Happy Saturday, everyone! I hope you’re enjoying this early spring weather we’ve been having.
While it’s technically still winter – at least for a few more days – and there’s still snow on the ground, it’s been melting rapidly thanks to all the sunshine we’ve been getting lately (I can finally see my lawn again!) and there’s a definite feeling of spring in the air. But as my fellow Ontarians know, spring is always a bit of a guessing game around here. We’re approaching that time of year where Mother Nature loves to keep us on our toes: will it be 16° and sunny, or 0° with flurries? If this spring is anything like the last few years, we’re in for a wild ride!
But I’ve got some good news for you: there’s one place in Ontario where spring has not only sprung – it’s in full, glorious bloom! That magical place is the Royal Botanical Gardens. If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you probably know that I’m a big fan of the RBG – and what’s not to love!? With over 2,400 acres of gardens, 27 kilometres of nature trails and more than 235,000 plants, the RBG is Canada’s largest botanical garden. They’re so big that even city limits can’t contain them: the gardens span both Burlington and Hamilton! I’ve written about the RBG twice before on the blog – sharing photos of their lilac gardens and their beautiful teahouse – and today I’m excited to share yet another fabulous RBG experience with you!
The RBG’s latest exhibit – Alice In Bloomland – has been taking social media by storm, and it’s easy to see why. Taking place fully indoors, this immersive experience transports visitors into a fairy tale wonderland of art, flowers and whimsical installations inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. From tea parties to croquet, the story is brought to life with dreamy floral landscapes – featuring no less than 25,000 blooms! The exhibit runs until March 30 at the RBG Centre, located at 680 Plains Road West in Burlington. My friend Victoria and I recently went to check it out and let me tell you, I never thought falling down a rabbit hole could be so much fun!
Fittingly, upon entering, we were greeted by the White Rabbit himself.
The entrance hall is filled with all sorts of playful, creative installations that give you a small taste of what’s to come.
Inside the sprawling main foyer, you’ll find various scenes inspired by the first half of the book, from rabbit dens to Mad Hatter tea parties.
If you ever thought I was a bit of a Mad Hatter, you’d be right!
We met various characters from the story, from the Caterpillar to the Cheshire Cat.
If you’re feeling lost, these signs may not be much help…
…but luckily, the story continues chronologically as you progress through the exhibit. The flower-filled Breezeway features the Queen Of Hearts’ card soldiers, painting the roses red.
We even got to meet the Queen and King Of Hearts themselves!
The Mediterranean Garden is filled with even more dreamy floral installations, featuring hundreds of gorgeous orchids.
Speaking of orchids, the RBG is famous for theirs (they even have their own Orchid Society) and they feature heavily in the Alice In Bloomland exhibit. The colours were so beautifully vibrant, I almost couldn’t believe they’re real!
We were lucky enough to visit during the RBG’s Annual Orchid Show, and it was a sight to see! The show took place in the Camilla & Peter Dalglish Atrium, and was absolutely packed with orchid enthusiasts. Maybe one of them has some advice for me about getting my own orchid to rebloom… I’ve only been trying for about two years!
We had such a (no pun intended) wonderful time at Alice In Bloomland! I highly recommend it to anyone who…
- Loves flowers and plants
- Is an Alice In Wonderland fan
- Has kids (or is a kid at heart like me!)
- Is craving a little bit of nature… but doesn’t feel like actually going outdoors (guilty!)
Honestly, I can’t even imagine the amount of time and resources it took to put this exhibit together, because every square inch of the RBG is covered in delightful and whimsical details. Their team did an incredible job at bringing the story to life!
While you’re at RBG Centre, don’t miss the stunning fibre arts exhibit “Of Wonders, Wild & New” by Cobalt Connects. It’s included with admission, and features innovative and inspiring textile art from nine contemporary fibre artists.
You can watch my Instagram reel of the exhibit here. Alice In Bloomland runs until March 30, so you still have a couple of weeks to check it out – and don’t be late like Mr. Rabbit! The clock’s a-ticking, and trust me: this is one exhibit you won’t want to miss.
Tickets are available online and must be reserved in advance. Weekday tickets cost $19.50 for adults, $16.50 for students and seniors, and $11.50 for kids aged 3-12, plus HST and a $2 service fee. For weekend tickets, a $5 surcharge per ticket applies. Admission is free for kids aged 2 and under.
My best tips for a successful Alice In Bloomland visit:
- This is a very popular exhibit, and even though they’ve created a timed-entry system to manage traffic flow, weekends will be crowded. If possible, I recommend going on a weekday when it’s quieter (and you’ll also save $5/ticket!)
- On that note: the RBG Centre has limited parking, so plan accordingly. We went on a Saturday and circled for over half an hour before snagging a spot! Weekdays should be better, but if you do go on a weekend, I recommend taking transit or an Uber.
- Make sure you’re going to the right place! The RBG is huge, with multiple facilities in both Burlington and Hamilton – so when you type in ‘Royal Botanical Gardens’, your phone map will pull up lots of options. This exhibit takes place at the RBG Centre at 680 Plains Road West in Burlington.
- The RBG website says you can expect to spend about one hour at the exhibit, but it just depends on how much you want to explore – we were there for two hours and easily could have stayed longer! I’d budget for more time so you can enjoy the experience in its entirety.
- There’s no coat check at RBG Centre; there is a free coat rack but it’s unsupervised. I recommend traveling light and leaving your coat in the car if possible.
- Make sure your phone is fully charged, because trust me – you’ll be filling up your camera roll at this exhibit! There’s truly so much to see.
Will you be taking a tumble down the rabbit hole at Alice In Bloomland – or have you already? Let me know what you thought of the exhibit and what your favourite part was – I’d love to hear your thoughts!
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