I particularly enjoyed the Halifax Public Gardens. I have been intrigued by the tropical flower beds, even though we were significantly further south than the part of Germany where I live, namely 6° of latitude; from Kall, that would be in northern Spain.
The Halifax Public Gardens were founded in the Victorian era, to be exact in 1867. It has therefore existed for over 150 years and has witnessed a great deal of history, but it's best to consult the Wikipedia article for more information [1]. The garden originated from earlier gardens, such as the Nova Scotia Horticultural Society Garden founded in 1837. Since 1984, the park has been a National Historic Site. Two notable incidents of damage in recent decades include the destruction caused by Hurricane Juan in 2003 and, in 2022, the deliberate destruction of trees up to 200 years old by unknown perpetrators using a technique called girdling, which damages the bark in such a way that the trees die. A few months later, historical buildings were set on fire, but there is no longer any visible evidence of that; yes it's the 3rd of the two notable incidents.
The Public Gardens are approximately 16 acres in size, which is about the size of 10-12 football fields. Plenty of space for many visitors. There are many beautifully designed areas that invite people to have their pictures taken against such a backdrop, wedding couples for inszance. Let's explore some of these places in more detail!
The Halifax Public Gardens were founded in the Victorian era, to be exact in 1867. It has therefore existed for over 150 years and has witnessed a great deal of history, but it's best to consult the Wikipedia article for more information [1]. The garden originated from earlier gardens, such as the Nova Scotia Horticultural Society Garden founded in 1837. Since 1984, the park has been a National Historic Site. Two notable incidents of damage in recent decades include the destruction caused by Hurricane Juan in 2003 and, in 2022, the deliberate destruction of trees up to 200 years old by unknown perpetrators using a technique called girdling, which damages the bark in such a way that the trees die. A few months later, historical buildings were set on fire, but there is no longer any visible evidence of that; yes it's the 3rd of the two notable incidents.
The Public Gardens are approximately 16 acres in size, which is about the size of 10-12 football fields. Plenty of space for many visitors. There are many beautifully designed areas that invite people to have their pictures taken against such a backdrop, wedding couples for inszance. Let's explore some of these places in more detail!
Main Gates
The ornate wrought iron gates measure almost five impressive meters (16') in height. The entrance was located in a different place in 1890, and the gates were only moved to their current location in 1907. I was told that only Royals were allowed to enter through the middle gate. Why not a little applied nostalgia? The gate bears the coat of arms of Halifax with the motto “E Mari Merces,” which has nothing to do with the grace or mercy of Mary but means "wealth from the sea" [2].
The ornate wrought iron gates measure almost five impressive meters (16') in height. The entrance was located in a different place in 1890, and the gates were only moved to their current location in 1907. I was told that only Royals were allowed to enter through the middle gate. Why not a little applied nostalgia? The gate bears the coat of arms of Halifax with the motto “E Mari Merces,” which has nothing to do with the grace or mercy of Mary but means "wealth from the sea" [2].
Tropical Display Bed
Since we entered the park through a side entrance, that's where we arrived first. And now I have to solve a mystery, which I created above. Although Halifax is significantly further south than the Eifel or Cologne, it's not so warm in winter that you could leave all the plants outside. It's actually considerably colder than in Cologne; in January, the average minimum temperature is +1.7°C in Cologne and -10.7°C in Halifax. So most of the tropical plants have to be overwintered in greenhouses. But in the summer, in the bright sunshine, it looks wonderful. A little further north is a bed with cultivated plants such as beans, watercress, dill, turnips, kohlrabi, etc., which also offers much to admire.
Since we entered the park through a side entrance, that's where we arrived first. And now I have to solve a mystery, which I created above. Although Halifax is significantly further south than the Eifel or Cologne, it's not so warm in winter that you could leave all the plants outside. It's actually considerably colder than in Cologne; in January, the average minimum temperature is +1.7°C in Cologne and -10.7°C in Halifax. So most of the tropical plants have to be overwintered in greenhouses. But in the summer, in the bright sunshine, it looks wonderful. A little further north is a bed with cultivated plants such as beans, watercress, dill, turnips, kohlrabi, etc., which also offers much to admire.
