Top 6 Best Gardens in Calgary

Best Gardens in Calgary: One of the most effective ways to relax and destress is to breathe in some fresh air and admire some of nature’s best works. Springtime in Calgary is quite literally a time for life to bloom.

Even on those rainy days, it’s easier to stay motivated and smile when the flowers are blooming, the grass is a little greener, and the sun is high in the sky. After a long, dull, and cold winter, we think you should treat yourself to some color therapy in mid-May.

Exploring Calgary’s many beautiful public gardens, parks, and green spaces is a fantastic way to spend time during the growing season. In addition to enjoying the serenity of these sites, you can also get gardening ideas from them! Observe the selection of plants and the way they are grouped. Color, form, and texture are all necessary details to note. You can enjoy peaceful walks along native flowers, bushes, and trees in the best Calgary gardens. Find out where to go if you’d like to enjoy nature, especially flowers, with this list of the best Calgary gardens.

Read More: 10 Best Family Parks in Calgary

1- Devonian Gardens

Website: calgary.ca/csps/parks/locations/downtown-parks/devonian-gardens.html

Phone: +1 403 268 2489

Address: CORE Shopping Centre, 333 7 Ave SW 4th floor, Calgary, AB T2P 1B5, Canada

Calgary has a wide range of beautiful gardens, not all of which are outside. The Devonian Gardens are perfect for a breath of fresh air while strolling through the CORE Shopping Centre. Located in the heart of Calgary, the Devonian Gardens offer a hectare of botanical gardens featuring over 500 trees, 50 varieties of plants, a 900-square-foot living wall, fountains, fish ponds, and a playground. You can stroll around the gardens during your lunch break or stop to smell the flowers in this climate-controlled environment. Designed by J.H.Cook Architects and Engineers, Devonian Gardens features a variety of plants and flowers. City residents received the park as gifts from the Devonian Group of Charitable Foundations and Calford Properties. Over 20,000 plants were present, along with koi ponds, bridges, and waterfalls.

In 1977, it was opened to the public and became an international sensation. They even have function rooms overlooking the Garden so you can enjoy this view while you are in a meeting. Pianos are also available for live performances in the Garden. There are two fish ponds that are guaranteed to entertain with their animated water features. There are flexible seating areas where you can watch the koi fish and enjoy the soothing water features. You can easily reach Devonian Gardens from the fourth floor for a relaxing stroll through the greenery. A comfortable, spacious atmosphere provides plenty of space for catching your breath.

What do clients think?

We visited the Gardens on our last day in Calgary and absolutely loved it! It was free and the plants are well labeled. It was nice to see flora you would not normally see in the wild. We were excited to see the trees, plants, and koi fish swimming, but seeing the handcarved masks was an added bonus. The detail on each mask was impeccable and you could tell they were lovingly created. I appreciated them and thee diverse representation in the gardens. (Google reviews)

A really nice feature within the shopping mall. Up on the top floor this is a really peaceful spot to take a break from the shops, or to have lunch or grab a coffee. The kids loved the playground area. (Google reviews)

2- Reader Rock Garden  

Website: calgary.ca/CSPS/Parks/Pages/Locations/SE-parks/Reader-Rock-Garden.aspx

Phone:  +1 403 268 2489

Address: 325 25 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2A 7H8, Canada

One of Calgary’s most unique cultural landscapes, Reader Rock Garden Historical Park includes the restored Reader house (which houses Reader’s Garden Café), pathways, bridges, benches, and beautiful flowers. Upon completion of its restoration in 2006, it was officially recognized as a Provincial Historic Resource. In 2018, the Garden formally designated a national historic site. Events can be held at Reader Rock Garden, including weddings, photography sessions, and family gatherings. Make Reader Rock Garden available for your event. Plants and beauty are the hallmarks of this historic Garden that a passionate gardener created. A bare hillside was transformed into an international-acclaimed garden by William Roland Reader, superintendent of Calgary Parks, from 1913 until 1942. Horticulturists often collected alpine plants on their travels, creating gardens as living artifacts of their travels around the turn of the century. Reader actively pursued this practice, and for thirty years, the Garden trialled over 4000 kinds of plants, making it a significant garden in western Canada.

Using the Garden as a showplace, Reader educated people about the gardening potential in Alberta’s prairies and foothills, particularly Calgary. You can also hold photoshoots and events in the Garden in addition to admiring its beauty and fresh air. Make sure you follow their strict protocols when maintaining this natural landscape. When you are hungry, you can also stop by the Reader Rock Garden Cafe for food. The best time to visit this place is between mid-March and mid-November when the plants are in full bloom.

What do clients think?

Now this is the quintessential hidden gem. It’s just south of Stampede Park, by the LRT, but you wouldn’t know it once you get into the garden. It’s situated on a hill, with lots of stone paths. Plus there is a cafe/restaurant. It’s a beautiful place to walk, relax in the sun and even sit down for tea or coffee. Enjoy! (Google reviews)

This is a wonderful place close to the downtown core yet seemingly miles from the hustle and bustle. The cafe provides great ambiance for some ice cream on a hot summer’s day also 🙂 (Google reviews)

3- Botanical Gardens of Silver Springs

Website: bgss.ca/

Phone: N/A

Address: 37 Silver Springs Dr NW, Calgary, AB T3B 4N3, Canada

Silver Springs Botanical Gardens in Calgary, Alberta, is truly a hidden gem – a unique garden that is one of a kind. In addition to being open to the public year-round, it is located within a Birthplace Forest covering several acres. Over eighteen gardens are located here, each exhibiting unique features and accompanied by a hand-painted sign. They are walking paths of mulch lead throughout all of these garden areas, making them easily accessible. Besides the flowering shrubs and fruit trees, there are also a variety of other featured shrubs and trees along these pathways.

