New tropical indoor gardens open as Winnipeggers look to escape frigid weather
Posted December 6, 2022 4:54 pm.
Winters in Winnipeg are cold, snowy and long, but now there’s a new place to find some warmth: The Leaf.
The new massive horticultural attraction is now open to residents and visitors. “The Leaf” is located in Winnipeg’s Assiniboine Park and is surrounded by approximately 30 acres of new gardens and greenspace.
It features more than 12,000 trees, shrubs, flowers, and other plant life that can be viewed in four different biomes.
“It’s amazing, it is a tropical paradise in the middle of winter in Winnipeg,” said Sara Wolowich Brown, the communications coordinator at the Assiniboine Park Conservancy. “It’s something so unique. Canada’s diversity gardens is, I think, going to be something that all of Canada can be proud of.”
Brown says The Leaf is a world-class attraction that explores the human connection with plants and the role plants play in shaping our communities and cultures. She adds some of the plants on display are incredibly rare, including three wallaby pines – also known as dinosaur trees – located in the Mediterranean Biome.
“They are considered one of the most endangered plants on the planet, and in 2020 a forest fire in Australia threatened the only known population in the wild. So we’re very excited to be one of the few botanical gardens that has the privilege to care for these plants,” said Brown.
Inside view of The Leaf. (Credit: Twitter/ @TourismWPG)
The project cost around $130 million to complete and was funded by private donations and all three levels of government.
The third floor features a Butterfly Garden populated with colourful and tropical butterflies year-round.
The Tropical Biome is home to Canada’s tallest indoor waterfall, cascading around 60 feet.
The waterfall was designed by Canadian artist and landscape architect Dan Euser, who also designed the water feature at the Sept. 11 memorial in New York City.
The Leaf also features a full-service restaurant and a living classroom that will facilitate environmental and cultural education programs.
“It really is a magical experience,” said Brown.
