5 Gardens and Green Spaces You Didn’t Even Know Existed In Montréal
Montréal summers are a non-stop explosion of festivals, outdoor concerts, cultural events, cutting-edge art installations, public markets and daily celebrations. So now and then, it’s nice to take a breather in one of the many beautiful green spaces Montréal has to offer. Among the most popular urban oases are, of course, must-sees like the Botanical Garden, the gardens of the Maison Saint-Gabriel, the Governor’s Garden at the Château Ramezay and the Floralies at parc Jean-Drapeau. But why stop there? Here are 5 gorgeous gardens and green spaces you didn’t even know existed in Montréal.
Circuits jardins de Sentier Urbain
Hochelaga-Maisonneuve and Ville-Marie boroughs
Sentier Urbain’s seven themed gardens are “renaturalized” green spaces created in formerly vacant lots. Stroll through the Jardin Cultures Amérindiennes or the Jardin Biodiversité et pollinisateurs and learn about the positive effect that the greening of urban spaces has on the environment and the city’s air quality.
More details on the gardens: http://www.sentierurbain.org/presentation-des-jardins/
Information: 514 521-9292 or info@sentierurbain.org
Jardins de l’Oratoire Saint-Joseph
3800 Queen Mary Road
One of the best kept secrets of the Oratory is its Way of the Cross. The landscape is simply breathtaking. The garden’s “Frère André” iris, with its white, lavender and violet petals, is a splendid stand-out among the other flowers in the garden. On the east flank of the Mount Royal behind the Oratory also stands the Père Louis Trempe nature reserve, a 1.1 acre woodland space.
4574 Sherbrooke Street West, Westmount
A true hidden gem of this upscale neighbourhood, the greenhouse is attached to Westmount Library. Locals come to read, drink coffee or relax on the benches scattered among the flora. Best of all, since it’s a greenhouse, it’s green all year!
150 Des Pins Road, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue
Located at the McGill University campus in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, the Morgan Arboretum is a vast wooded area that includes 18 collections of trees and shrubs from all over the world. The fauna is as abundant as the flora: don’t be surprised to spot a weasel, a coyote or even a mink!
A visit to the Morgan Arboretum is also a great opportunity to discover the charming town of Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue on the island of Montréal’s westernmost tip.
Jardin de sculptures au Musée plein air de Lachine
398 Canal Road, Lachine
With 50 contemporary sculptures dotting the banks of René Lévesque Park, Lachine’s open aire museum is one of the largest gardens of its kind in Canada. The Musée plein air is also a perfect place for a picnic and and a relaxing day with the family. You can even pedal over along the beautiful bike path along the Lachine Canal. Free guided tours are offered from April to November, Wednesday to Sunday between 9 am and 12 pm.
If you’d rather stay in the city, there is an abundance of idyllic green spaces to enjoy. Montréal is filled with parks and little hidden gardens. Check out District Montréal’s map of the downtown gardens and green spaces for day of delightful discoveries and bucolic breaks.
Article source: http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/5-gardens-and-green-spaces-you-didnt-even-know-existed-in-montreal/
