The Dorothy Harvie Gardens and Calgary Zoo

     The Dorothy Harvie Gardens located at the Calgary Zoo are 6 acres and thousands of species of plants showcasing what can be grown in our difficult and unique climate. Named after Dorothy Harvie wife of Eric Harvey , generous philanthropists who are responsible in large part for Heritage Park, The Glenbow Museum, The Calgary Zoo, The Banff School of Fine Arts, and Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park. There has been some sort of garden in this area since the 1920's however, first a Biergarten then a Tea House, after someone found out selling alcohol on City property wasn't legal, then zoo staff quarters, then the conservatory was built in the 1960's. This area was always famous for lush lawns giant Blue Spruce and a sweeping vista to Dinny the larger than life Brontosaurus built in 1937 at the West end of the park. In 1984 zoo director Don Peterkin envisioned a plan to create a botanical garden that would trial and showcase plants that are hardy in our climate, several decades later this garden is still a showcase for the whole City!

     These gardens remind me a little of the Botanical Gardens in Montreal only on a much smaller scale but still as wonderful! Calgary gardeners deal with late and early frosts, about 120 frost free days, hail, wind, torrential rain, blazing summer heat and a mostly arid climate with little snow fall, so it is amazing we can have a world class garden like this at all sometimes!

This Manchurian Walnut is a Heritage Tree, designated by the Province for outstanding or unique qualities, it certainly is one of a kind in this city.

There are many perennials on display here, Hostas, Heuchras and the giant leaved Colewort Crambe cordifolia seen here on the right.

     I am still enjoying the many kinds of daylilies that are available in the world, now that I'm aware of their beauty I seem to see them all the time, here a few I spotted at Dorothy Harvie.

Golden Zebra

Final Touch

     There are many mass plantings of perennials that are very impactful as well as unusual perennial types I have not encountered before, some are on a trial basis which helps all local gardeners choose new and interesting plant material in the years to come.

A mass planting of Garden Phlox

Ligularia, "Osiris Fantaisie" Trial 2009

Hybrid Hellebore "Cherry Blossom"

Athyrium Ferns, "Banford Beauty" Trial 2015

Shieldleaf Rodgersia

Japanese Astilbe "Montgomery"

A collection of Hydrangeas

     There are a few interesting new trees that I haven't seen growing in Calgary before but hope we see more of in the future!

I couldn't find a label on this one but it appears to be a type of Red Oak.

"Sunburst Honeylocust" would be a thrill to see more commonly!

The glossy leaves and columnar form of  "Regal Prince Oak" would also be a welcome addition to our urban forest one day.

A peaceful scene near the Conservatory. This area of the zoo is nice because it does not attract children, a welcome break for some, I saw a guy snoringly asleep in the nearby shade.

Some very nice Annabelle Hydrangeas and annual planters surround this bench at the entrance to the Conservatory.

Conservatory and Sundial on the South side, yes the Sundial is very correct!

     The Conservatory is a far cry from when I was a boy in the 70's and 80's, in those days it was much larger and contained distinct environments, humid tropical, arid cactus, rain forest and a seasonal display house, there were also tropical birds allowed to roam inside. The only original part left is the humid tropical on the North side, the rest have been replaced by a large reception area in the centre and the butterfly house, call that progress! Be that as it may the butterfly display is popular and nice in the late afternoon when the crowds have gone.

The humid tropical house contains some fine specimens and also hosts several edibles like chocolate, pomegranate, figs and avocado.

The butterfly house has a large lily pad pond at the centre.

Butterflies are hatched onsite in a display case and allowed to fly throughout the greenhouse.

A water lily blooms in the pond.

On the East side of the gardens there are many evergreen trees on display, a vast collection for another blog one day!

I found this mass planting of kale and kale tower very pleasing! The bottom picture should or should not be (depending what you like) a jig saw puzzle.

A "Hope For Humanity" rose near the panda pavilion, my favourite rose for our zone.

    As you walk around the rest of the zoo keep your eyes open for rare and unusual trees, they are not marked which is a pity because some of us really want to know what we're looking at!

Between the Red Panda and Tiger exhibit is this wonderful specimen which appears to me like Northern Red Oak.

Near the Tiger's Den Gift Shop is one of my favourite trees, Amur Mackii, growing happily for the last few years.

This Littleleaf Linden has been growing in the Prehistoric Park since I was a kid, just past the Ankylosaurus.

Although no longer labeled I remember this Sugar Maple from the 1980's in the Canadian Wilds area across from the bears near the pond.

There are a few Amur Maple "Red Wings" around the zoo, the City has been planting these more extensively in public parks and streets recently.

A "Sensation" Manitoba Maple near the panda pavilion, I had one of these once, until it outgrew it's place, don't regret this zoo! LOL

A cute planting in the mosaiculture tradition.

and a panda one of course!

Once there were peacocks roaming all over the Dorothy Harvie gardens, until some kid got bit which ruined it for everyone for ever after. I spotted this one near the Conservatory on the other side of the wetland/water plants display.