Spring has sprung, and flowers are in bloom. If you’d like nothing more than to stop and smell the roses, there’s no better place than the Reader Rock Garden in Calgary.
A hidden gem
Tucked away in the inner city, this beautifully restored garden will make you feel as though you’re walking through a fairytale.
The passion project of William Roland Reader, Calgary’s Superintendent of Parks from 1913 to 1942, the national historic site is unlike anything else in the city.
With an extraordinarily green thumb, Reader took the plain hillside where he lived and transformed it into a stunning garden with flowers from his travels far and wide.
Over 110 years later, it’s still dazzling both visitors and experts, but not just those who are local to the area.
“Reader actively engaged in this practice and for thirty years the Garden trialled over 4000 different plant species, making it one of the few significant gardens in western Canada”, explains the City of Calgary.
“Both Reader and his plant collection were known internationally, and the quality of the plants and seeds were recognized by the most prestigious horticultural agencies in the world”.
According to the city, the garden was “essentially completed” in the 1920s, but the plantsman continued collecting and trying new things until he passed away in 1942.
A year later, the garden was opened to the public as an official Calgary park and even named in his honour.
Since then, it’s been revived, restored, and upgraded with rock pathways, bridges, and benches.
In fact, you can even enjoy a meal or a quick coffee in the home he once lived in.
Want to check it out?
Whether you’re planning a wedding, snapping photos, or just need a peaceful escape, Reader Rock Garden should be on your hitlist — especially because it’s totally free to visit.
Enjoy and happy strolling. You’re in for a visual treat.
Where: 311 25th Ave. SE, Calgary
Cost: Free to visit
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