My Walk Through a Floral Paradise in the Heart of a City

The Victorian Era Charm and History of the Halifax Public Gardens in Nova Scotia

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I recently visited my daughter at Halifax, Nova Scotia, the Maritime province of Canada, and was bowled over by the city with its beautiful coastline, delicious food, its interesting history and sweet friendly people.

I enjoyed a quiet retreat amid beautiful flowers on a cool spring day during my visit to the Halifax Public Gardens

The Halifax Public Gardens stands like an oasis in the heart of the city, where we can forget the hustle and bustle of the city. I lost track of time while being drawn into a canvas of the most beautiful flowers in the garden.

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The ornate gates at the entrance of the Public Gardens attract visitors upon arrival at the site. The gates have a great historical significance and heritage craftsmanship. Originally created as a tribute to the Halifax Provisional Battalion, the gates honor the unit’s service in the 1885 North-West Rebellion.

As I as wandered through the gardens, I felt inspired by its history and pride. I learnt that it was established in 1800s and is one of the rarest and finest examples of a Victorian-era “Gardenesque” style public parks in North America and was designated a National Historic Site by the Canadian Government in 1984.

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As I entered the park a bunch of smiling white Rhododendrons welcomed me, blooming resilient in the cold like a powerful spiritual guide for overcoming adversity with patience and awakening my inner strength.

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While the Primroses blooming early in spring as a symbol of courage, youth and new beginnings were a picture of divine beauty.

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The pink and yellow Azaleas Evergreen enticed me towards them asking me to slow down, breathe deeply and enjoy their beauty.

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I admired the beauty of the Japanese Azaleas further down the lane. This is a vibrant early spring bloom representing new beginnings, strength and hope.

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The Jacob’s ladder (Polemonium) flowers fascinated me as I learnt its association with the Biblical story of Jacob’s dream of a ladder reaching to heaven, with angels ascending and descending. The flowers seemed to glow with an ethereal light, bridging heaven and earth.

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A circular arrangement of SunPatiens, the flowers stretching towards the sun showcased staunch positivity. They are known to survive harsh sun environments without wilting symbolizing the strength to withstand life’s trials and continue with the sun’s energy.

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We were awed to see the ornate bandstand that was built to honor Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee. It is the focal point of the garden and hosts free live music concerts, tea parties and social gatherings during the summer months.

The garden tulips danced to the melody of the soft evening breeze representing spiritual renewal and the triumph of life after the long winter months.

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I was drawn to the vibrant colors of the Creeping Phlox flowers, representing harmony, unity and deep soul bonds. I learnt that in floriography, the Victorian language of flowers, phlox symbolizes the unity of souls. They grow in clusters, the plants supporting one another creating a shared beautiful community.

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The Geums commonly known as Avens were dancing merrily in the breeze. The vibrant perennials belong to the rose family and are known to ward of negative energies, help in spiritual cleansing and healing. They are believed to bring renewal and hope into one’s life.

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The candytuft flowers beckoned me with their pure white glory shining in the sun. These flowers are deeply associated with equanimity, peace and calm. They help us in staying unruffled by the challenges of life. I felt an immense calm in their vicinity.

Adjoining them were the seedheads of the Pasque flower. As they appear around Easter, they are called Pasque which make them a natural symbol of renewal and spiritual awakening.

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We saw a bed of succulent plants, arranged in an unique geometric pattern. These exotic plants cannot survive the harsh Nova Scotian winters, so they are moved to and from the greenhouses every year.

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We came across this cute Japanese Maple tree with its weeping form and lacy purple red leaves. It looked so beautiful. This tree I learned, is deeply revered in Japan, associated with peace, serenity, balance, and the graceful acceptance of change. Known as momiji or kaede in Japan, it holds rich spiritual and cultural significance.

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We were enchanted to see this tulip tree. I had never seen one before. The tree gets its name because of its cup shaped tulip like flowers. The blooms are large greenish yellow with a bright orange band at their base. The tree is one of the tallest native hardwoods of North America, grows straight and has a huge trunk.

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I loved the statue of Flora the Roman Goddess of flowers and spring. I learnt that the statue was donated from the estate of Chief Justice Sir William Young. It is believed that he donated three statues and six large urns from his personal garden to his most loved Halifax Public Gardens. Her festival ‘Floralia’ symbolizes renewal of life.

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We were amazed to see a miniature house along the stream within the garden. The stream is lined with pretty trees and flowers under antique bridges, past the miniature house.

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We admired the Boer War memorial fountain at the garden. We were told by the tour guide that the monument was installed to commemorate the service of Canadian soldiers in the South African War, also known as the Boer War.

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This is the Griffin’s pond in the gardens in which a 200-pound 3D model of the RMS Titanic floats, as a memorial to the victims that perished when the ship sank in 1912 in the North Atlantic Ocean, 1296 Kms east of Halifax.

The pond is named after an Irishman who was wrongfully convicted of murder and hanged at the site. But on the day we visited, the boat was not floated for some reason. In the foreground we saw a stone plaque with an engraving of the Titanic with a commemorative text.

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We saw a plaque commemorating a twinning agreement between Halifax, Nova Scotia and Hakodata, Japan. Many cultural exchanges takes place between the two cities like the annual donation of a Christmas tree by Halifax to Hakodata and educational exchange programs.

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As evening drew close and the sun started to set, we bid adieu to the beautiful gardens, carrying its beauty in our hearts. As it was early spring, we missed out on many of the blooms unique to the gardens. We left with a heavy heart, promising ourselves that we would visit again during the season when the gardens are in full bloom.

The visit filled me with a sense of serenity and admiration for the bounty of of nature around us, which we hardly notice most of the times. I felt a deep appreciation for the authorities and the Friends of the Halifax Public Gardens, who invest so much effort and care for this beautiful garden. The experience of the gardens will remain etched in my memory for ever.

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These photographs were taken at the gardens with my family and friends.

©️Vidya Sagar

Edited by Wandering Mind for Restless Quills