From a towering glasshouse filled with plants to colorful gardens and tree-lined parks, Winnipeg rewards garden lovers with an unexpected variety of botanical treasures. During a recent visit, I discovered some of the city’s most beautiful places to enjoy gardens, green spaces, and the outdoors.
The Leaf in Winnipeg
The Leaf entry / William Au-Winnipeg Tourism
A multi story glass house towers above the landscape of the Winnipeg’s popular Assiniboine Park. Inside The Leaf, four distinct biomes transport visitors to garden environments around the world: the Tropical Biome, Mediterranean Biome, Display House, and Butterfly Garden.
A three-story waterfall—the largest indoor waterfall in Canada—greets visitors as they enter the Tropical Biome.
“Mom, can I get my hair wet?” asked one excited young visitor as he gazed at the wall of water cascading from above. Don’t worry. You won’t get soaked. A pathway actually takes visitors behind the waterfall as it tumbles into a tropical pond below.
The Leaf waterfall / Beverly Hurley
Tropical biome from above / Beverly Hurley
Floor-to-ceiling tropical plants fill the glasshouse, creating an oasis that remains remarkably consistent throughout the seasons. Imagine the escape this garden provides during a snowy Winnipeg winter. But even in warmer weather, the winding paths through this indoor paradise offer a refreshing tropical experience.
Some of the plants you might recognize include cast iron plant, shell ginger, wild orchid, yellow shrimp plant, bird of paradise, and antirrhinum. Some of the other plants may be familiar to gardeners who grow them as houseplants. The more unusual specimens include the exotic Australian fan palm, West Indian mahogany, bright red spiral ginger, and tropical cash crops – sugar, cacao, guava, and coffee that are market staples in the tropics.
A unique orange crown shaft palm (Areca Vestiaria) reaches toward the ceiling, while it’s brightly colored flowers in summer add another tropical accent. The stunning blue flowers of the tropical butterfly bush (Clerodendrum agandense) provides pops of color throughout.
Mediterranean biome / Beverly Hurley
The pathway continues into the Mediterranean biome, where the air is noticeably less humid. This garden showcases plants adapted to the distinctive climate found roughly between 30 and 45 degrees latitude north and south of the Equator. Five primary regions share this climate: the Mediterranean Basin, California, central Chile, South Africa’s Western Cape, and southwestern Australia.
Color fills the space. Bougainvillea and rosemary cascade down the walls. Euphorbia, Agapanthus and African lily line the walkways. Sweet pea, mangave, hibiscus, and many other plants surround visitors with color and fragrance.
Seasonal displays in The Leaf / Beverly Hurley
Be sure to explore the far side of the biome, where a living wall and seasonal plantings create a changing display throughout the year.
An elevator takes visitors to the third level and the Butterfly Garden. From here, you have a bird’s-eye view of the Tropical and Mediterranean biomes below, as well as the top of the waterfall before its water cascades to the pond below.
Inside the enclosed butterfly space, tropical butterflies and moths flutter from plant to plant and occasionally land on unsuspecting visitors. Dozens of species can be seen, including the blue morpho, royal blue, and Rothschild’s moth, which has an extraordinarily short life span of only three to five days.
Butterfly Garden at The Leaf / Beverly Hurley
More Places in The Leaf
Even without admission to the biome gardens, visitors can explore The Leaf’s welcoming entry hall, where dining and shopping are available. Gather Craft Kitchen & Bar serves fresh, locally sourced, seasonal ingredients, while the Coffee Bar offers grab-and-go beverages, lunches, and treats. The garden-themed gift shop features local and Canadian-made products, Indigenous artwork, jewelry, skin and body care products, housewares, and food items.
Outside The Leaf, 30 acres of gardens and green space offer even more opportunities to explore. Six gardens—the Indigenous Peoples Garden, Kitchen Garden, Sensory Garden, Seasonal Garden, The Grove, and Performance Garden—provide a variety of experiences, from quiet contemplation to concerts and community events.
More Gardens in Assiniboine Park
Officially opened in 1909, Assiniboine Park now spans 1,100 acres and offers plenty more to explore. Winding, mostly level pathways connect the gardens and attractions, making the park easy to enjoy on foot. Visitors can also drive between destinations and park nearby.
The Leo Mol Sculpture Garden is a delight in every season, with its sculptures serving as the true stars of the landscape. Artist Leo Mol purchased the former schoolhouse on the property in the 1960s and later used it as his studio during the 1970s and 1980s. The bronze sculptures he created form the foundation of this unique garden.
