Impact Report
2025 has been a magical year so far at the Garden. This report celebrates accomplishments made possible through the support of our community.
nical Garden (TBG) 00 visitors per year, offering and inspiring connections s, and each other.
ives on the deep tions between people and It’s the daily rhythm of each volunteer, member and staff r that breathes life and into this shared space, it a truly vibrant nity hub.
STEPHANIE JUTILA CEO of Toronto Botanical Garden,
pictured with TBG Volunteer
TRELLIS
A new issue of Trellis magazine is published every season. All editions from the past 70 years are now digitized. Garden Communicators International just awarded Trellis with a Gold Laurel award for the second year running. Cozy up in the library to read print editions or access past issues online.
Library learning opens doors
YOUR
GIFT KEEPS CANADA’S LARGEST HORTICULTURE LIBRARY ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL
THE WESTON FAMILY LIBRARY
Open to the public seven days a week, the library’s collection is also searchable online. Rotating exhibitions like “Celebration 70” focus on the evolution of Edwards Gardens from a private estate to a public park and garden.
ECO INSPIRATIONS AND LITERACY
Visitors enjoy story circles, drop-in programs, lectures, and books galore, like Dr Nadina Galle’s debut book, The Nature of Our Cities: Harnessing the Power of the Natural World to Survive a Changing Planet Dr Galle returns on November 7 as a keynote speaker for our Urban Ravine Summit The public is invited to attend
SEED LIBRARY
The Seed Library invites visitors to get free seeds for their home gardens and donate harvested seeds at season’s end, creating a cycle of sharing and sustainability
INCLUSION
The Library added 250 thoughtfully selected books to its collection, including diverse voices and perspectives in horticulture and ecology Community celebrations like Pride and National Truth and Reconciliation Day are marked with children’s story times and other programs, fulfilling our goal to be a Garden for All
TBG connects plants & people
YOUR GIFT OFFERS HORTICULTURAL INSPIRATION
REGENERATIVE ARRIVAL PLAZA
This summer, nature helped us design our arrival garden beds through “rewilding,” a cost-effective strategy combining re-seeded plants plus new plants, edited for impact. Antiqued, mirrored windows adorned with floral motifs symbolize TBG’s reflection on its 70-year anniversary as a public garden.
ANNUAL PLANT SALE
6,000 happy shoppers discovered new and classic garden plants in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere, with lucky raffle winners taking home sample containers brimming with inspiration
36 QUESTIONS THAT LEAD TO LOVING TORONTO GREEN SPACES
This interactive pop-up exhibition in partnership with the Museum of Toronto welcomed 15,000 visitors to explore their connections to the city’s parks, ravines, and wildlife
FLOATING GARDEN INSTALLATION
The outdoors came indoors with a “tunnel” of arranged dried plants and flowers, harvested and artfully arranged by our creative horticulture team.
GET A JUMP ON SPRING
More than 1,000 visitors connected with over 30 plant and garden vendors, clubs and with clubs and environmental groups, gathering tips at the advice clinic, or joining the free plant swap hosted by TBG’s horticulture team
Birding is big at TBG. Our 3rd annual Dawn Chor Walk celebrated “International Dawn Chorus Day
During our 90-minute walk, before the sun rose o horizon, we shared a moment of meditative silen the creek, listening to the band of characters.
SASA
TORONTO’S PRETTIEST “SELFIE STATION”
365 days a year we witness amateur and professional photographers capturing special moments with friends and family, or snapping pictures of the Garden’s flora and fauna.
PLANT CENTRED LEARNING
A plant database project launching late this year will leverage an online resource from IrisBG called “Garden Explorer.” This feature allows anyone to search TBG's plant collection from any device with internet access. The project will also include an updated and accurate map of the Garden.
PLANT COLLECTION & TRIAL GARDENS
Indoor spaces house a variety of tropical species, cared for and displayed as a living museum in all four seasons Outside, Trial Gardens feature design combinations of new plants entering the marketplace, inviting visitors to vote for their favourites
GREEN ROOF & SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS
The green roof on our silver-LEED building was refurbished with native species, with a new ecotour launched to build awareness of its benefit
PEER CONNECTIONS
Data from our collections reached peers at Cambridge University’s Botanic Garden for their research project on the state of plant collections around the world
Closer to home, peer-to-peer exchanges took place with TMU’s Urban Farm initiative, fostering connections with future green thumbs through specialized tours for horticulture postsecondary students, like TBG’s summer interns and co-op students.
Eco-arts & events
YOUR GIFT CREATES INSPIRATIONAL EXPERIENCES
ESSENCE OF THE GARDEN: PLEIN AIR ART EXHIBITION & SALE
During October, this curated, site-specific exhibition will feature more than 70 original works created in and inspired by the Garden, highlighting the intersection of art and nature in partnership with 27 local artists
EDWARDS SUMMER MUSIC SERIES
Our beloved free outdoor concert series returned to offer our most diverse line-up to date, with eight summer concerts enjoyed by five thousand music and garden fans.
THROUGH THE GARDEN GATE
Every June, treasured Toronto private gardens open to the public during our annual Through the Garden Gate tour This year, hundreds of guests visited 14 special gardens in Hoggs Hollow, some located on or near the Upper Don River, with reverse woodland ravines and more.
PERFORMANCE AT THE GARDEN
Tafelmusik at the Garden has now expanded to all four seasons, performing baroque chamber music in a beautiful garden setting. Artists’ Play, now in its third year, presents an enchanting, immersive experience blending aerial dance, circus arts, and garden beauty
REFLECTING SCULPTURE
“Solstice” is a new permanent installation designed by Toronto Metropolitan University's Department of Architectural Science. Unveiled on June 20 (2025 summer solstice), this inspiring outdoor sculpture creates a beautiful dialogue between the light all around us and
ECO-MARKETS
Each year, 6,000 thousand visitors flock annually to our eco-minded, nature-inspired Holiday Market with live music, free admission 60+ local vendors displaying plant-friendly, botanically inspired products. This beloved annual event features free workshops, plant swaps, an exclusive Member lounge and more.
Partners, volunteers and members make more possible
Volunteers are critical partners in TBG’s success, caring for the Garden, assisting events, leading tours and school programs, welcoming visitors and more In 2025, 250 active volunteers devoted thousands of hours to enrich visitor experiences, creating a vibrant hub for learning, beauty, and environmental stewardship
More than 2,700 TBG members engage with the Garden annually, enjoying special perks and discounts
Supportive partnerships with Garden Clubs and Plant e plant people valuable spaces to connect for rkshops, markets, and other activations that members along with the public.
er Gardeners partner with us, inspiring through workshops and gardening advice.
the community
rk Food Bank receives fresh produce from Garden. This year we harvested and donated y 100 pounds of fresh vegetables to it.
hips enrich our community. TBG coe award-winning installation “Monet’s Garden” at Bloor-Yorkville’s Fleurs de Villes
ARTISTE. A pilot project with the Joy of Music brought a new level of performance to TBG’s Edwards Music Series.
Corporate partners seek out TBG for education, like plant propagation workshops hosted by TBG’s horticulture team and assisted by TBG volunteers.
This fall, we welcome and celebrate Foresters Financial as the Garden’s first Official Community Partner.
