11 Places To See Blooming Flowers In Toronto Before Cherry Blossom Tourist Season Starts
April showers bring May flowers!
You know the old saying, "April showers bring May flowers?" Well, it turns out May flowers bring hoards of tourists to the 6ix, especially during cherry blossom season. And who can blame them? Those stunning flowers look like perfect pink snowflakes when their petals fall to the ground. But, if you’re looking to avoid the crowds, we’ve rounded up 11 places to see blooming flowers in Toronto before cherry blossom season gets out of control.
Depending on the weather conditions, cherry blossom trees can start blooming as early as April.
If you’re lucky, you can make it to High Park before the throngs to sneak a peek of pink perfection.
But if not, don’t worry. Toronto is filled with beautiful gardens, markets, and conservatories, some of which are open year-round so you can admire a variety of flowers in relative peace.
Whether you want to visit old estate gardens filled with Victorian charm, or simply want to hit up the best floral markets in town, Toronto has you covered.
So, if you’re ready to say "hello" to spring and all floral everything, then take a look at the list below.
It’s never to early to start planning those flower-power adventures.
Edward Gardens
Price: Free
Address: 755 Lawrence Ave. E., North York, ON
Why You Need To Go: Here you can enjoy beautiful spring buds as well as rock gardens, wooden archways, bridges, a waterwheel, fountains, walking trails and more. Plus, with Toronto Botanical Gardens nearby, you can check both off of your list at once.
High Park
Price: Free
Address: 1873 Bloor St. W., Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: Now, High Park is sure to be filled with cherry-loving tourists. But, if you can get there early enough in April you might be able to enjoy gorgeous blossoms before the crowds arrive. It's all very weather dependent, of course.
St. James Park
Price: Free
Address: 120 King St. E., Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: You can enjoy stunning formal gardens bursting with blooms. There's also a cute gazebo and water fountain where you can stop and take a break.
Centre Island
Price: $8.19 ferry ride
When: Ferry rides starting in spring
Address: Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: You can find some seriously stunning flowers here, plus a smaller, less crowded collection of cherry blossom trees. Take the ferry over and pack a picnic if you want to make a day of it.
Toronto Music Garden
Price: Free
Address: 479 Queen's Quay W., Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: You can wander the swirling trails lined with wonderful wildflowers and enjoy the fun music vibes along the way.
Humber Arboretum
Price: Free
Address: 205 Humber College Blvd., Etobicoke, ON
Why You Need To Go: You can get lost in 250 acres' worth of beautiful public gardens, and maybe even learn something new along the way.
Toronto Flower Market
Price: Free to browse
When: May to October
Address: 1001 Queen St. W., Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: If admiring flowers isn't enough, you can score gorgeous take-home bouquets at this charming flower market.
James Gardens
Price: Free
Address: 99 Edenbridge Dr., Etobicoke, ON
Why You Need To Go: A former estate, James Gardens is filled with spectacular stone pathways and lush flower beds for you to admire and explore.
Riverdale Farm
Price: Free admission
Address: 201 Winchester St., Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: If you love cute animals as much as you love flower, vegetable, and herb gardens, then you need to add this spot to your spring bucket list.
Allan Gardens
Price: Free
Address: 160 Gerrard St. E., Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: This gorgeous Toronto spot is one of the oldest gardens in the city, and its beauty has stood the test of time.
Centennial Park and Conservatory
Price: Free admission
Address: 151 Elmcrest Rd., Etobicoke, ON
Why You Need To Go: You can enjoy over 200 varieties of tropical plants all year long at the main greenhouse here.