Reviews of Gardens at The Leaf (Zoo)

Viktoriia Pylypets-Romaniuk

Ii is a very good place to bring kids and show them what you can grow. I really enjoyed the corn that First Nation were growing on their gardens. And tables with herbs inside are amazing. Also you can't miss the iconic red chairs. And try to touch Silver mountain plant. I've never thought that plants can "furry"

Chris Sleeva

It's coming along pretty good now!

John Dobbin

The gardens are amazing but it will be a very long time and a lot of money before the building opens. Only the outdoor garden is available. A real treasure.

Andrew D

They've really done a great job with this garden! Wow! ????

Albert Riezebos

Looks great!

Daniel Roscoe

I have been going to the park for over 60 years. When they decided to redo the gardens I was worried they would put in some cheap raised beds and try to charge to see them, but I have to admit that the new garden areas are really nice. I miss the old wide open fields, but appreciate that unless the new fences are there the deer will eat everything. I live in the neighborhood now and our flower beds are restricted to day lilies and a few plants the deer don't like. The kitchen garden was really nice this summer, and would never have survived without the new walls. The fire pit and water area are well done too. I've found an old picture of the area from the late fall of 1958 (private family archives) and put it up with a picture from about the same vantage point taken Friday.

Reid

Lovely gardens, but very disappointed to see how many non-native plant species were used in the perennials section. Tons of plants originating from outside North America that are considered invasive. Seems like a missed opportunity to improve butterfly and pollinator habitat, and educate the public.

Space Dino

A wonderful Land mark!

Steve H

This place is shaping up to be a really nice attraction and addition to Assiniboine park. When I visited September 2021 it was not fully complete but there is enough to keep you busy for 30-45 minutes. I will definitely visit again next year to see the progress and plant growth.

JP R

Beautiful in all aspects. Adds a fresh new space to winnipeg and natural landscape from which had been forgotten by the modern age. Touching monuments and architectural landscaping. Very green idea of growing food to be used at the park cafe, zoo cafe and for the zoo animals; allows for fresh food and reduced costs for the zoo. Fire pit for gathering to be used by public outdoor stage for live performances with roman arena style seating in concrete.

Sidney Shapira

I felt like I should have visited sooner, even though The Gardens at The Leaf had only been open for a few weeks. My wife and I were amazed and bedazzled by this gorgeous new attraction in Assiniboine Park. While The Leaf itself is not scheduled to open until the fall of 2022, the acres of land converted into beautiful, varied and well-tended gardens are open, and Free. There is a Kitchen Garden, a Seasonal Garden, an Indigenous Garden and even a Performance Garden. We visited on a sunny, plus 33c afternoon, so, while frequently seeking shade, we may have missed a corner or two of this massive space. There are bright red umbrellas and equally red Adirondack chairs, scattered throughout the gardens, for some shade and some rest and relaxation. My only complaint is that the temporary parking is located at quite a distance from the entrance to The Gardens. I am hopeful that the permanent parking lot will be closer! I look forward to our next visit to The Gardens at The Leaf.

Stephen Ishmael

Photos here from the Indigenous Gardens, one of the many gardens at The leaf. There is also Fire, a beautiful large fire pit with nice ornamental carvings on the surrounding boundary walls. The Kitchen gardens has of course an open air kitchen and kitchen gardens. The Knoll Pathway is a pathway that has stacking stair like limestones on both sides as a wall. There are tall grasses and nice areas to sit an relax under Red canopies. Nice and peaceful with time to meditate after your walk.

stephen ishmael

A beautiful grand entrance with lots of outdoor seating in intimate garden setting to sit, think, relax and enjoy the gardens.

Cal

Gardens are small albeit largely well kept. The vegetable gardens were planted with insufficient spacing leaving the plants growing one top of each other making it difficult to identify what is what according to the signs. The significant hype about the outdoor garden is not justified considering what is actually there and what it cost.

brian chapman

Nice layout of a variety of plants and trees.

Michelle

We did enjoy the outside gardens in this new area in Assiniboine Park. We took in the Seasonal Garden, Sensory Garden and Kitchen Garden. The indoor portion of this new area is not done. I had seen an article by Travel Manitoba about this place - thought it would be nice to check it out. Was surprised that it wasn't completed. It was difficult to find where to park and enter. We first drove in from the main entrance on Corydon and followed signage to the right for The Leaf- this ended in a parking lot with no paths or way that we could see to get to the gardens. There were construction fences on the end of the parking lot - blocking the way in the direction of the gardens We then ended up driving out of the park to a side street off Park Drive (eastern border of the park) - Nanton Blvd. There is a path from that side street that leads you to these gardens, through "The Grove Path" We had a nice time once we found it. Great design. Loved the variety of the flowers and grasses. It was a great place to take an evening stroll. The Kitchen garden was well designed too. Love that the vegetables and herbs will be put to good use by going to the local food banks. After we left we discovered that there were 2 gardens we didn't see - The Indigenous Peoples Garden and Performance Garden. Its not clear where these gardens were located- didn't see any signage for their location. Would be nice to have parking closer and clear signs to the different areas. Its definitely not finished. I'm happy to see the green space used as an outdoor area.

William Sapphire

Very beautiful, cant want for the leaf to open ????????

Eleanor Andres

Many great paths to wander, and places to sit and daydream or chat with a friend. The kitchen garden produce looks amazing. I understand it is being distributed to various non-profit orgs to use in their programs.