Leo Mol Sculpture / Kristhine Guerrero-Winnipeg Tourism
Dozens of large-scale works are displayed throughout the grounds, each accompanied by a plaque explaining the subject. Among the most memorable is a collection of playful bear sculptures, a tribute to Winnipeg’s connection to a black bear named Winnipeg. The bear was exhibited in London during World War I and later inspired the name of the beloved fictional character Winnie-the-Pooh.
Winding paths lead through the sculpture garden and toward a small pond surrounded by an arbor, sculptures, and shade plantings. The pathways also connect with the adjacent English Garden, designed in the English landscape tradition, with layers of plantings rather than a formal layout.
Leo Mol Sculpture Garden / Debbie Ristimaki-Winnipeg Tourism
During warmer months, the Leo Mol Gallery and School House opens to visitors, offering a look at the artist’s molds and plaster casts used to create many of the major works displayed throughout the garden.
There is much more to see in Assiniboine Park, including the zoo, Pavilion art gallery featuring works by Manitoba artists, a popular duck pond, the Park Café, and hundreds of acres of open green space laid out in an English landscape style.
Other Parks to Explore
About a 15-minute drive north of downtown, Kildonan Park offers another peaceful green escape. Roads and pathways are lined with towering, centuries-old elm trees, while a public pool and children’s playgrounds make the park popular with families.
One of its most whimsical attractions is the Witch’s Hut, a fairytale-inspired structure built by Winnipeg’s German community for Canada’s Centennial in 1970. Its design looks as though it came straight from the Brothers Grimm’s Hansel and Gretel, delighting generations of children and adults.
The Witches Hut / Mike Peter-Winnipeg Tourism
Across the creek from the hut, a small garden provides a quieter experience. Colorful plantings fill the beds, while benches along the winding paths invite visitors to sit and enjoy the surroundings.
When You Go
Winnipeg is in gardening Zone 3, so spring arrives later than it does in many other parts of North America, with blooms generally appearing from late April into May. During my visit, it felt like experiencing spring twice—first at home in March, followed by Winnipeg’s version a month later.
The city sits at the junction of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, a place known as The Forks. The area is located in Treaty One Territory, the home and traditional lands of the Anishinaabe (Ojibwe), Ininew (Cree), and Dakota peoples, as well as the National Homeland of the Red River Métis.
The Forks is also a Canadian National Historic Site. Take time to follow the pathways along the rivers and learn about the deep cultural and historical significance of this meeting place.
Another must-see attraction is the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Its dramatic dome and spire have become a signature part of Winnipeg’s skyline. The building’s huge glass expanse, known as the Cloud, contains 1,335 custom-cut pieces of glass, with no two exactly alike.
Canadian Museum of Human Rights / Aaron Cohen-CMHR
Inside, interactive digital technology, video, film, and art explore the importance of human rights and encourage visitors to consider both historical and contemporary human-rights issues.
The Manitoba Museum offers another window into the province’s past, present, and future through immersive galleries, exhibits, and stories. One highlight is a full-scale replica of the Nonsuch, the merchant ship that sailed the waters of Hudson Bay in the 17th century.
Where to Stay
The Inn at the Forks is a boutique hotel located at the junction of Winnipeg’s two rivers, making it a convenient base for exploring the city.
The hotel’s restaurant, SMITH, offers a rustic Canadian dining experience, while Riverstone Spa provides a relaxing retreat after a day of exploring gardens, museums, and parks. Comfortable accommodations and the central location make the inn a natural choice for a Winnipeg garden getaway.
Where to Dine
The Forks Market and Johnston Terminal offer a mix of casual restaurants, food vendors, makers, and boutique retailers. The historic complex occupies a building constructed in 1928 to provide warehouse space for the Canadian National Railways.
Nonsuch Brewing Co. is a Métis-owned brewery and restaurant that celebrates Manitoba through locally inspired craft beer, food and experiences.
For a taste of Indigenous cuisine, Feast Café Bistro offers a modern interpretation of First Nations food. The Indigenous-owned and operated restaurant incorporates traditional ingredients and dishes into a contemporary menu. Depending on the season, offerings may include Saskatoon berry smoothies, dessert bannock, squash pizza, pickerel sliders, and elk stew.
For more information about Winnipeg, visit www.tourismwinnipeg.com. And for the province of Manitoba, go to www.travelmanitoba.com.
Featured image: The Leaf gardens / William Au-Winnipeg Tourism
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Beverly Hurley is the editor of Triangle Gardener. When she isn’t gardening, she loves to travel.
