The Gardens at The Leaf is an expansive new outdoor garden attraction located in Assiniboine Park. Over the following weeks, months, and years, the young gardens will evolve. Then, as they mature each season, we’ll see the Gardens at The Leaf become lush, complete and astonishing.
You can stroll through six different areas of the newly opened attraction. Each of the six areas has a meaning, purpose, and story.
The Indigenous Peoples Garden
Over several years, The Indigenous Peoples Garden was created by Indigenous landscape and architectural designers in collaboration with Indigenous elders and community leaders.
“The beliefs and traditions of Indigenous peoples reflect a deep philosophical understanding and respect for nature. Their stories, dances, music, art, clothing and spiritual rituals reflect the belief that spirits exist among the natural world. Here, in the Indigenous Peoples Garden, the relationships of Indigenous cultures with the environment, both past and present, will be explored,” according to the Assiniboine Park website.
Kitchen Garden
The Kitchen Garden focuses on active gardening with edible plants like vegetables, fruits and herbs. This area features rotating crops, an arbour, an outdoor oven and greenhouses for planting and demonstrations. The dreamy picnic tables in this section have sunken square pots with various herbs and flowers for the perfect touch of purposeful décor.
Seasonal Garden
With a focus on the four-season Manitoba experience, the Seasonal Garden celebrates change with perennial plants. The perennial plants will bloom and peak at various times throughout the seasons. The Seasonal Garden accommodates activities for all kinds of weather with paths, water features, an arbour and fire pits, all while showcasing sprawling perennial plants.
Sensory Garden
The Sensory Garden welcomes people to experience sight, smell, touch, taste and sound. This area features garden beds with colourful, aromatic and tactile plants, tall prairie grass and hills with rock steps to climb.
Performance Garden
An outdoor stage is centred in the middle of the Performance Garden, surrounded by levelled cement. The tiered cement offers levels of grassy seating around the stage.
The Grove
In classic Assiniboine Park fashion, The Grove shows off impressively tall trees, which boast beautiful scenic paths.
Assiniboine Park is located on Treaty 1 territory within the Province of Manitoba, the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dene and Dakota Peoples, and the homeland of the Métis Nation.
