The Niagara Parks Commission Greenhouses
The Niagara Parks Commission Greenhouses and Artist’s Garden are located approximately ¼ mile south of the Table Rock Pavilion and the Horseshoe Falls and is situated across from the former Toronto Power Station.
Photos of the Niagara Falls Greenhouse were recently added to our Niagara Falls Picture Gallery Click on the thumbnails below to see more.
The Commissioners of the Queen Victoria Park required a large amount of numerous high quality plant species for development of Queen Victoria Park. This plant/flower supply was not commercially available.
In 1894, two small wood framed greenhouses were built directly opposite the Toronto Power House. In 1897, a sixty feet wide by twenty feet long public conservatory was added onto the original greenhouse structure along with a plant propagation house and fernery.
In 1909, the Greenhouse was again expanded.
In the early 1940′s the oldest section of the greenhouse collapsed injuring one of the gardeners.
In 1945, following WW2, a modern 11,000 square foot conservatory was build with adjoining growing houses.
In June of 1980, a new reception center and garden shop featuring a centralized 40 foot tall glass dome was built.
Today, the Niagara parks Commission greenhouse provides approximately 175,000 annual and perennial plants for transplanting within the Parks property. The greenhouse features nearly 6,000 plants on exhibition.
At the beginning of the 2003 tourist season, the Niagara Parks Commission discontinued a two acre experimental outdoor Mosaiculture Garden at the Greenhouse facilities and gardens.
The one million dollar ($1,000,000) project was not a financial success during its first year (2002). The garden area that once housed the mosaiculture exhibit has been turned into an Artist’s Garden. Here, local artists display their works of arts on specific dates throughout the season. There is no charge.
Source: NiagaraFrontier.com
