Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens
The vision for the Oshawa Valley Botanical Garden (O.V.B.G.) is to develop a unique botanical garden attraction in Oshawa. This is to be done by incorporating the nationally designated gardens of Parkwood, The R. S. McLaughlin Estate, with a series of modern feature gardens linked by the parklands and the natural terrain of the Oshawa Valley Creek trail system. Set amidst the naturalized creek banks and old-growth trees, the on-going development of the Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens will delight people for many years to come. To view the gardens, take a look at the virtual tour.
Peony Garden
The first garden opened was the Peony Garden. It was started in the fall of 2001 with 100 peonies donated by the Canadian Peony Society. Further donations from peony breeders and suppliers across North America have led to the entire collection, more than 300 varieties, becoming one of the largest modern collections of peonies in North America. The succession of blooms begins in late May and continues through to the last week of June. The annual Peony Festival corresponds with this climax of the bloom cycle in June.
Daylily Collection
The one of a kind collection of locally hybridized daylilies addition to the already beautiful gardens was made possible by the generous donation from Henry Lorrain and the late Douglas Lycett, founders of We’re in the Hayfield Now. The City would like to thank the volunteers including the Oshawa Garden Club, Brooklin Horticulture Society and individual volunteers who dedicated their time to dig, transport, store and replant the daylilies to make this collection a reality.
The 265 daylily collection was established in 2017 and can be found on the east side of the Oshawa Creek directly across from the Peony Garden with access to the Kolodzie Oshawa Creek Bike Path.
The daylily is a perennial plant of the genus Hemerocallls, which translates to 'beauty for a day'. Each blossom has only one day in which to reach perfection. However, since there are many flower buds on each stem, a mature daylily plant will bloom over a period of several weeks every July.
Memory Garden
Recently, garden design and development has focused on the Memory Garden, where residents can honour and remember loved ones through the City's Tree and Bench Program. Extending the season of the botanical garden, the fall focused garden features substantial late summer and fall plants and grasses complemented by scenic walkways and seating areas. There is also a recently completed pergola that was generously donated by the Rotary Clubs of Oshawa, perfect for quiet contemplation, as a centrepiece for photographs or as a formal wedding ceremony.
The O.V.B.G. Master Plan
Encouraged by a proposal submitted by the Oshawa Garden Club, City Council funded and adopted a Master Plan and dedicated municipal parklands and trailways to this ambitious project. This is a multi-year project that will grow Oshawa's greatness by creating a unique botanical garden attraction in the heart of Durham Region.
Architectural Elements
To create a unified feel between each garden in the series, signature architectural elements have been adopted:
- Rotary Bridge opened in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Rotary International in 2006.
- The Wrought Iron gazebo at the Peony Garden entrance commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Oshawa Garden Club
- The Memory Garden Classic Temple was donated by the Rotary Clubs of Oshawa.
Corporations or community groups celebrating major milestones are invited to sponsor future additions to the Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens. To learn about upcoming naming opportunities, contact us!
Community Opportunities
Over time, the benefits of the O.V.B.G. to the city and its residents will be numerous, including:
- Increased recreational and leisure opportunities
- Accessible trails and walking paths
- An education centre for horticultural learning programs
- A staging area for outdoor concerts and public events
- New outdoor areas for wedding ceremonies and photography
- Increased tourism
The O.V.B.G. is an exciting and ambitious project that is just beginning. We invite you to learn more about it.