For: Romantics
Neighbourhood: North York
Cost: $14 (Total price of food and drink for two at the Garden Cafe)
I’ve always had my doubts about the romanticism of rain. It can be soothing if you are watching a storm from the comfort of your dry, warm abode, but I’ve never really fancied getting wet. However, this time I discovered that the clichés might all be true and that a little rain could actually set the perfect mood.
I first heard about the Toronto Botanical Garden (777 Lawrence Ave East) from a friend who got engaged there. The area is made up of three large gardens: the Botanical Garden, the Children’s Garden, and Edwards Gardens. The Botanical Garden contains nine mini-gardens that vary in size and design. One of the mini-gardens swirls up a small hill, and another was pruned into the shape of a knot. There are also multiple vine-covered canopies, mini-waterfalls, and even a small artificial stream strewn throughout. The rain had not only rendered the park secluded, but highlighted the beauty of the surrounding nature.
As my friend and I walked around, we were surprised to find that, unlike the Garden Shop, the Garden Café was still open on a day so gloomy and in a park so empty. Open seasonally from May to October until dusk, the inside is painted in bright-yet-soft hues and furnished simply. There may be limited seating indoors, but their patio is expansive.
We ended up deciding upon a very seasonally-appropriate selection: we shared a turkey tourtière ($6.50) and pumpkin tart ($4.00) and sipped on London Fogs. The friendly café staff told me that the desserts are delivered daily from the café owners’ bakery in Port Hope, while the savoury pies are made onsite.
After the café, we made our way to newly rehabilitated Wilket Creek Park and trails. Though the hiking trails were framed by lush trees in a way that was reminiscent of the Don Valley, I found this space to be more romantic because of the numerous benches and bridges that we discovered on our walk.
At some point, we followed a path away from the garden and ended up on the Bridle Path. The Bridle Path is famed for being one of Toronto’s richest neighbourhoods—the one with the huge mansions. We had a nice time peeking at all the extravagant monstrosities and renovation-happy ranch-style structures. A warning though: we were unable to cut through the Path, so we had to retrace our steps to get back into the park.
But as we languidly walked back, the sun came out and the grey sky melted into a soft fuchsia. The tops of the trees now looked like they had been dipped in gold, and I almost could have burst at the loveliness of it all. One last tip: just remember to wear proper footwear if you plan on traipsing through a park in the rain.
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