Ottawa has its tulips, west coasters get to talk daffodils all winter and we, well we’re not about to be outdone.
Our downtown is home to Reader’s Historic Rock Garden, one of the oldest and largest urban gardens in Canada. These days, we’re spending our time at the Reader’s Garden Café which just re-opened for the season.
This picturesque place is home to three acres of flowers, trees and stone pathways set on a hillside just off 25th Avenue. The Garden kicks off its 2009 season this month, offering morning tours ($5) and afternoon tea ($20) on Saturdays, starting May 30. Tea and lunch are offered in the Garden Café (a reconstruction of the Reader family house) with dinners starting today.
We spent a sunny afternoon enjoying a long lunch on the Café’s veranda. The menu is a mix of freshly made salads ($12), soups ($7) and sandwiches ($10-14). We split a spinach salad of hardboiled eggs, candied pecans and shallot vinaigrette ($12), with a hearty roast-chicken panini stuffed with double-smoked bacon and apple cheddar ($13).
Besides, we can always buy tulips for our table.
Reader’s Historic Rock Garden
www.calgary.ca
325 25 Ave SE
403-245-3252
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