- HikeType Car Hike
- HikeIcon https://hikes.brucetrail.org/wp-content/uploads/formidable/7/marker_car-hikes.png
- PaceTypes Moderate (3-4 km/hr)
- TerrainTypes Level 1 (Easy - mostly on flat, well maintained trails with hard-packed surface)
- PaidOuting No
Hosting Club: Toronto
Category: Car Hike
Location (Google Maps): Whistling Gardens Parking Lot
698 Concession 3 Townsend, Wilsonville, ON N0E 1Z0
Hike Leader(s): Jeanette Vincent Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)
Pace: Moderate (3-4 km/hr)
Terrain: Level 1 (Easy - mostly on flat, well maintained trails with hard-packed surface)
Distance (km): 12km
Description
Whistling Gardens & Waterford Ponds & Heritage Trail 12 km
Whistling Gardens: 3 km (leisurely)
Waterford Ponds & Heritage Trail: 9 km (3 1/2 to 4 km/hr)
Whistling Gardens is one of Ontario’s premier horticultural gardens. Since 2012, they have garnered regional, provincial, national and international awards and are home to North America’s largest peony collection, North America’s largest conifer collection and one of Canada’s largest computer run fountain shows. Stroll and explore over 20 acres of gardens displaying over 4,500 different plants including the rarest tree in the world; the Baishan Fir.
Whistling Gardens admission adults -$16.80 (Thursday is senior day $2.00 off)
Includes a Musical Fountain show. A greenhouse for visitors to purchase a variety of plants.
Spring (May thru mid-June)
Trees: Magnolia, Redbud, Crab Apples, Serviceberry, Dogwood, Fringe Tree
Shrubs: Viburnum, Ninebark, Rhododendron, Azalea, Pearl Bush, Lilac, Fothergilla, Daphne, Berberis
Flowers: Creeping Phlox, Trillium, Mayapple, Peonies, Amsonia, False Indigo, Daffodils, Hyacinth
We will eat our lunch in the garden.
After lunch we are off to Waterford Ponds & Heritage Trail - 9km from the gardens we will drive a 10/15 minute drive to the Waterford trail. Meeting place TBD.
Areas of interest on this hike. Black Bridge looks out onto panoramic views of the Waterford Ponds to the west, and the small, picturesque downtown area to the east ponds. The trail is a mixed paved and gravel route, relatively flat, with pedestrian bridges, exposed route through fields, urban passage with waterside sections.
Bring a lunch and snacks. Where clothing suitable for the weather that day. Hiking shoes or boots, sunhat and sunscreen.