Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens

The Historic Gardens in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia

TripAdvisor has announced that the Historic Gardens is the number one listing under "Things to Do in Nova Scotia" for 2011! This well respected travel site has picked the gardens over 158 other attractions found in Nova Scotia. The Gardens are #7 for the 2014 season.

Background Information

I continue on my way through two long curved beds of perennials, adding their splendid display of color. Soon I arrive at the garden's fountain. What a beautiful sight this is, set into large slate rocks and surrounded by impressive trees and shrubs.

From here it is only a short distance to the Governor's Garden. This garden represents the period between 1710 to 1749 when Annapolis Royal was capital of Nova Scotia.

The next heritage themed garden is the Victorian Garden consisting of curved beds that fit together into a pattern. Victorian gardens were popular in the late 1800's in Annapolis Royal.

Next we find the Knot Garden which is based on an English design published in 1638. These gardens are very interesting as they form geometrical patterns out of small hedge-like plants. This garden is shaded by a very large weeping elm.

Beside the Knot Garden is located the German Bakery & Garden Cafe, which is a great place to stop for a light lunch or special treat with a cool drink.

Make sure you visit the Gardens Interpretive Centre which is also located in this area by the restaurant. It has photo displays, information on Salt Marshes, an old Acadian log aboiteau, and other information on early Acadian life.

Beautiful colored blossoms at the Historic Gardens in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia

This is only a small part of all that you will see at the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens. I only touched on the gardens found along the outside path; there are many other paths to follow, each with new sights.

These gardens provide a splendor of beauty no matter when you decide to visit them. All throughout the season they are ever hanging as different plants blossom and add their array of color and fragrance. I strongly recommend a visit to these wonderful Historic Gardens and see if you agree, they are among the best in Canada.

The Historic Gardens are open from mid May until mid October. Their hours are from 9am to 5pm in May, June, September and October and from 8am until dusk in July and August. Admission fees support the ongoing maintenance and operation of the Gardens – special family, senior and group rates are available. Season passes are also available and are very popular with the local population, for obvious reasons! During the off season and after hours the Gardens are accessible on an "admission by donation" basis.

To see more on the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens and verify their hours of operation and fees please visit their official web site: Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens, or you can give them a call at for more information.

Leave the Historic Gardens Page to check out other Annapolis Gardens.

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Over 100 guides would pitch tents on Battery Point in Digby to take part in the Nova Scotia Guides Association competitions.

1922, August 31 the Berwick Register reports a three pound "Rome Beauty" apple, the largest apple ever grown on record.

People of legal drinking age had to obtain a "script" from the Doctor and get it filled at a local vendor to purchase their booze during the 1920's and 30's.

The Nova Scotia Hurricane of 1873 drifted south of Nova Scotia on August 26. It was a devastating hurricane that killed over 600. It destroyed over 1,200 boats and over 900 homes and businesses.

If someone is "flying off the handle" it means they are loosing their temper.

For many years the large, slow moving rodent, porcupines were a protected species in Nova Scotia.

Abundant in Nova Scotian coastal waters, Pollock is commonly retailed as Boston Bluefish.

The first regular ferry crossing between the important seaport of Saint John and Nova Scotia's fertile Annapolis Valley was by the "Sally" in 1784.

In 1838 an ice bridge formed across the Annapolis River enabling people to cross to and from Granville and Annapolis Royal, but it broke up on the returning tide leaving most people stranded on the wrong side.

A native of Welsford in the Annapolis Valley, Alfred C. Fuller established a door-to-door sales empire which gained international success and still bears his name.

In 1956 a bag of Roasted Peanuts would cost you .35 cents a pound; Mixed Nuts - .49 cents a pound; and Moirs' Fresh made Chocolates - .89 cents a box.

Until 1803 the Annapolis Valley community of Lawrencetown was known as Dunn’s Mills.

The very first Queen Annapolisa, Queen of the Apple Blossom Festival in 1933, was Mary Armour representing Middleton.

The Sissibo Sizzler Flume Ride was one of the original rides at the Upper Clements Park and was purchased for $450,000 from Expo ’86 in Vancouver.

Hick’s Ferry & The Bridge are two names that used to be used for the community of Bridgetown.

The first steamer believed to have carried apples was the "Neptune" which sailed from Annapolis Royal in 1881 for England. It is said it took 14 days for this voyage.

The "Dukes of Kent" were a well-known music group from Kentville, Nova Scotia that played Barbershop music.

In 1981 a big snow storm hit the valley bringing several feet of snow and high winds. One road going to Victoria Beach waited three to four days before it was finally opened up by a very large snow blower, brought down from Cape Breton.

Ships that carried illegal booze during prohibition were called Rum-runners

"Figgy duff" is a boiled pudding with raisins in it.

The minimum wage for workers over 18 in Nova Scotia in 1985 was $4.00 per hour.

On July 28, 1921 the temperature at the Annapolis Train Station at 1 p.m. was 93 degrees in the shade, which was a new record for that day.

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Charles Fenerty, a lumberman's son from Sackville, Nova Scotia was the first to discover how to make paper from ground pulp.

In the summer we can't wait for a bowl of "Hodge Podge" which is made with all new vegetables from the garden.

People in the Grand Banks fishery industry are away from home for days or weeks at a time and are referred to as "Bankers".

April of 2003 saw the worst flooding on record in the Annapolis Valley. Heavy rains over a long period of time combined with spring thaw managed to knock out 47 bridges and 200 roads in Nova Scotia.

Sam Langford originally from Weymouth Falls was a Black Canadian boxing standout of the early part of the 20th century. He was known as the "Boston Bonecrusher," "Boston Terror" and, his most infamous nickname, the "Boston Tar Baby."

In 1924 hotels and homes received their supply of ice from horse and wagon teams, brought in from the lakes.

In the early 1800s the Gates family had a plant at Port George where they made their Doctor's Home Remedies

Although it is now worn down by millions of years of erosion, the North Mountain once towered higher than the Rocky Mountains.

A freak apple was discovered by Mr. Collins, Annapolis Royal in 1921 from one of his apple trees. The apple was clearly one half gravenstien and the other half deep red, the colour was perfectly marked from stalk to pit.

Before the Digby Scallop Days festival, Digby used to celebrate the Digby Fishermen's Regatta, started in 1911.

Horton Academy was established in Wolfville in 1828 and it was the forerunner of Acadia University.

Born in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia Abraham Gesner is responsible for inventing kerosene.