Ontario

A Tour for the Alpine Garden Society

Between winter snows and summer leaf-burst there’s a magical time in Ontario’s woodlands – the great spring flower show. The Provincial flower, Trillium grandiflorum, blooms throughout in magnificent stands of white and green, often
with dark red Trillium erectum. With plentiful yellow Trout Lilies are Rose Twisted-Stalks, Uvularia’s and Cucumber-roots as well as Nodding Trilliums,
Jack-in-the-Pulpits, Skunk Cabbage, Twinleaf and the colourful Indian Paintbrush.

Trillium erectum by Ian Green
Calypso Orchids by Fiona Dunbar

Tom Thomson’s evocative landscapes captured what for many is the perfect tranquility of the Canadian Backwoods and these works were born in the majestic landscapes of the Algonquin. As Otters play in idyllic lakes and Spruce Grouse display from Black Pine-dotted bogs, we’ll seek Pitcher Plants and Goldthread, Fringed Polygala and Trailing Arbutus, Blue Flag, and fantastic shows of Painted
Trilliums.

Trout Lily – Erythronium albidum by Ian Green

Dates and Prices

4th May - 18th May 2025 (15 days)

Please note prices will be confirmed by September 2024

Tour Summary

Day 1
Arrival Toronto and transfer to Niagara
Days 2&3
The Niagara Gorge and Peninsula
Days 4-6
Carolinian woodlands & Lake Erie shoreline
Days 7-9
Algonquin Provincial Park
Day 10
via Orangeville to the Bruce
Days 11-14
The Bruce Peninsula - Calypsos & Alvars
Day 15
Arrive UK

Tour information

Focus

Flowers, particularly spring bulbs.

Leaders

Todd Boland , Owen Mountford

Group Size

Minimum is 4 and the maximum is 15. Both leaders will accompany the group.

Included in the Price

All flights. All transport, accommodation, meals and gratuities in Canada.
Services of your leaders. Please note: drinks, and items of a personal nature,
including insurance, are not included.

Accommodation

We start the tour with three nights in the modern Hilton Garden Inn set in six
acres of gardens on the outskirts of Niagara-on-the-Lake and ideally situated to
explore the Niagara Peninsula’s floral riches. The azure wooden slats and white
balconies of the Kettle Creek Inn provide a quintessentially Canadian base for
our next three nights. Dating from 1849 and situated just north of the Lake Erie
shoreline, this welcoming establishment has all impeccably kept rooms. Next is a
real treat, with three nights at the gorgeous Bartlett Lodge, a bastion of
comfort in the wilds for almost a century. On the shore of Cache Lake, the
lovely wooden cabins are large and very comfortable, and the restaurant serves
absolutely fabulous four course dinners! Moving across Georgian Bay we’ve four
nights in the spacious rooms of the Big Tub Harbour Resort in lovely Tobermory
at the tip of the Bruce Peninsula. All rooms and cabins on this tour have en
suite facilities.

Walking

We will be ambling no more than four or five miles in any one day, and always at
a slow pace, ideally suited to flower photography!

Flights

UK return flights are direct from London Gatwick or Manchester* to Toronto.
Other indirect routes from regional UK Airports* are available.

*These routes may incur a supplement.
Flight Upgrades
The flights to and from Toronto have an upgrade giving extra legroom available
for approximately £100 each way.

Climate

It’s Spring! Which means much as it does here – the weather can vary
tremendously. You should expect daytime temperatures in the range of 8°C to 25°C
with the night-time minimum still sometimes dipping below zero. Rain (and even
occasionally snow) is not infrequent though is rarely heavy.

How to Book

Contact us to check if there is availability for the number of places you require. Click on the ‘Book this Tour’ button on this page to be taken to the online booking form or contact us and we will send one to you which you can complete and send back to us. You will receive confirmation of your place, and then a detailed information pack will be dispatched to you about twelve weeks before departure. This will contain up-to-date health information.