Upper and Lower Bridges
The Upper Bridge in particular is a rewarding subject for a photograph, but you have to find the best spot for your camera and then be patient if you don't want other people in the picture, especially since there might be problems with publishing such images. The bridges date back to 1911, when they replaced wooden bridges. "The upper bridge bears a plaque commemorating the bravery of Inspector Francis Fitzgerald, a native Haligonian and member of the ‘RNWMP’ The Royal North West Mounted Police." I will now refrain from any associations that could detract from the memory of Francis Fitzgerald; it's nice that ways are found to commemorate a "Mountie" par excellence even after a long time. And now - visit this beautiful place of landscape gardening!
The Upper Bridge in particular is a rewarding subject for a photograph, but you have to find the best spot for your camera and then be patient if you don't want other people in the picture, especially since there might be problems with publishing such images. The bridges date back to 1911, when they replaced wooden bridges. "The upper bridge bears a plaque commemorating the bravery of Inspector Francis Fitzgerald, a native Haligonian and member of the ‘RNWMP’ The Royal North West Mounted Police." I will now refrain from any associations that could detract from the memory of Francis Fitzgerald; it's nice that ways are found to commemorate a "Mountie" par excellence even after a long time. And now - visit this beautiful place of landscape gardening!
Bandstand and Geometric Beds
I must confess that this bandstand captivated me, because I wanted to find out whether this gazebo was a little oblique like the Leaning Tower of Pisa or whether it was perhaps an optical illusion. I also didn't find anything about it being slanting on the internet [3]. Anyone reading this now and visiting the bandstand, please take a look and see if you can confirm this. Is it askew? It was built in 1887 (the birth year of one of my grandfathers, Franz Kirsch) to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee (50 years). It was renovated in 2011. Around this gazebo there are 32 geometric flowerbeds, a common element of Victorian gardens, which I almost didn't even look at because I was preoccupied with the possible structural peculiarity.
Victoria Jubilee Fountain
And it continues with Queen Victoria! Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee was celebrated in 1897, and for this occasion, a "classical-style fountain with a Corinthian column rising from a heavy formal basin to support the nymph Egeria" was erected in the garden in the park. You might know Egeria densa, a waterweed, but that's not what's meant here. Egeria "was a nymph attributed a legendary role..." [4] According to Plutarch: "A spring and a grove once sacred to Egeria stand close to a gate of Rome, the Porta Capena. Its waters were dedicated to the exclusive use of the Vestals." Yes, keep going, here you have to think of "A Whiter Shade of Pale" by Procol Harum (1967) [5]. But all this doesn't clarify why Egeria should be associated with Queen Victoria. In 2012, the fountain was restored – which, incidentally, was the Diamond Jubilee year of Queen Elizabeth II. God save the queens!
So please visit Halifax Public Gardens! And before you step through the ornate wrought iron gates, remember the statue of Robert Burns south of the entrance across the street (be careful!) and please don't feed the pigeons, there are already enough of them.
And it continues with Queen Victoria! Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee was celebrated in 1897, and for this occasion, a "classical-style fountain with a Corinthian column rising from a heavy formal basin to support the nymph Egeria" was erected in the garden in the park. You might know Egeria densa, a waterweed, but that's not what's meant here. Egeria "was a nymph attributed a legendary role..." [4] According to Plutarch: "A spring and a grove once sacred to Egeria stand close to a gate of Rome, the Porta Capena. Its waters were dedicated to the exclusive use of the Vestals." Yes, keep going, here you have to think of "A Whiter Shade of Pale" by Procol Harum (1967) [5]. But all this doesn't clarify why Egeria should be associated with Queen Victoria. In 2012, the fountain was restored – which, incidentally, was the Diamond Jubilee year of Queen Elizabeth II. God save the queens!
So please visit Halifax Public Gardens! And before you step through the ornate wrought iron gates, remember the statue of Robert Burns south of the entrance across the street (be careful!) and please don't feed the pigeons, there are already enough of them.
Links and Annotations:
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_Public_Gardens#
[2] https://www.halifaxpublicgardens.ca/garden-features With more information, also for the following points.
[3] https://www.halifax.ca/sites/default/files/documents/recreation/parks-trails-gardens/PublicGardensbrochure2016_online.pdf Here you can also find a nice map!
[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egeria_(mythology)
[5] “And could not let her be, no / One of 16 vestal virgins / Who was leaving for the coast”.
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