With gardening season finally here, it’s a perfect time to tour the Peterborough and Area Garden Route at gardenroute.ca.
Most people have heard of a fall studio tour, where you take a self-guided tour of local artist studios and even watch them at work. The concept of the Garden Route is similar, except it’s a self-guided tour for those who want to buy plants from local specialty growers, browse garden boutiques, and see some stunning display gardens.
More than 10 years ago, several garden business owners in the Peterborough area decided to work together to promote gardening in the community and, in turn, each other’s businesses. It was a natural collaboration, as garden lovers regularly travel to find the “best of the best” when it comes to plant species and varieties and gardening décor.
As a result, the Peterborough and Area Garden Route was born — a self-guided driving tour highlighting some of the best garden centres and garden boutiques the Peterborough area has to offer.
The Garden Route features garden centres that grow many of their own plants, including The Greenhouse on the River and Griffin’s Greenhouses near Lakefield, Gardens Plus in Donwood, Anna’s Perennials in Kawartha Lakes (between Lindsay and Bobcaygeon), and Keene On Gardens near Keene. New to the Garden Route this year is garden business Rocky Meadows Lavender near Indian River.
The Greenhouse on the River, Keene on Gardens, and Griffin’s Greenhouses offer a good mix of annuals and perennials, while Anna’s Perennials and Gardens Plus specialize in low-maintenance perennials. Rocky Mountain Lavender is a local specialist on lavender varieties that grow well in our area.
Some of the garden centres also offer display gardens, where you can take a pleasant walk to stretch your legs, admire beauty, and get some planting ideas.
Of course, gardening is about more than just plants. If you’re looking for gardening supplies and accessories and home and garden décor, or you or want to find a unique gift for your favourite gardener, you’ll want to stop by the two garden boutiques along the route.
Garden Style Bridgenorth carries garden-themed wall art for both indoor and outdoor decorating, as well as garden-inspired pieces for home décor. The shop also has a large selection of items to add interest to your garden, as well as locally made soy candles, bee houses, wooden flower stakes, pincushions, and more.
The Avant-Garden Shop in downtown Peterborough carries both functional and decorative accessories for your home and garden, as well as ornaments, wall art and statuary, premium garden tools and supplies, wind chimes, mailboxes, address plaques, and more, with a focus on Canadian-made items. The shop also carries the best selection of bird feeders and accessories in Peterborough, as well as bird seed.
If you are interested in houseplants, you’ll also want to check out two new businesses on the Garden Route this year: Plant Goals and Burley’s Gardens.
Plant Goals is a young and funky specialty houseplant shop on Water Street in downtown Peterborough.
Burley’s Gardens on Television Road, just east of the city, specializes in unique houseplants and also offers seasonal outdoor garden products too.
The Peterborough and Area Garden Route is a free self-guided tour available whenever participating businesses are open. While garden centres are open seasonally, garden shops are open year-round.
For more information, including details about each location on the route, visit gardenroute.ca.
MAP: Peterborough and Area Garden Route locations
View a larger version of this map.
This story was created in partnership with Peterborough and Area Garden Route.
