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The Halifax Public Gardens

Explore Victorian beauty in the heart of downtown Halifax.

The Halifax Public Gardens were created in 1836, with the goal of promoting an interest in Halifax’s horticulture. The gardens also provided an area to escape the normal hustle and bustle of the city life. In 1867, the gardens were made public, allowing residents and visitors of Halifax the chance to indulge in the beauty of the Victorian-style gardens.

The Victorian gardens started out with only five acres, a grant received by the Nova Scotia Horticultural Society. Over the years, the gardens quickly blossomed into 16 acres featuring a mix of colourful flowers and plants. During this period, the Halifax Public Gardens also built statues and monuments devoted to different historical events. Open yearly from May until November, visitors are invited to stroll the winding walkways, exploring the Halifax Public Gardens’ amazing natural beauty. The main gates of this wonderful place are located at the corner of Spring Garden Road and South Park Street, to the south of Citadel Hill. Among other points of entry, you can find gates to the Public Gardens at the southwest corner of Citadel Hill.

Bandstand

The garden’s bandstand was erected in 1887, to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, a celebration marking the Queen’s 50th anniversary of reign. The garden’s three statues were also erected during this time.

Griffin’s Pond

This feature is the largest body of water in the Gardens. Oddly enough, it was named for a young Irishman who was hanged for murder on the east side of the pond in the 1830s.

The Jubilee (Nymph) Fountain

Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, marking her 60th year as Queen was celebrated in June 1897. To commemorate this special occasion, the Jubilee (Nymph) Fountain was unveiled in her honour. The fountain is elegantly decorated, featuring a formal base in the form of a Corinthian column, accentuated with four water babies riding sea serpents.

The Boer War Memorial Fountain

The Boer War, also known as the South African War of 1899 represented Canada’s first involvement in a major overseas campaign. The Soldier’s Boer War Memorial Fountain was erected in 1903 to honour our Canadian soldiers that have served abroad.

Statues

The gardens are accentuated by three beautiful statues of Roman and Greek goddesses Ceres, Flora and Diana. Greek goddess Ceres represents fertile and cultivated soil and its harvest while Diana is the Roman goddess of the chase and forests. Reigning over fruit trees, vines and flowering plants is Flora, a goddess of budding springtime.
 

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