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Rock Garden Self-Guided Activities

A variety of self-guided activities and tours are available year round a the peaceful Rock Garden.

Tree Mindfulness Walk / Des Arbres Qui Font Du Bien

(disponible en français)

Science has shown that time in nature has much to offer us in today’s stress-filled world. This 750-metre walk around the garden offers eight stations that provide guidance (in both English and French) for a few moments of tree-focused mindfulness. Self-guided signs invite you to take time to slow down, focus on the present and connect with your senses, your breathing and our trees. We also share some of the science about nature and human wellness.

Download Tree Mindfulness Walk Research Citations

Rock Garden Favourites

Each of us connects to plants in different ways. Some people are captivated by plant architecture and form. Others are wowed by spectacular seasonal colour or sweet fragrance. A plant’s rarity, its history and uses, or the memories it conjures are other ways that people build “green” bonds.

When the newly renovated Rock Garden reopened in 2015, we asked past and present staff experts to pick their favourite Rock Garden plants and share their personal stories with you. Use this map to locate their faves and maybe you’ll find one of your own!

Rock Garden Favourites Tour
Click image for PDF version
TaleBlazer App logo

Be a TaleBlazer!

Download our family adventure app and go on a Rock Garden Quest. This mobile game uses TaleBlazer, a free augmented reality (AR) software platform. Just download TaleBlazer at your app store, allow access to your GPS, click on the menu tab and find Rock Garden Quest in the games list. NOTE: This game is not active during winter.

#ShareTheChair

Royal Botanical Gardens is a National Historic Site of Canada. Watch for a set of bright red Muskoka chairs at Rock Garden (one of four pairs found at RBG), take a selfie then tag @rbgcanada on social media and share it in the national #ShareTheChair initiative celebrating National Parks and Historic Sites.

  • Rock Garden water feature river in June
  • waterlilies near foot bridge at rock garden
  • Garden House view at Rock Garden
  • Red Muskoka Chairs overlooking the rock garden
  • Rock Garden Weeping Norway Spruce
  • Rock Garden Small Step Waterfall