Meesha Sharma

With a teething infant refusing to nap, long drives and wide expanses of nature have been my refuge to get both of us in a good mood. In Burlington, the Royal Botanical Garden (RBG) is my favourite oasis, away from the drudgery of suburban routine. May is peak season for Lilacs to bloom and RBG has one of the largest and most diverse lilac collections in the world, named the Katie Osborne Lilac Collection.

According to RBG, their Lilac Grove is, “more than just a pretty place, it plays a key role in the conservation of global horticultural heritage. This collection is one of the world’s most important lilac gene banks. It conserves lilac diversity and breeding potential as many of the hundreds of cultivars seen here are no longer commercially available.”

“The plants along this path trace the history of the lilac, from its wild origins to the latest in lilac breeding.

This walkway passes through several rooms, each a chapter in the story of North America’s most popular shrub. Plant breeders have used over 20 wild species to develop the many forms and colours of these fragrant favourites. You’ll meet some of these wild ancestors, as well as the earliest cultivated varieties developed in France over a century ago. More complex crossbreeding has produced our newest lilacs, including Canada’s contribution to the lilac world, Preston lilacs.”

Come take a deep breath and immerse yourself in the scents and sights of RBG’s internationally renowned Lilac Dell.