When planning my trip to Halifax, this garden was one of the three historical spots I put on my must-visit list. Back home in Doha, keeping even a few bougainvilleas alive in my guesthouse courtyard requires constant watering and fighting the heat, so walking into 16 acres of lush, perfectly manicured 19th-century greenery was quite a change of pace.
I spent about two hours here and clocked exactly 5,500 steps just wandering the gravel paths. The garden layout dates back to 1872, designed by a horticulturalist named Richard Power, and they have kept the Victorian structure incredibly intact.
My favorite spot was the green wooden Bandstand in the center, built in 1887 to mark Queen Victoriaâs Golden Jubilee. It is surrounded by very neat flower bedsâI noticed echinacea, lilies, and phlox, all arranged by height and color. Not a single dead leaf was in sight. Honestly, as someone who manages property, I kept wondering how much their annual maintenance budget is, especially since admission is entirely free.
I stopped by the Horticultural Hall, a lovely old white building with green window frames. I bought a standard drip coffee for 4.50 CAD. A bit expensive for what it was, but sitting on the wooden bench nearby listening to the fountain made it worth the price. The only minor annoyance was having to dodge the goose droppings near the main pond where the ducks swim, but thatâs nature for you.
If you appreciate historical landscaping and want a quiet, zero-cost afternoon (minus the coffee), this is definitely worth the walk.
âWhen planning my trip to Halifax, this garden was one of the three historical spots I put on my must-visit list.â@ParisianNighter ¡ 7 months ago