Is there someone in your life that you would like to honour, celebrate or commemorate, or a special occasion like a birthday, anniversary or a shared memory for which you would like to say, “You are in my thoughts?”

Let someone know that you are thinking of him or her by making a donation to Royal Botanical Gardens.

Donor Acknowledgement
Each tribute gift is acknowledged with:
- A card sent to the honoured individual or next of kin.
- Recognition in a permanent registry book housed at RBG Centre, in our newsletter, Paradise Found, and in Royal Botanical Gardens' annual report.

Donors receive a letter and charitable tax receipt.

All our cultivated and natural lands are held in trust for future generations and each Tribute Gift helps preserve this living legacy.

Back to top

Ways to Give

Tribute and Memorial Donations
Donations of any denomination can be made to honour or in memory of an event, individual or family.

Plant or Designate a Tree
Honour a loved one while helping to expand the tree collection at the Gardens. Each year our horticultural department develops a "wish list" of trees (below).

With a gift of $2500, you can select a tree from our list of available or planned acquisitions. A memorial or tribute plaque is placed on the tree or on a ground stake. Donors receive a tax receipt for $1800, a certificate providing full details of the tree and a location map as well as donor acknowledgement.

(Trees are planted in spring and fall. All newly planted trees have a five-year replacement guarantee. In the event of the tree dying after the five-year period, the memorial plaque is transferred to an existing mature tree that is mutually acceptable. Placement of trees is at the discretion of Royal Botanical Gardens. RBG reserves the right to transplant or remove any tree if it is in the interest of the tree, public safety or the development of the Gardens.)

Back to top

Benches
With a gift of $5000, you may designate one of our new benches within Hendrie Park Gardens. These beautiful backless stone benches line the Oak Allee and look out over the new Rose Garden pools. The bench will be personalized with a tribute plaque. Donors receive a tax receipt for $3500 and are provided with a certificate and map showing the location of the bench.



(Please note, at this time benches are not being placed in other garden areas or the natural lands. Royal Botanical Gardens reserves the right to relocate a bench as required. Benches are guarunteed for a period of 10 years after which time, they may be removed if it is in the interest of public safety or development of the Gardens.)

For more information regarding the tribute and memorial gift program, please call 905-527-1158, ext. 290 or email donations@rbg.ca.

Back to top


'Wish List' — planned and/or available trees
The following lists contain trees that are currently available for planting or designation to be placed in specific locations within our tree collections at the Arboretum.

Arboretum
The following list contains trees to be placed in specific locations within our tree collections at the arboretum. Each individual specimen adds ornamental value to the collection.

Beech Collection
• Dawyck Golden European beech (Fagus sylvatica 'Dawyck Aurea') A tall columnar tree with brilliant golden foliage in spring.

Avenue 8 – Small Flowering Trees
• Kwanzan Japanese Cherry (Prunus serrulata 'Kwanzan') Very showy specimen, with an abundance of large, double, pink blossoms in spring.

• Thunderchild Crab Apple (Malus 'Thunderchild') A compact crab apple with deep purple foliage. Delicate pink flowers appear early in spring, before foliage.

Avenue 2 – Conical Shaped Trees
• Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides 'White Spot') A variegated form of the stately deciduous conifer.

Avenue 3 – Globe Shaped Trees
• Ruby-Red Horse Chestnut (Aesculus x carnea 'Briotti') A small tree that provides dense shade. Red flower clusters appear in late spring.

Weeping Tree Collection
• Weeping European Larch (Larix decidua 'Pendula') A graceful weeping form with soft green foliage. If staked, can reach five metres in height.

• Weeping White Pine (Pinus strobus 'Pendula') A weeping form with branches touching the ground. Needles are bluish in colour.

• Emerald Kascade Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis 'Emerald Kascade') A small, weeping form of the popular street tree.

Miscellaneous
• Red-leaf Weeping Crab Apple (Malus 'Royal Beauty') A disease resistant tree with reddish foliage. Pinkish red flowers in spring.

• Tower Poplar (Populus x canescens 'Tower') A rapid grower. Unique foliage with glossy green topsides and furry, white undersides.

• Galaxy Magnolia (Magnolia 'Galaxy') A late season bloomer with reddish-purple flowers. Very upright habit.

• Kwanzan Japanese Cherry (Prunus serrulata 'Kwanzan') An upright tree with coppery bronze spring foliage. Heavy with
double pink blooms in May.

• Schubert Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana 'Shubert') Oval shaped tree with vigorous growth. Red/purple fruit attracts birds.

Download a Tribute and Memorial Program summary pdf.

Back to top