10 Best Gardens in Nova Scotia to Visit This Year
Looking for the best gardens in Nova Scotia? Here’s some of the best to explore this year.
There’s something special about exploring gardens when the weather warms up. The colours, the scent of fresh flowers in the air, and the sense of calm that they bring—it all just makes you want to slow down and soak it in. Whether it’s the first daffodils of spring or the scent of lavender in midsummer, it never fails to make me smile.
If you’re like me and enjoy wandering through gardens to spot what’s just starting to bloom, you’ll find some great places around the province.
The gardens listed below range from formal Victorian-style landscapes to more unexpected spots—like a working lavender farm or a garden filled with concrete sculptures. Whether you’re looking for well-tended flower beds, peaceful walking paths, or something a little unusual, these are the best gardens in Nova Scotia to enjoy this year.
Best Gardens in Nova Scotia to Visit This Year
These gardens are some of our favourites around the province. From formal layouts to more unusual styles, or just somewhere to enjoy the seasonal blooms, these spots are all worth adding to your plans this year.
Halifax Public Gardens – Halifax
📍5665 Spring Garden Road, Halifax
Right in the heart of downtown, Halifax Public Gardens is one of the most well-known green spaces in the province. It’s one of the best examples of a Victorian garden in North America, with impressive iron gates at the entrance, winding paths, fountains, and flower beds that change with the seasons.
The garden covers 16 acres, with trails, lawns, ponds, and curated gardens that showcase something new each season. In spring, you’ll see daffodils, tulips, and cherry blossoms, while roses and dahlias follow in early summer.
It’s a favourite for both tourists and locals—and one of the first places I took my kids when we visited Nova Scotia for the first time. They still love watching the ducks in the pond, and the on-site café makes it easy to linger a little longer.
Local tip: It’s one of the best spots in Halifax to see the cherry blossoms – usually around mid-late May, or catch live music at the bandstand during the summer.
Good to know:
- Free admission
- Accessible paths throughout
- Open year-round from dusk to dawn
- If you’re visiting Halifax in December, the gardens are beautifully lit each evening.
Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens – Annapolis Royal
📍441 St. George St, Annapolis Royal
Set in one of Canada’s oldest towns, the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens are easily one of the best gardens in Nova Scotia. In fact, they were named Canada’s Garden of the Year in 2015. The 17-acre garden overlooks a tidal river and features a mix of heritage plantings, formal garden beds, and peaceful walking paths.
It’s home to the largest rose collection in Eastern Canada, including a rose maze and butterfly garden. In spring, lilacs and flowering trees start to bloom, and by early summer the roses and peonies are in full colour. The Victorian Garden, with its hedges and central fountain, is one of the quietest and most peaceful areas of the park.
You’ll also find a reconstructed Acadian house from 1671—pre-dating the Deportation—and interpretive displays that explore the region’s agricultural roots. From the gardens, you can also walk along the dykes overlooking the tidal river, where you can see the ocean floor at low tide.
The garden also hosts fun events throughout the season, like Star Wars in the Garden on May 4.
My suggestion: Visit in late May for lilacs, or in July for peak rose season.
Good to know:
- Open year-round, though paths are only maintained during the regular season (May to October)
- Admission fee applies (Information and rates can be found here)
- Gift shop, accessible paths, and guided tours available
- Located in the walkable town of Annapolis Royal, with restaurants and shops nearby
Tangled Gardens – Grand Pre
📍11827 Highway 1, Hortonville
If you like your gardens with a little bit of whimsy, Tangled Garden in Grand-Pré is worth a stop. This 4-acre property is not a formal botanical garden, but more of an artistic space filled with perennials, pathways, and sculptures, and beautiful views of the Bay of Fundy.
Each section feels like its own secret corner, filled with edible and ornamental plants that are both beautiful and useful. There’s also a seven-circle labyrinth, filled with paths of clover and walls of flowers, that feels like something straight out of a storybook.
The garden is also home to a shop that sells small-batch jams, jellies, herbal vinegars and liquers, all made from plants grown right on the property. You can wander the garden at your own pace, or for a truly personal experince, book a private one-hour tour with the owner.
Our tip: Visit in late spring or early summer for the fullest blooms. And don’t leave without sampling something from the shop—it’s hard to walk out empty-handed.
