Calgary Zoo

Dorothy Harvie Gardens...20 years growing!

The Dorothy Harvie Gardens, the Conservatory, natural habitats and lush, park-like settings bring a strong botanical component to the Calgary Zoo. The Gardens are our "living library" of plant materials hardy to Calgary and the Chinook zone. We have taken the guess work out of what will grow in our challenging growing climate. Plants are labelled, specialty gardens have been created to inspire and garden staff are ready and able to answer your garden questions.

Thank you to all of our visitors for their support during the last twenty years of the gardens. We look forward to providing you with a growing library of plants and plenty of inspiration for the next 20 years!

Throughout the growing season, several collections of perennials, shrubs and trees have a peak period. Knowing the best time of bloom for each collection, allows our visitors to time their visits appropriately, although it is our true belief that there is never a 'wrong' time to visit the Dorothy Harvie Gardens at the Calgary Zoo. Sneak a peek through the photos here and follow up with a stroll through the gardens, or better yet, sign up for a garden program this summer.

	The Calgary Zoo is open all year (except Christmas Day) and so are the gardens. Enjoy the Dorothy Harvie Gardens throughout the year - spring, summer, fall and winter.
	The Conservatory in the centre of the Dorothy Harvie Gardens has plenty of botanical wonders to offer! The north side of the Conservatory houses a Palm Garden with a large display of palm trees, gingers and many more tropical plants, including the ever popular pink bougainvillea. In the south side of the Conservatory are the Butterfly, Arid and Rainforest gardens. The Rainforest displays ferns, bromeliads and many eye-catching orchids.
	Primulas are one of the many spring blooms in the Dorothy Harvie Gardens. Since the first week of April we have galanthus (snowdrops), hepatica, crocus, primula, scilla, chionodoxa and violas in bloom. Forysthia and Russian almond will be quick to follow.
	Cold hardy and frost tolerant pansies have made up our spring display for the last few years. Typically, immediately after the garden crew have finished planting (end of April), the snow will fall just to prove how tough they really are.
	The gazebo sets off a garden display area that showcases All-America Selection annuals and bedding plants. These award-winning plants will become part of our major displays in future designs.
	The annual display makes up the 'wow' factor in the gardens. Creative, colour combinations, textures and flowers of all sizes from close to 40,000 annuals allow us to entice even the 'black thumbs' down our garden paths. August is the best time to view our annuals at their peak.
	Destination Africa now has 3 beds of African plants on display. They can be found one at each end of the grassy area west of Safari Lodge Canada and at the wild dog viewing area. Watch for flowers from late June to early September. Some of the species this year include drosanthemum, gazania, pelargonium, and euryops.
	Alberta Perennial Trials Calgary gardeners often struggle to find plant material that will thrive in our unique environmental conditions. The Alberta Perennial Trials evaluates new and newer perennials for the Alberta region. The project has test sites at the Muttart Conservatory, Olds College and in the Dorothy Harvie Gardens at the Calgary Zoo. We gather data on size, bloom time, ornamental value and winter hardiness. Our results are shared with the horticultural industry and home gardeners. The results are in for the 2002-2004 trials! The public brochure is available in the Zoo's North Star Gift Shop, as well as various garden centres throughout Alberta.	More
	Master Gardeners are available to answer garden questions from June to September. Watch for them at various locations throughout the gardens. Interpreters, Master Gardeners, garden volunteers and Garden Staff will all be on hand to help celebrate the Dorothy Harvie Gardens 20th anniversary this summer.
	Our bearded iris collection blooms from early June to mid July. The rainbow of colours from our 50 different cultivars of Iris x germanica create a spectacular eye-catching display.
	Asiatic lilies, blooming in July, are very tolerant of Calgary's growing climate, they come in a broad range of colours and are a must for every prairie garden.
	By mid-July many of our perennials are in peak bloom.
	The Delphinium Collection is in peak bloom by mid-July.
	Many perennials are on display throughout the gardens.
	As the garden season winds down, the fall colour of many of trees and shrubs become the focus of the gardens.