The Shakespearean Garden is a one-of-a-kind garden in Western Canada worth visiting if you’re looking for a specific park. Canada’s most extensive outdoor labyrinth is also there. A volunteer group has designed, developed, maintained and managed this garden project for over ten years. The Silver Springs Community Association and Calgary Parks Department have continuously supported the Gardens from the onset as a not-for-profit charitable society. Several individuals, corporations, and provincial grants have contributed to its continued success and made it a focal point of their community and, indeed, the City of Calgary.

What do clients think?

I went to the botanical gardens for the first time this weekend. They have done a great job with these gardens. Beautiful display of the flowers and plants that grow in this region. It is a lovely walk down the gentle slope of the garden and back up. Highly recommend a visit. Use the GPS on your phone to find it because it is located deep in the neighborhood of silversprings not on a main road  . (Google reviews)

Visited this location a few days ago for th3 very first time. This was a wonderful park for both humans and dogs to be free off leash. Very friendly people in the park over all. WE FOUND OUR NEW DOG PARK….. (Google reviews)

4-  Beaulieu Gardens

Website: lougheedhouse.com/beaulieu-gardens/

Phone: N/A

Address: 707 13 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2R 1H9, Canada

Beaulieu Gardens is part of the historic Lougheed house complex. Fresh trees and flowers cover 0.4 acres of the terrace garden. Calgary’s Beaulieu Gardens are beautiful terraced gardens surrounding the Lougheed House. Sir James Lougheed built the house in 1891, and it has been his family’s home ever since. A historic construction in Calgary, Alberta, the house owns by the Province of Alberta and is run as a museum. At the same time, the gardens are managed by the City of Calgary Parks Department as an important cultural area. This Garden is a beautiful place to stroll around, sit on their side benches, and relax as you enjoy the scenery. Alternatively, you can dine inside the Lougheed house at the nearby restaurant if you prefer.

You can learn more about the venue’s history by visiting the Lougheed house, a unique sandstone house that can be found deep in the city’s history that you can tour. Additionally, their gardens are home to a large variety of shrubs and perennials, some of which would have thrived in the Calgary gardens of the Victorian era due to their suitability to Calgary gardens. There are iris, roses, peonies, delphiniums and hollyhocks in bloom throughout the year.

What do clients think?

It have 3 rings of path that hug 3 circular blower bed, my kids love it. They really make the effort to plant their flower and it has class. The grass is always nice! Landscaping is always on point!!! Beautiful place so close to one of the busiest street in Calgary 17ave. I also walk my dog here everyday and it a good place for meeting other dogs here. Most of the time people are very respectful even though they might be homeless we still feel safe because it well led. (Google reviews)

Go sit on a bench, take a load off, listen to the birds sing. A great place to find a quiet moment and the hustle and bustle of city life. The flowers are amazing, the veggie garden a must see. Very very enjoyable. (Google reviews)

5- Baker Park

Website: calgary.ca/csps/parks/locations/nw-parks/baker-park.html

Phone: +1 403 268 2489

Address: Calgary, AB T3L 1S5, Canada

There is no better place for an outdoor wedding than Baker Park, which is located across the Bow River from Bowness Park. This riverside park was developed as a recreation area for families in the former Baker Center Tuberculosis Institution. This 12-hectare (30-acre) urban park is located on the west edge of Calgary on the bank of the Bow River. This is one of the many urban parks connected by the Bow River pathway open to pedestrians and cyclists.

On the east side of the Bearspaw Water Intake Pump Station, Baker Park is located across the river from Bowness Park. The river observation point overlooking the Bow River and Bowness Park, as well as the archways and arbours, make it one of the most popular parks in Calgary for outdoor weddings. An extensive disc golf course, a flower-filled Sun Bowl, a paved bike path, and bear sculptures are all included in Baker Park. Located 200 meters from the main parking lot on the south bank of the Bow River, the Sun Bowl is on the south bank of the Bow River. The playgrounds and picnic areas of Bowness Park can be reached via a paved path.

What do clients think?

6- SENATOR BURNS MEMORIAL GARDEN

Website: calgary.ca/

Phone: +1 403 268 2489

Address: 1103 10 St NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1W4, Canada

Located in Riley Park, the Senator Burns Memorial Garden is one of the best places to go for a warm day out with friends or family, and it features a wading pool, picnic tables, and fountains. It is a beautiful spot for waiting out the summer heat with family and friends. Dedicated to the memory of a well-known rancher, politician, and co-founder of the Calgary Stampede, this area is exceptional and well-maintained.

An essential aspect of the Garden is the fact that it contains sandstone bricks that were initially part of Burns Manor (1903-1956), the Beltline mansion owned by Senator Patrick Burns. His role in establishing the Calgary Stampede in 1912 makes him one of the “Big Four” ranchers. In 1905, Canadian Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier and his wife were invited to the house for a reception to mark Alberta’s becoming a province. During his 75th birthday party, Burns presented Calgary with a cake that weighed over 3,000 pounds, which had seven layers and was cut into 23,000 pieces. Upon Burns’s death, the estate taxes imposed on his estate were large enough to eliminate the province’s deficit and keep the government’s budget balanced long after his death.

What do clients think?

Final Verdict:

There you have it, friends. You can check out these six gardens in Calgary and the surrounding areas. Check them out, grab a coffee, hold your loved one’s hand, and cross your fingers for beautiful weather! There is nothing like a little fresh air to make you feel better! After visiting these best Calgary gardens, you may feel inspired to create your Garden.