Good to know:
- Open seasonally, from the May long weekend through to the end of October
- Admission is $10 per adult, free for kids under 15
- No reservation required for self-guided visits
- Located just outside Grand-Pré, minutes from the UNESCO World Heritage Site and nearby wineries
- Best explored on foot—paths are natural and may not be ideal for strollers or wheelchairs
Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens – Wolfvile
📍32 University Ave, Wolfville
Set in the pretty town of Wolfville, the Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens are worth a stop—especially if you’re interested in native plants or looking for a quieter spot to explore. Located at Acadia University, these gardens focus on the plants and ecosystems of the Acadian Forest Region, offering a different kind of garden experience.
The 6-acre garden includes a variety of areas to wander through—a walled garden, medicinal and food gardens, a wetland boardwalk, and open meadows. You can walk the paths, relax on the lawns, have a picnic, or just sit by one of the small ponds and watch the ducks. Many of the plants here are native to the region, so it’s a great place to learn about what naturally grows in Nova Scotia.
You can take a guided tour for a small fee, or just wander through on your own for free. The on-site greenhouse and conservatory are open during limited hours, and there’s also a café nearby if you want to make it a longer visit.
Our tip: After visiting the garden, you can take a short 1.5-km forest trail just behind the garden, or there’s two shorter loops if you’re short on time.
Good to know:
- Open daily from dawn to dusk, free admission
- Mostly accessible, though a few paths have steps
- Wheelchair accessible paths in most areas
- Paid parking available near the gardens, or park for free in downtown wolfville – it’s only a short walk, and a great excuse to explore the town.
Bicentennial Botanical Garden – Truro
📍 62 Cumming Drive, Bible Hill (just outside of Truro)
Located on the Dalhousie Agricultural Campus in Bible Hill, the Bicentennial Botanical Garden is a working and teaching space that’s also a great spot to explore. It was created in 2018 to celebrate Dalhousie’s 200th anniversary and has quickly grown into one of the more unique gardens in the province.
Covering nearly 11 hectares, the gardens are used by horticulture students and researchers, but they’re open to the public as well.
There are several themed areas, including a rock garden, herb garden, pollinator meadow, and even plots for farm crops and medicinal plants. A wide 2.1 km trail winds through the gardens, and we saw plenty of people using it for walking or just pushing a stroller.
And while it’s technically not part of the gardens, there’s also a short trail that leads to one of the more unique things to see in Nova Scotia – large original pieces of the Berlin Wall!
Good to know:
- Open year-round, but at its peak in spring and summer, and into early fall.
- Free to visit
- Accessible paths in most areas
Leighton Dillman Park – Dartmouth
📍4 Windmill Road, Dartmouth
Tucked into the Dartmouth Commons, Leighton Dillman Park is a quiet, often-overlooked green space with great views of the Halifax skyline. It’s not a traditional botanical garden, but it’s a lovely place to walk through in spring, especially when the daffodils and tulips start blooming along the paths.
The park has winding trails, open lawns and a community garden, plus a community pizza oven in the summer months. It’s a popular spot for locals out walking their dogs or enjoying the sunset, but it rarely feels crowded.
Our tip: Visit in early May for the daffodils, or come later in the day — it’s one of the best spots to see the sunset over the Halifax Harbour.
Good to know:
- Free to visit, open year-round
- Located in Dartmouth Commons, walking distance from downtown
- Natural paths with some steep inclines—I’ve run through here and can tell you – those hills are real!
- Street parking available nearby
Seafoam Lavender
📍3768 Highway 6, River John
Tucked away on the Northumberland Shore, Seafoam Lavender Garden is a beautiful, family-run farm with more than 8,000 lavender plants. While you can visit from Mother’s Day in May through to Thanksgiving in October, it’s best experienced in July, when the lavender is in full bloom and the whole field smells amazing.
Thanks to the warmer climate along this part of the coast, the conditions are just right for growing lavender here. You’re free to wander through the rows, take photos or have lunch at the shaded picnic tables.
For about a week in July, you can even pick your own lavender. It’s become a bit of a tradition for us, and somehow we always seem to choose the hottest day of the summer, but it’s still fun. And the dried lavender smells amazing in our house all year long.
There’s also a small shop where you’ll find soaps, balms, and other lavender products, as well as local pottery. We always buy the bug spray and lip balm.
