Good evening, all! I hope you’re keeping cheerful on this gloomy, dreary day. (What a summer we’ve been having… autumn may be on its way, but in some ways I feel like I’m still mentally waiting for summer to arrive. Anyone else??)
If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you’ve probably heard me talk about my general preference for experiences over material gifts when it comes to occasions and holidays. The older I get (and yes, I realize I’m only 30, but bear with me…) the more I find there are fewer things I truly want or need, and that others around me seem to feel the same way. Maybe it’s just me getting older, or perhaps it’s the result of a broader cultural shift away from materialism… either way, I’m here for it! This past Mother’s Day, when I asked my mom what she wanted, I wasn’t surprised by her answer of “nothing”. So in lieu of a physical gift, I told her I’d take her out for lunch and a fun activity. I’ll admit it took us a while to plan – summer certainly has a way of packing calendars – but the stars eventually aligned. When my mom mentioned wanting to visit the Royal Botanical Gardens, I took a peek at their website, saw they’d recently renovated their Turner Pavilion Teahouse, and knew it was the perfect plan. After all, what’s a cuter mother-daughter date idea than a fancy afternoon tea followed by a stroll through some beautiful gardens? So, a couple of weeks ago, I took my mom on a very belated Mother’s Day outing to the RBG!
With over 2,400 acres of gardens, 27 kilometres of nature trails and over 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 are actually located in both Burlington and Hamilton! I hadn’t been to the RBG since I was a kid, so I was excited to visit again.
The RBG has three on-site restaurants: the Rock Garden Bistro, the Greenhouse Café, and the Turner Pavilion Teahouse. The teahouse is located in Hendrie Park, and recently underwent a complete renovation. When we arrived, we parked in the lot located by Easterbrook’s Hot Dog Stand and headed inside RBG Centre. You simply need to show the admissions desk your teahouse reservation to gain access to Hendrie Park, however if you want to see the rest of the gardens, you will need to purchase separate admission.
To get to Hendrie Park from RBG Centre, you walk through a bright blue tunnel adorned with oversized, sticker-like art. (So cool – it feels like you’re walking through the pages of a scrapbook!)
Upon entering Hendrie Park, you’ll be greeted by a long reflecting pool, which is filled with water lilies and a stunning sculpture by Inuit artist Kakkee Negeoseak. At the far end of the pool is the teahouse.
I’m wondering if the designer who renovated the teahouse is available for hire, because I’d love to have them do our house too! Okay, okay, so they’re probably just a little out of budget… but the teahouse interior is so pretty, and just my aesthetic! With its whimsical floral wallpaper, gold-framed mirrors, shabby chic furniture and vintage-inspired décor, the space is a grandmillennial’s dream.
Along with afternoon tea, Turner Pavilion Teahouse serves sandwiches, salads, charcuterie and a la carte pastries. But we were there for the tea! We did the classic RBG Afternoon Tea, which includes finger sandwiches, scones, desserts, and (naturally) tea, and costs $38 per person. You can choose a vegetarian version of the classic tea for $33. If you want to get fancy, they also offer the Rose Garden Tea – which includes a glass of Peller Rosé – for $48, or the Hendrie Park Tea – which includes a mimosa or glass of prosecco and a selection of domestic cheeses and crackers – for $68. They also offer an $18 Teddy Bear Tea for children, and a $12 Cream Tea for less hungry guests (it includes one pot of tea and a scone served with butter, honey and jam.) I love a menu with lots of options, so whatever you’re in the mood for, you’ll have plenty to choose from!
The teahouse serves a selection of Sloane Tea, a Toronto-based company that’s one of my favourites! My go-to is their Heavenly Cream: a rich, velvety blend of Ceylon and Assam black tea, with hints of Italian bergamot and creamy bourbon vanilla.
After we’d enjoyed a cup or two, the food arrived. The tea tray for two includes eight finger sandwiches, four scones, six miniature desserts, and a selection of fresh fruit. There are four different sandwich varieties, so you get two of each. The fillings include curried chicken salad, cucumber-cream cheese, ham and Brie (served on a mini croissant – my personal favourite) and smoked salmon with capers, served open-faced (I adore smoked salmon, so this was a close runner-up!) The scones were on the smaller side but very yummy, and came served with whipped honey butter, lemon cream and strawberry jam. The desserts included two cream puffs, two madeleines and two macarons: one raspberry and one chocolate. My mom and I split the macarons in half so we could try each flavour – both were good, but the chocolate was the definite winner!
The Turner Pavilion Teahouse does accept walk-ins if they have tables available, but reservations are highly recommended. They also have a take-out counter where you can order a coffee, tea or pastry to-go. Whether you pop in for a sweet treat or sit down for a full high tea experience, I highly recommend this cute spot! Afternoon tea is one of my favourite things because it’s just so delightfully indulgent, and you can’t beat the setting of this gorgeous teahouse.
After leaving the teahouse, my mom and I went for a stroll around Hendrie Park. The park has several different gardens and trails, but is perhaps most famous for its beautiful rose garden, which has an extensive variety of roses and other companion plants. The peak bloom occurs from June through September, so if you’re interested in seeing the roses for yourself, you’ve still got time!
The Scented Garden is a true aromatherapy experience, filled with various annuals, perennials and shrubs that produce scented flowers and leaves. This is one of the more formally landscaped gardens in Hendrie Park with its stone walls, gravel walkways and manicured hedges. I love how the elegant fountain in the centre of the garden has a pineapple on top (a traditional symbol of hospitality.)
The Helen M. Kippax Garden features over 135 native species of trees, shrubs, perennials and grasses. There’s a small bridge that takes you over a lilypad-covered pond, and benches where you can sit, have a quiet moment, and take in the serene surroundings.
The Morrison Woodland Garden is a peaceful, beautiful forest trail. Enveloped by tall trees, it provides a cool and shady oasis on a hot summer day. The plants along this trail include native woodland species, along with other shade-tolerant plants from temperate forests around the world. Keep an eye out for critters while you walk through here – we spotted two adorable frogs!
Other notable gardens of Hendrie Park include a healing garden, medieval garden, vegetable garden and lily garden. But there’s so much more to explore! I’d known the RBG was big, but until I studied the visitor map, I had no idea just how huge it really is – you’d really need a few visits to discover everything it has to offer. Luckily, I don’t live too far away, and I’ve got a mom who loves flowers and plants… needless to say, I think there are a few more RBG trips in our future!
Have you ever been to the Royal Botanical Gardens? What was your favourite part of the park?
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