historic gardens

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Bloom Report – May 17 2024

We’re coming into Victoria Day Weekend, and the Gardens are having a spectacular spring bloom. The warm weather this past week has really sped things up. Magnolias, tulips, daffodils and other early spring bloomers will soon be done, but we are already enjoying lots of rhododendrons, with many more to come. Fruit trees of all types have been a highlight, and we are now into apple blossom season – they will be a highlight for the next week or so. Other current highlights include lilacs, spirea, eastern redbud, kerria, viburnum, trillium, pasqueflower… the list goes on!

​The Gardens are open every day 9am-5pm (holidays included). We are currently offering a May special admission rate of $12 including tax.

The Gardens Shop is also open daily 9am-5pm.

The Elm Tree Cafe will open for the season in early June.

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For the full Bloom Report, including all the pictures and news of the moment, please click HERE!

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Bloom Report – April 20 2024

With May just around the corner, we thought today would be the perfect day for a newsy Bloom Report.

Our official visitor season will begin Saturday May 4. In the meantime, we are open in the off season – admission by donation. Operating hours: 9am-5pm.

For the full Bloom Report, including all the pictures and news of the moment, please click HERE.

Cheers!

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Spring Cleanup Week – Apr 22-26

Join the 2024 Historic Gardens Spring Cleanup efforts April 22-26 (Mon-Fri) 9am-4pm. A community tradition, the first “Spring Clean-up” at the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens occurred in April 1987. Decades later, the Gardens Clean-up has expanded to a multi-day event.

Typical shifts are 9-12 or 1-4 each day. Volunteers can work several shifts during the week, or if you only have an hour to give, we’d love to see you regardless! It makes a great family outing – an opportunity to work outdoors with your kids and teach them the value of volunteering at the same time.

As one volunteer stated “What a wonderful opportunity it is to volunteer for Spring Clean-Up at the Historic Gardens! Not only does it feel great to be able to give back to this most beautiful corner-stone of our community, but it’s a fantastic learning opportunity too.”

Further information on the Clean-up can be obtained by calling the Gardens office at 532-7018.

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Witch Hazels in the Gardens

It is early March, and the Witch Hazel collection in the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens is pretty much at its best. The oranges, reds and yellows of the blossoms are stunning, and their unique shape adds a ton of interest.

To help you find these special plants, we’ve created a site map denoting the various witch hazels. They are currently all in bloom except the Common Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) which is a fall bloomer.

When you visit, please drop into the Gardens Shop and chat with staff – we can provide you with some addition information about the various witch hazels we have, and also help you find them easily in the Gardens.

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We’re Hiring!

Updated: February 25, 2024

Employment at the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens provides a wonderful opportunity to work in a beautiful environment and it is rewarding to be part of the team that presents a world class facility to visitors from around the world.

We have openings in the 2024 season for adult positions and student/youth summer positions. Each position listed has a link to further details on the position and information on how to apply.

Positions will be open only until filled, so apply soon!

Maintenance Person – potential for full or part time

The Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens Society is offering a unique employment opportunity for a Maintenance Person interested in working within our internationally renowned facility. The Historic Gardens, in addition to our award-winning gardens, maintains two registered heritage properties, a reconstruction of 17th century thatched Acadian house and a variety of other built assets. The Maintenance Person is committed to maintaining our facilities, infrastructure and equipment for the safety and enjoyment of the Historic Gardens by visitors, tenants, volunteers, and staff. 

Further details: Maintenance Person Position Overview

Gardener – seasonal full time

The Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens is home to a wide selection of unique, rare, and historic plants relevant to the horticultural heritage of Nova Scotia. The plants are arranged within carefully manicured landscape designs, all of which require their own specific degree of attention and care.
Working under the overall supervision of the Horticultural Manager, gardeners are responsible for all aspects of garden maintenance. As a member of the team, you will work with the gardens crew, or independently on occasion, to perform a wide range of gardening tasks meant to uphold the gardens to its expected standard of ornamental excellence.