Our tip: A visit here is one of the best things to do in Nova Scotia in July, when the lavender is in full bloom,but it’s still a beautiful spot to visit before then.
Good to know:
- Open daily starting late May (check their site for seasonal hours)
- Free to visit
- Paths through the lavender rows are easy to walk but not ideal for strollers
- Located midway between Tatamagouche and Pictou
Bonus: Cosby’s Garden Centre & Concrete Creations
📍 4122 Hwy 3, Liverpool
This one’s a bit different from the rest of the gardens on this list, but it’s such a fun and unexpected spot that it’s worth including. Cosby’s Garden Centre has great products and plants, but the real magic is behind the shop—a winding trail through the forest filled with giant concrete sculptures.
Along the trails, you’ll come across mythical creatures and animals, faces emerging from the trees and all kinds of other interesting sculptures tucked into the trees. It’s creative and weird in the best way, and my kids loved posing alongside the statues, trying to copy their expressions and stances.
Our tip: Don’t just browse the shop—take the time to walk the full trail behind the store. It’s a totally different kind of garden experience.
Good to know:
- Free to visit
- Open year-round
- Natural trail surface—wear sturdy shoes
A Few More Nova Scotia Gardens Worth a Visit
Here are a few other gardens that are well worth visiting – especially if you’re already nearby or looking to explore some smaller, community-focused places to explore.
Blomidon Inn Gardens – Wolfville
📍195 Main St, Wolfville
Tucked behind the historic Blomidon Inn, these 4-acre gardens are easy to explore in about half an hour. You’ll find vegetable plots, pond gardens, and a mix of formal and informal beds tucked into the landscape. It’s an ideal spot to visit if you’re already in Wolfville or staying at the inn.
Cole Harbour Heritage Farm
📍471 Poplar Drive, Cole Harbour
This working farm tucked right into the middle of Cole Harbour is a true hidden gem – we lived here for over a year before realizing it was even there!
The farm grows both heritage plant varieties and newer ones, and many of the vegetables grown on-site are served in the tearoom.
The garden itself is quiet and informal, with paths lined by trees and shrubs, a small pond, and a focus on plants that reflect the region’s rural past. It’s the kind of place that feels relaxed and welcoming, especially if you’re visiting with kids.
Our tip: Pair a visit with lunch at the tearoom, then stop by North Brewing or one of the nearby spots on Portland Street.
Good to know:
- Open seasonally (May 15 to October 15 each year)
- Admission by donation
- Located in Cole Harbour, about 25 minutes from downtown Halifax
- Parking on site and family-friendly throughout
North Highlands Community Museum – Dingwall
📍26 Mountain View Road, Dingwall
If you’re heading up to the northern part of Cape Breton, the North Highlands Community Museum is a nice little stop with a community-maintained garden out back. It’s not large, but it’s a great spot to stretch your legs, especially in spring and summer when the flowers are in bloom.
The garden includes ten distinct beds, designed to reflect what early European settlers in the area might have grown—a mix of flowers, herbs, and vegetables traditionally used for food, tea, and medicine. It also aims to be as sustainable as possible, with a focus on local growing techniques.
Our tip: Stop here as part of a Cape Breton road trip—it makes a great break between scenic drives. You can find more ideas in our Cabot Trail itinerary or this list of stops on the Cabot Trail.
Good to know:
- Open seasonally
- Located in Cape North, just off the Cabot Trail
- Admission by donation
- Garden is behind the museum and free to explore
Wrapping Up: Best Nova Scotia Gardens to visit
From spring blooms to summer flowers, visiting a garden is a great excuse to slow down, explore, and enjoy some time outside. Whether you’re into colourful flower beds, historic roses, native plants, or just looking for a quiet place to walk and breathe in the scent of summer, these gardens are some of our favourite places to explore around the province.
You don’t need to be a plant expert to enjoy these spots—they’re easygoing places to take a break, go for a walk, or spend an hour outside with the kids. Some gardens are destinations in themselves, while others make a nice stop along the way.
Looking to plan even more ways to enjoy the season? You might also like our guide to what to do in Nova Scotia in spring, some ideas for things to do in Nova Scotia in the summer, this 5-day Nova Scotia itinerary, or our list of small towns to visit in Nova Scotia that pair perfectly with a garden stop or two.
