Travel Top 5: Canada’s public gardens

Here is our unscientific and biased list of what we think are the finest public gardens in Canada.

1. Butchart Gardens, Vancouver Island, B. C.: In what was once a limestone quarry you will find Canada’s most famous garden which attracts nearly one million visitors each year. Butchartgardens.com

2. Les Jardins de quatre-vents, La Malbaie, Que.: One of Canada’s most renowned gardens is private but open to the public four days each year by reservation only. In 2014, those dates are June 21, July 19 and 25, and August 2. Cepas. qc. ca/ jardins- quatrevents. php

3. Kingsbrae Garden, St. Andrews, N. B.: Kingsbrae boasts more than 50,000 plants in a variety of gardens, including the Scents and Sensitivity Garden designed for the visually impaired. Kingsbraegarden.com

4. Montreal Botanical Garden, Que.: With more than 22,000 plants on display, it is big enough that it can take more than a day to explore. Espacepourlavie. ca/ en/ botanical- garden

5. Muttart Conservatory, Edmonton: Glass pyramids house plant species from around the world. Bit. ly/ 1mLPXMf