Sadhya Gardens at The Leaf, a 30-acre garden and greenspace located in the southeast corner of Assiniboine Park near The Leaf Building in Winnipeg. The garden has six areas to explore: Indigenous Peoples Garden, Kitchen Garden, Sensory Garden, Performance Garden, Seasonal Garden, and The Grove. Visitors can expect new surprises as the gardens evolve and change with the seasons. There is no entrance fee to the outdoor garden.
How To Get There
The Leaf is located in the southeast corner of Assiniboine Park in Winnipeg, Manitoba. There are several ways to get there, including by car, public transportation, bike, or on foot. If you are driving, there is a large parking lot available. For public transportation, you can take the #18 bus to the park. If you are walking or biking, there are several entrances to the park where you can access The Leaf. You can find more details here
The Gardens at The Leaf are accessible via a fully paved pathway from The Leaf parking lot. The primary pathways within the Gardens are made of paving stones and compact gravel, with some mulch pathways.
Best Time To Visit
The best time to visit the Gardens at The Leaf in Winnipeg depends on personal preferences and the type of experience you are looking for. The gardens are open year-round, and each season brings its own unique charm. The spring and summer months offer vibrant blooms and lush greenery, while the fall brings stunning autumn foliage. We visited the garden during fall, early September and it was beautiful.
Things To Do at the Gardens
Kitchen Garden
The kitchen Garden is dedicated to growing vegetables, fruits, herbs, and other edible plants. The area also offers opportunities for active gardening, including classes, demonstrations, composting, and water conservation.
The Three Sisters planting method, which involves growing corn, beans, and squash together, has been used by Indigenous peoples for many years, as the three plants complement each other and flourish in each other’s company.
In the Kitchen Garden, the majority of the beds are bordered by marigolds, which serve the dual purpose of attracting beneficial insects and repelling harmful ones.
Johnston Family Seasonal Garden
The Johnston Family Seasonal Garden is a garden that celebrates change through perennial plants that bloom at different times throughout spring, summer, and fall. This garden accommodates activities in all seasons with its garden path, water feature, arbor, and seating. The garden showcases a variety of plant life and aims to highlight the beauty of perennial gardens.
The Indigenous Peoples Garden
The Indigenous Peoples Garden is a naturalized gathering place designed to celebrate Indigenous cultures and their reverence for nature. Fire and water, elements of great significance to Indigenous communities, are featured prominently in the garden’s design. The garden was developed through a collaborative process involving Indigenous elders, designers, and community leaders to create a space that reflects the beauty of the Manitoba landscape.
The Performance Garden
At the performance garden visitors can enjoy various forms of art while surrounded by nature. The garden features an outdoor stage and a landscaped seating area. It is home to the Garden Concerts at The Leaf event, which is part of the Summer Entertainment Series.
Sensory Garden
The Sensory Garden is a unique and interactive garden that engages visitors through various senses. It features a garden bed with a variety of colorful, aromatic, and tactile plants and hill-like topographical features with tall grasses that invite exploration. Visitors can interact with nature through sight, smell, touch, and sound in this garden.
The Grove
At The Grove, the focus is on the magnificence of big trees that is native to Manitoba. The Citizens Hall of Fame was started by the Winnipeg Real Estate Board in the 1980s and is located between The Grove and the other sections of The Leaf Gardens. It consists of busts of notable Winnipeg citizens who have made significant contributions to the city’s quality of life, arranged along a green pathway lined with mature trees.
Where to Stay in Winnipeg
Near By Attractions
The Leaf, an indoor, multi-seasonal attraction features a variety of attractions including a tropical biome, a Mediterranean biome, a rotating floral exhibit display house, the Shirley Richardson Butterfly Garden, and the tallest indoor waterfall in Canada.
Assiniboine Park offers various other attractions besides the Zoo, such as the English Garden, the Leo Mol Sculpture Garden, the Pavilion’s art galleries (including the Winnie the Pooh gallery), and the Nature Playground.
