I recently enjoyed a quick trip to paradise…or at least the closest thing we have here in Toronto’s grey, chilly downtown core. Allen Gardens is a series of botanical greenhouses offering a variety of climates from tropical to desert and I always welcome the opportunity to wander through the pathways breathing in the fragrances or spotting the unique and beautiful blooms. I managed to catch the tale end of their Christmas displays so there were tons of poinsettias in all shades of red, pink, yellow and event white (below) and there were even some “flower people”, too.
I then took a stroll through the cactus & succulent collection (below) with all the prickly stems and hot dry atmosphere….
…and on the way back, I took in the beautiful hibiscus and a few random plant decorations (below)
Passing through the big palm house, I then went into the area with the ponds, statues and lots more flowers, including some stunning orchids.
They have a charming pond that’s populated with koi as well as a few turtles who decided to make an appearance just as I passed by….
Throughout the greenhouses, I found a number of festively decorated Christmas trees (below)
After about 30 minutes of enjoying the floral beauty, I headed back outside, past a few more pretty flower beds…
…then back up Jarvis Street, passing by the beautiful old Victorian/Edwardian houses on my way home.
All in all, a lovely way to spend a grey old winter’s afternoon in Toronto.
For information and hours, please visit: http://bit.ly/1u5PKc6
