| Membership | Price (+HST) |
|---|---|
| Single | $85/year |
| Single Plus | $120/year |
| Family | $130/year |
| Family Plus | $175/year |
| Contributing | $300/year |
| Supporting | $600/year |
| Sustaining | $1,000/year |
| Benefactor's Circle | $2,500/year |
| Director's Circle | $5,000/year |
| President's Circle | $10,000/year |
Things To Do By Season
Things To Do By Season
The gardens and trails are ever-changing, and so are the activities, events, and programming! Stay connected with nature all year long.
Spring Blooms
The gardens come alive with brilliant and showy blooms in the spring months! From delicate and ephemeral flowering trees, to bright and showy perennials, the gardens are constantly changing; visit again and again to see all our key collections as they reach peak bloom.
- Spring Ephemerals (April to May)
- Flowering Cherries (Late April or early May)
- Magnolias (Late-April, early-May)
- Lilacs (Mid-May to early-June)
- and more!
Special Events
Celebrate spring with a host of special events at the gardens! Start the gardening season off right with Plant Faire, celebrate our key bloom collections, and enjoy brunches and taste the gardens with culinary events.
Some events require pre-purchsed tickets (separate from General Admission or Membership).
Courses, Camps and Programs
Learn and grow in the gardens by registering for educational programs! From yoga and gardening courses to programs for kids and families, there are exciting learning opportunities for everyone.
These programs require pre-registration, and space is limited. Select from the list below for more information.
Spring Hiking
Explore RBG’s Nature Sanctuaries with 27km of hiking trails through Hamilton and Burlington!
Seasonal Highlights: Spring brings new life to RBG’s conservation areas, including the return of migratory birds, and spring ephemeral wildflowers starting to bloom. Trails can be damp this time of year, so dress accordingly!
Art in the Gardens
Art brings beauty into our gardens, adds a human element, tells a story, and creates dialogue. Discover the abundance of art installations that grace our garden setting that include the Dan Lawrie International Sculpture Collection, Earth Art, and other lesser known works that have found their home at the Gardens throughout its rich history.
Dining
Each season offers a cornucopia of fresh new ingredients that grace our kitchens and with two restaurants and a tea house on site, Royal Botanical Gardens is your destination for dishes inspired by fresh, seasonal ingredients.
With unique culinary events infused with music, arts, and culture. Culinary experiences at RBG embrace sustainable choices and choice ingredients, many of them straight from our gardens to your plate. Now that’s fresh.
Shop
The Garden Shop is known for its distinctive merchandise including gardening accents and tools, containers and statuary, home décor, jewelry and fashion, educational games and toys for children, gardening and nature books, and more. Our trained staff and volunteers can help you select the perfect gift for any occasion!
Summer Blooms
Brilliant blooms continue as the weather heats up! Visit our new Rose Garden in Hendrie Park and discover the history of this beloved species as you stroll through a spectacular display of roses and companion plants. The Rock Garden’s ever-changing display of brilliant perennials are pure magic while a walk through Laking Garden’s Iris and Peony Collection will take your breath away. Our gardens are constantly changing, so visit again and again to see all our key collections as they reach peak bloom.
- Iris (June)
- Peonies (June)
- Roses (June/July, repeat blooms through September)
- Rock Garden Perennials
- and more!
Special Events
Get the most out of summer with amazing events in the garden! Take in the music and theatre, explore the garden as a family, or join us for a 19+ garden party.
Many of RBG’s special events require tickets and are separate from General Admission or Membership.
Courses, Camps and Programs
Learn and grow in the gardens by registering for educational programs! From yoga and gardening courses to programs for kids and families, there are exciting learning opportunities for everyone.
These programs require pre-registration, and space is limited. Select from the list below for more information.
On the Trails
Explore RBG’s Nature Sanctuaries with 27km of hiking trails through Hamilton and Burlington!
Seasonal Highlights: The nature sanctuaries are abuzz with life in the summer months! Explore the trails, see how many species you can spot, and take some time to relax and appreciate the views at our many lookouts.
Paddle
Explore Cootes Paradise by canoe to get a glimpse of the astounding life that depends on the health of the marsh for its survival.
Join a tour by canoe with Paddling in Paradise! Register for these guided tours to view wetland plants and wildlife and hear about some of our restoration efforts that help keep Cootes a Paradise. We supply the canoes, paddles and lifejackets.
Have your own vessel? RBG is home to two canoe launches: Princess Point along Cootes Paradise, and Valley Inn at Grindstone Creek. Note: RBG does not supply canoes for general rental.
Art in the Gardens
Art brings beauty into our gardens, adds a human element, tells a story, and creates dialogue. Discover the abundance of art installations that grace our garden setting that include the Dan Lawrie International Sculpture Collection, Earth Art, and other lesser known works that have found their home at the Gardens throughout its rich history.
Dining
Each season offers a cornucopia of fresh new ingredients that grace our kitchens and with two restaurants and a teahouse on site, Royal Botanical Gardens is your destination for dishes inspired by fresh, seasonal ingredients.
With unique culinary events infused with music, arts, and culture. Culinary experiences at RBG embrace sustainable choices and choice ingredients, many of them straight from our gardens to your plate. Now that’s fresh.
Shop
Shop at the Gardens is known for its distinctive merchandise including gardening accents and tools, containers and statuary, home décor, jewelry and fashion, educational games and toys for children, gardening and nature books, and more. Our trained staff and volunteers can help you select the perfect gift for any occasion!
