Garden Tour
Over ten years ago several local garden business owners got together to discuss a marketing idea – working together to promote gardening in our community and, in turn, each other’s business. Working together seemed a logical collaboration as it is well known that garden lovers travel for the “best of the best” plant species, varieties and décor. As a result, the Peterborough and Area Garden Route was born.
Garden Route is a self guided driving tour which highlights some of the best garden centres and garden gift shops in the local area. It includes gardens centres that grow many of their own plants like Greenhouse-on-the-River and Griffin’s Greenhouses near Lakefield, Gardens Plus in Donwood, Anna’s Perennials near Bobcaygeon and Keene-on-Gardens near Keene. Newly added to the Garden Route driving tour is Rocky Meadows Lavender near Indian River. All are rural locations and definitely worth a drive; while Greenhouse-on-the-River, Keene-on-Gardens and Griffin’s Greenhouses offer a good mix of annuals and perennials, Anna’s Perennials and Gardens Plus specialize in low maintenance perennials specifically and Rocky Mountain Lavender is a local specialist on lavender varieties that grow well in our area. At some locations Display Gardens are offered which provide a pleasant walk to stretch your legs, admire beauty and get planting ideas.
While driving the route, you can head from rural areas to the village of Bridgenorth and browse the wide selection of garden décor at Garden Style and then drive into Peterborough for more décor choices at The Avant Garden Shop on Sherbrooke Street. Both garden boutiques offer unique gifts and decor, often focussing on Canadian-made goods.
If the houseplant craze has gotten hold of you, two new businesses added to the Peterborough and Area Garden Route will be your first stop on the tour: Plant Goals, a young and funky specialty houseplant shop on Water Street in Peterborough and Burley’s Garden on Television Road, just east of the city. Burley’s specializes in unique houseplants and also offers seasonal outdoor garden product too.
Garden Route is a free, self guided tour available whenever participating businesses are open. Check the Garden Route website or individual websites for opening hours; some businesses are strictly seasonal, some are year-round.
