Devonian Gardens, Calgary, Alberta
In chinook territory, where warm winds can break the grip of winter, residents and visitors in Calgary get to enjoy an even better break from winter on a daily basis. Calgary’s delightful Devonian Gardens, set in the heart of the downtown district, offer a lift to the spirits and the tonic of a stroll through a summer garden at any time of year.
The indoor botanical Devonian Gardens in Calgary are housed under a glass dome and occupy a square city block ( two and a half acres / 10,000 square metres) in the top level of The Core Shopping Centre, formerly Calgary’s TD Square. With natural lighting from the skylights extending a full three blocks over the gardens and the Core mall and office complex, the Devonian Gardens provide an oasis both of natural light and of gorgeous garden features as visitors enjoy the refreshing greenery and the garden’s attractive water features.
Visiting the gardens in late November with family, we especially enjoyed walking among the collection of over 550 indoor trees. What a pleasure it was for Art, Renate, and me, on that dull November day, to soak in the natural light under the skylights as we passed under the trees and moved alongside the lovely indoor water gardens, koi ponds, and water fountains. The Devonian Gardens also include a large, 84-square metre (900-square foot) living wall and other vertical displays, and we took our time enjoying the Devonian Garden’s large collection of tropical and sub-tropical plantings. Park features include a children’s playground area, restaurant, and benches and rest areas where folks can relax, gather with friends, and enjoy their surroundings. The park is also popular for its provision of meeting and event spaces.
Major investment in Devonian Gardens reconstruction
Originally opened in 1977 and designed by J.H. Cook Architects and Engineers, the gardens were donated to the City of Calgary by the Devonian Group of Charitable Foundations and Calford Properties. Construction costs at that time were $9 million and the collection contained roughly 20,000 plants. After 3o years of operation, the garden infrastructure and appearance needed attention, and Calgary Parks undertook the task of rebuilding this key attraction during reconstruction of the city mall complex below it in 2008. The garden was closed for four years while redevelopment took place, with garden project costs in the $37 million range.
In the accompanying photograph gallery, I’ve included some images of the Tom Ward art collection of 34 carved masks that are housed in the Devonian Gardens. Ward carved over 100 pine and spruce wooden masks over a period of fifteen years until his death in 1984. The mask collection at the Devonian Gardens is on permanent loan to Calgary Parks, generously donated by Tom Ward’s family.
The beautifully constructed Devonian Gardens reopened in June 2012. During our visit in 2015, we saw the fruits of that major investment. This large indoor park, with one of the world’s largest continuous skylights above it, remains one of the Calgary’s treasured parks for locals and visitors alike.
The Devonian Gardens are operated and maintained by Calgary Parks. Visitors contribute to ongoing upkeep through the purchase of a daily visitor’s pass or, for multiple visits, a seasonal pass. For park hours and other information, visit the Devonian Gardens website.
Photographs and text: by Nadine Kampen
Photo Location/Date: Devonian Gardens, Calgary Alberta; November 2015
Copyright: N.Kampen / cookiebuxton
PHOTOGRAPH GALLERY
Click on any photograph to enlarge the series; click again on the photo to advance.
