The Ontario spring blooming season is in its peak right now, and you don’t have to travel very far to take in some beautiful scenes.
For a bountiful spring flower display, head on over to the Brueckner Rhododendron Gardens in Mississauga, along the shores of Lake Ontario. This woodland garden is home to one of the country’s largest and publicly owned collections of rhododendrons, which are in peak bloom now until June!
Walk or bike through the 18-acre garden grounds via a paved path system, stop to sit on a park bench to smell the blooms, or meander down to the waterfront for a lakeside hangout — you might even catch some swans hanging out there too!
Different rhododendron types like the bluenose, known for its bold hue, and the PJM, which is a bright mauve, typically bloom from April, while larger varieties sprout up in May. Thanks to the beauty of different blooming periods, no matter when you visit Brueckner Rhododendron Garden, there are often new flowers blooming in the spring and summer.
The park is named after Dr. Joseph Brueckner, a recognized plant hybridizer, who donated hundreds of rhododendrons to the garden from his private collection. Don’t let the name fool you, either. Brueckner Rhododendron Gardens is also home to hundreds of azaleas, beautiful white pines, shrubs, and other flowers like roses and peonies.
According to the City of Mississauga, Dr. Brueckner embarked on a rigorous breeding endeavour to develop rhododendrons that could survive the Canadian climate, while still maintaining their hearty blooms. As a result, many rhododendron species were developed and are still in propagation today.
Located in the Port Credit neighbourhood area of the city and accessible via Lakeshore Road or the Waterfront Trail, there is a small parking lot available at the Brueckner Rhododendron Gardens, though spots usually fill up fast. There is also a MiWay bus stop just outside the garden.
Where: 660 Lakeshore Rd. West, Mississauga, Ont.