Fall Colours and Blooms
When the weather cools, our gardens and trails come to life with warm autumn hues. As a nature sanctuary between climate zones with incredible plant biodiversity, RBG is the perfect location to watch the seasons change.
Enjoy late Roses and companion plants in Hendrie Park, autumn perennials at Rock Garden, and stunning hues in trees throughout the garden areas and on the trails.
Special Events
Ease into fall with a host of autumn events! Enjoy floral society shows, celebrate Halloween as a family, or join us for a seasonal movie night.
Many of RBG’s special events require tickets and are separate from Garden Admission or Membership. See the specific event requirements and details at the links below.
- The Great Pumpkin Trail (late October)
- and more!
Courses and Programs
Learn and grow in the gardens by registering for educational programs! From yoga and gardening courses to programs for kids and families, there are exciting learning opportunities for everyone.
These programs require pre-registration, and space is limited. Select from the list below for more information.
Fall Hiking
Explore RBG’s Nature Sanctuaries with 27km of hiking trails through Hamilton and Burlington!
Seasonal Highlights: Our nature sanctuaries are the perfect place to watch the seasons change. Experience peak fall colours while hundreds of migrating species pass through Cootes Paradise.
Art in the Gardens
Art brings beauty into our gardens, adds a human element, tells a story, and creates dialogue. Discover the abundance of art installations that grace our garden setting that include the Dan Lawrie International Sculpture Collection, Earth Art, and other lesser known works that have found their home at the Gardens throughout its rich history.
Dining
Each season offers a cornucopia of fresh new ingredients that grace our kitchens and with two restaurants and a teahouse on site, Royal Botanical Gardens is your destination for dishes inspired by fresh, seasonal ingredients.
With unique culinary events infused with music, arts, and culture. Culinary experiences at RBG embrace sustainable choices and choice ingredients, many of them straight from our gardens to your plate. Now that’s fresh.
Shop
Shop at the Gardens is known for its distinctive merchandise including gardening accents and tools, containers and statuary, home décor, jewelry and fashion, educational games and toys for children, gardening and nature books, and more. Our trained staff and volunteers can help you select the perfect gift for any occasion!
Mediterranean Garden & Outdoor Winter Interest
Escape winter weather and keep the green thumb satisfied with a stroll through RBG Centre’s Mediterranean Garden! Don’t miss the seasonal breezeway display, the Orchid Case, and the Cacti and Succulent Collection.
Enjoy a winter walk through the gardens! Get some “winter interest” garden inspiration, and appreciate conifer displays, berry-producing shrubs, and the many textures of deciduous tree bark.
Special Events
Ease into winter with a host of festive events! Enjoy floral society shows, or join us for a 19+ garden party with RBG After Dark.
Many of RBG’s special events require tickets and are separate from Garden Admission or Membership. See the specific event requirements and details at the links below.
- Breakfast with Santa & Mrs. Claus
- and more!
RBG Express
All Aboard! Don’t miss a ride on the RBG Express during your day visit the Gardens. Purchase tickets at the door to take a round-trip train ride through beautiful Hendrie Park to round out your RBG experience.
See calendar for operation details.
Botanical Train Display
The Botanical Train display returns to RBG Centre! Constructed from over seven tons of cedar slabs, 3,000 pounds of rock and 250 feet of track, the Botanical Train Show features model trains amongst famous Canadian landmarks from coast to coast!
Winter Exhibit
Each winter, RBG Centre transforms into an exciting, one-of-a-kind experience!
With a fresh theme every year, there’s always something new to discover. Stay tuned for this year’s adventure!
Skating on Cootes Paradise
Princess Point provides access to a skating area across Cootes Paradise. Ice is measured each Friday (before end of day), and updated at the on-site signage, at rbg.ca, and on our Facebook page.
Winter Hiking
Explore RBG’s Nature Sanctuaries with 27km of hiking trails through Hamilton and Burlington!
Seasonal Highlights: Plant life slumbers, but the nature sanctuaries are still full of life and interest. Enjoy ice skating, find animal tracks in the snow, explore indigenous plant use, and spot raptors and arctic waterbirds.
Art in the Gardens
Art brings beauty into our gardens, adds a human element, tells a story, and creates dialogue. Discover the abundance of art installations that grace our garden setting that include the Dan Lawrie International Sculpture Collection, Earth Art, and other lesser known works that have found their home at the Gardens throughout its rich history.
Courses & Programs
Learn and grow in the gardens by registering for educational programs! From yoga and gardening courses to programs for kids and families, there are exciting learning opportunities for everyone.
These programs require pre-registration, and space is limited. Select from the list below for more information.
Dining
Each season offers a cornucopia of fresh new ingredients that grace our kitchens and with two restaurants and a teahouse on site, Royal Botanical Gardens is your destination for dishes inspired by fresh, seasonal ingredients.
With unique culinary events infused with music, arts, and culture. Culinary experiences at RBG embrace sustainable choices and choice ingredients, many of them straight from our gardens to your plate. Now that’s fresh.
Shop
Shop at the Gardens is known for its distinctive merchandise including gardening accents and tools, containers and statuary, home décor, jewelry and fashion, educational games and toys for children, gardening and nature books, and more. Our trained staff and volunteers can help you select the perfect gift for any occasion!
