Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/500391
istock, assiniboine park conservancy s u m m e r 2 0 1 5 | g o i n g p l a c e s 21 truly iconic Winnipeg spots – explains why it draws more than four million visitors each year. www.theforks.com/attractions/ at-the-forks/prairie-garden 3 • Best art-garden Fusion gallery in the Park, altona Located an hour and a half south of Winnipeg and just 30 minutes from the U.S. border, this garden is an elegant hybrid of art and vegetation. At the centre is the Schwartz House, a family home built in 1902. When the Town of Altona took responsibility for the structure a century later, there was talk of demolition, but eventually, thanks to the vision and support of the Friesens Corporation, the house was turned into an art gallery with a sprawling green backdrop. e walls of the Schwartz house now show off the talent of local artists (to peruse and purchase), and the grounds flaunt the dedication of community volunteers who work hard to maintain the area. is is a thing of beauty, inside and out, and is a draw for tourists and art lovers on both sides of the border. www.galleryinthepark.ca 4 • Best year-round garden assiniBoine Park Conservatory, assiniBoine Park, WinniPeg is fertile wonderland isn't your typical backyard affair. It boasts more than 8,000 flowers, plants and trees. A rainbow of flora will surround you from soil to glass ceiling. e conservatory is open year-round (except Christmas Day) and is a comforting place for a stroll no matter how frightful the weather. e ever-changing display of colours, shapes, patterns and styles of flowers and plants makes this one of Manitoba's most magical sights. roughout the year, the Conservatory Display House features seasonal displays, floral shows and special events. www.assiniboinepark.ca/ attractions/conservatory.php 5 • Best northern garden Boreal gardens, ChurChill e Boreal Gardens is a 30-year-old experimental research project aimed at challenging the frigid northern Manitoba climate. e greenhouses and gardens are all about practicality – creating sustainable food for the north during the harsh winter months when the area struggles to get fresh sustenance. A thriving mix of tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes and local berries grows from beds and cages throughout the warm shelter. ere's also a thrill for flower lovers – a surprising and beautiful display of lilies, dahlias and other delights. e Boreal Gardens is one more reason to check out the polar bear capital of the world. www.visitnorthernmanitoba.ca GP Crofter's Cottage in the english garden, assiniboine Park gardens. Gain exclusive access to the world's most extraordinary gardens on a horticulture-themed vacation with the Royal Horticultural Society and CAA Travel. (clockwise from top) altona's gallery in the Park; dahlias and more at the Boreal gardens; assiniboine Park Conservatory, assiniboine Park.