Further details: Gardener Position Overview

Visitor Services Students/Youth – various 9-14 week summer positions

We are looking for students and youth with great people skills who would like to join our team, working in the many aspects of visitor services. Various positions available, ranging from 9-14 weeks. The earliest positions will start in mid May. Age requirement 15-30 years old.

Further details: Join our Team – Student/Youth Positions

Student/Youth Gardener – 8 week summer position

If you an an energetic youth who likes to work outside, we have a position for a youth gardener/mower. This is an 8 week position. Age requirement 15-30 years old.

Further details: Join our Team – Student/Youth Positions

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New Year’s Eve Bonfire

Gather ’round the Courtyard Bonfire at the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens on Sunday afternoon to celebrate New Year’s Eve with us. Stroll the Gardens, chat with friends and “Toast the New Year” with toasted marshmallows. We’ll have hot chocolate for you to sip by the fire and marshmallows on hand as well.


Suggested things to bring:

  • your favourite mugs (we’ll have disposable cups for those who need them)
  • a stick to roast marshmallows (bring your own “family stick” if you can)
  • your smiles!

This is a free event for the community – we will have a donation jar available should you wish to make a contribution to the Gardens.

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Metasequoia glyptostroboides – A Living Fossil

Many of our trees are all the more incredible in the winter months. Among them, our dawn redwoods (metasequoia glyptostroboides – say THAT ten times fast!). The Dawn Redwood is a deciduous conifer – its needles turn a lovely autumn amber and then drop, leaving a very tall, slim tree to stand sentry in the winter. These Dawn Redwoods have been growing in the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens for 40 years and have become a major feature near the lower ponds.

The Dawn Redwood has a very interesting history and is known as a “living fossil”. It is known to have existed as many as 50,000,000 years ago but was thought to be extinct until it was discovered growing in the wild in China in 1941. Seeds from that discovery were collected and propagated and the Dawn Redwood began to appear in botanical gardens and arboreta around the world. While it is now available to gardeners in nurseries and garden centres, it remains endangered in the wild.

For a super interesting read on this, visit the Arnold Arboretum – The Living Fossil

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Dec 31 donation deadline made easy!

Many of us are a bit more focused on supporting our favourite charities as the year draws to a close and the December 31 deadline looms for 2023 tax receipts. We hope you will consider a gift to the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens in your plans, and if so, we have some helpful hints to make it easy for you.

CanadaHelps is a foundation that accepts donations on behalf of Canadian charities, including the Historic Gardens. Their online system is very slick whether you are using a computer or a phone, and your tax receipt is instantly emailed to you. In addition, you can choose to honour someone special if you wish – also part of their easy online interface. And rest assured, your donation flows through to the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens – we have a longstanding relationship with CanadaHelps and are very pleased with their service.

Since time is of the essence, you may wish to take advantage of the CanadaHelps system as the easiest and fastest way to accomplish your year end giving. To go directly to the Canadahelps / Historic Gardens form click on the link below, or scan the QR code with your phone.

CANADAHELPS – Donate to the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens

If you prefer to donate through the Historic Gardens online shop, that works too! You will receive a 2023 tax receipt by mail so long as your donation is made by the end of December 31, 2023. And if you live close by, you can pop in to the Gardens Shop right up until 5pm on December 31 and donate in person.

But given the time crunch at this time of year, you may wish to try the CanadaHelps option this time around so you can donate “on the go”!

We’d like to take this opportunity to wish you and yours all the best in this holiday season!

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Loved Ones Honoured in 2022-23

Many of our supporters elect to make donations in memory of loved ones, or to honour a special person or occasion. We dedicate this post to those who have been honoured in 2022 and up to November 30 2023.

Our Seventeen Acres of Paradise do make a fitting place for this type of tribute, and we appreciate the support for the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens. Donations such as this will help ensure the Gardens continue to provide an oasis of peace and beauty for future generations.

If you wish to make a tribute gift, please head over to our Donate Now page for more information.