A Bailey House guide
Gardens in Annapolis Royal & the Valley
A morning among the roses, a path through native woodland, an afternoon in a garden made for the senses. There is more than one way to spend a day among growing things.
Begin on foot at the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens. For a longer outing, follow the Valley east to Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens and Tangled Garden.
Historic Gardens on foot · Wolfville & Grand Pré for a full day by car
Annapolis Royal
Historic Gardens.
Seventeen acres bring the town’s history into the garden: roses, carefully composed borders, old-fashioned plants and an Acadian landscape shaped by water. It is a place to explore slowly, with time to notice the planting and sit for a while.
Walk up St. George Street after breakfast and allow a morning. When the seasonal Elm Tree Café is open, lunch can become part of the visit; garden admission or membership is required.
Plan a visit to the Historic Gardens →- A garden with a sense of placeExplore the Rose Collection, the Victorian Garden and planting that tells the story of the Annapolis Royal landscape.
- Follow what is floweringThe Gardens’ own Bloom Report is the best guide to what you might see during your stay.
- Leave time for lunchCheck the Elm Tree Café’s seasonal opening arrangements before making it part of your day.
Follow the garden
paths east.
Wolfville and Grand Pré are farther up the Annapolis Valley. Give these gardens a day of their own, with time for lunch and the road between, then return to Annapolis Royal for the evening.
Harriet Irving
Botanical Gardens.
Native plants take the leading role here. Across six acres, nine Acadian Forest Region habitats sit alongside a formal Walled Garden, a Medicinal and Food Garden and a public conservatory. It is an especially rewarding visit for anyone interested in how a garden can belong to its landscape.
Find the entrance off University Avenue on Acadia’s campus. Allow time for the outdoor paths and conservatory; guided tours can be arranged in advance with the Centre.
Garden information & guided tours →
Tangled Garden.
Beverly McClare’s garden unfolds through enclosed rooms, grasses, sculpture and a flowering labyrinth, with places to pause and look toward the Basin. The shop brings the garden to the table through herb-infused jellies, preserves and other handcrafted specialties.
For a more personal visit, ask about a guided Tangled Tour with the garden’s creator; advance reservations are required. Seasonal plein-air afternoon tea can also be booked separately.
Visit Tangled Garden & explore tours →Plein-air afternoon tea →Let the flowers
suggest the date.
There is no single moment to see it all. Each visit brings a different part of the garden into focus.
Spring opens out.
Magnolias give way to rhododendrons and azaleas, followed by laburnum and wisteria. Bring time for a walk along the town’s flowering streets, too.
A morning among roses.
The Rose Collection usually reaches its first great display around this time, with roses continuing through the summer.
The fullness of summer.
Look for daylilies and hydrangeas later in July, with the Heather Collection coming into its own around early August.
A different kind of colour.
Enjoy the changing leaves, grasses and quieter garden paths. Pair a visit with a country drive through the Valley at harvest time.
Flowering follows the weather. Consult the Historic Gardens’ current Bloom Report when choosing your dates, and check each garden’s own opening season.
The gardens.
A little time to wander.
Leave the car at Bailey House. Walk to the Historic Gardens after breakfast, linger over lunch when the café is open, then visit a gallery or two on your way back through town. Return to the waterfront garden before heading out to dinner.
Art & galleries in town →Two gardens.
A Valley lunch.
Begin at Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens in Wolfville, leave time for lunch, then continue to Tangled Garden in Grand Pré. Reserve tea or a guided visit ahead if that is part of your plan. Choose a leisurely return to Annapolis Royal and another evening in town.
Vineyards & orchards along the way →Come back to
the house.
After the garden paths and Valley roads, return to a comfortable room at Bailey House. Dinner is an easy walk away, with the waterfront waiting when you get home.