In the two weeks since finishing my Graduate Certificate in Events Management, I have found myself struggling to find full time employment, as well as something to occupy my interim time between shifts at my part-time retail job. I realize that a job is not going to appear out of thin air, and it takes some time and effort in order to accomplish any results, but I need something to pass the time, right? And so, in an effort to keep my spirits up and get myself out of the house, I had a very eventful couple of days – first visiting my parents in Whitby for Mother’s Day for lunch and today visiting my good friend Erik in Hamilton, Ontario.

Erik and I have been friends for a few years now, having found one another for company during a rather intense production of Richard III. We became fast friends and have continued a close relationship despite his moving home after graduating (he lives in the Hamilton area whereas I maintained my residency in Kitchener-Waterloo). In the past, our get-together’s have typically involved his traveling to my neck of the woods but as soon as I finished school I decided it was high-time I visited him.

And so, with home court advantage, he planned our afternoon at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington, Ontario. Hamilton, Burlington, and Ancaster are all one city for the most part, much like how Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge blend together fairly seamlessly. I journeyed across the 401 East (through the ugly construction that has consumed my region) to Highway 6 South where I found myself in the Hamilton area in short order.

After dropping my car off at Erik’s house (and a quick tour of his lovely home) we headed back out to the Royal Botanical Gardens. Prior to this visit, I had some impression in my mind that I had been to the gardens before, and yet after today I can say I was quite wrong. I have never been to the Royal Botanical Gardens before and I am quite glad to have experienced it for the first time today.

The RBG is a great tourist attraction to the Toronto/Niagara area and is a significant local and regional horticultural, education, conservation, and scientific resource. In total, the RBG covers 980 hectares (2,422 acres) and is considered the “plant biodiversity hot spot for Canada” with more than 1,100 species of plants grown on the premises. Additionally, they have spent the last three years and a significant amount of money to completely renovate and rejuvenate the RBG Rock Garden, now opening May 20th. Unfortunately we were unable to explore the Rock Garden (had we wanted to we could have paid an additional $10 for a private tour, but our student wallets screamed at us not to bother).

We visited the Lilac Dell first, a lush green landscape, for which my choice of shoes (stylish blue and white stripped wedge heels) was clearly inappropriate as the area lacked paved or even level trails, but it smelled beautiful and fresh despite the lilacs not being in bloom just yet. The lilacs were budding on the trees and I enjoyed the sunshine and clean air in stark contrast to my life in the city. I also got to take my shoes off and let my feet touch the grass for the first time this year!

Next we ventured to the RBG Centre where we visited the Mediterranean Garden. This particular garden was hot and sticky but smelled of herbs and spices and eucalyptus (a scent that is known to have a cooling and refreshing effect).

From the Mediterranean Garden we left the RBC Centre to head outside to Hendrie Park, where we toured around the Imaginative Grove, the Turner Pavilion Tea House, Helen M. Kippax Garden, the Morrison Woodland Garden, before coming to rest for a while in the Centennial Rose Garden.

Not much was in bloom but the air was fresh and the sun was warm. Being outside and in such a beautifully landscaped green-space was a perfect way to spend my day off (Thanks Erik!). It is definitely somewhere I will return to – perhaps again this year when the flowers come out to say hello. One thing is for certain, though; I will definitely be visiting the Hamilton area again, and thankfully I have an excellent tour guide. Let this summer be the Summer of Adventure!

Until Next Time!

TTFN