outreach activities.
The Teaching Garden
Children learn in a special place called the Teaching Garden. This garden has different plots where kids can see plants grow. It also has an organic vegetable garden. Children help plant and harvest the vegetables. The TBG donates the food from this garden. It goes to the North York Harvest Food Bank every year.
The Weston Family Library
The TBG has a large library called the Weston Family Library. It is the biggest private library about gardening in Canada. The library has many books and resources. They cover topics like garden design, flower arranging, and growing vegetables. You can also find books about urban farming.
The library has books for children, reference materials, and magazines. It also has DVDs and rare old books. Only members can borrow books from the library. But anyone can visit the library. You can look at the books and use the materials inside the library. The library also offers classes and programs for both adults and children. It has an art gallery too. The gallery shows different art related to plants and gardens.
Learning for Adults at TBG
The Toronto Botanical Garden also has many courses for adults. They offer about 20 courses each year. These classes teach about different topics related to plants.
You can learn about gardening, growing vegetables in the city, and container gardening. Other topics include urban beekeeping, botanical art, and flower design. There are also classes on nature, photography, and wellness.
Special Events and Classes
The TBG holds special events like the HortiCULTURE Salon Series. They also have the TBG Lecture Series and bus tours. Classes often include lectures and discussions. Many classes also have hands-on activities. The courses change with each season. They give people useful information for their own gardens. This helps the TBG connect people with plants and nature.
Images for kids
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The main building of the Toronto Botanical Garden.
