The garden is home to over 4,500 individual peony cultivars, the largest public collection on the continent.
The property serves as an official display garden for the American Peony Society.
A custom-designed, computer-controlled fountain show features water jets reaching heights of up to 40 feet.
The site was originally a commercial farm before its multi-year conversion into a specialized botanical park.
It hosts one of the largest collections of rare and mature conifers in Ontario.
Whistling Gardens is a 22-acre botanical garden in Wilsonville, Ontario, renowned for holding the largest public collection of peonies in North America. The grounds feature over 4,500 peony cultivars, alongside diverse perennial gardens, coniferous displays, and water features. The site was transformed from a former farm into a formal landscape by owners Darren and Wanda Heimbecker. Visitors can navigate expansive walking paths that showcase a range of garden design styles, from manicured formal beds to naturalized woodland areas. The gardens utilize a computerized fountain system that hosts synchronized water shows throughout the day. The collection is recognized by the Canadian Peony Society for its depth and horticultural significance. The park serves as both a public exhibition space and a site for extensive botanical research.
The central observation area overlooking the main fountain during a synchronized water performance.
Bring a hat and sunscreen as much of the garden area is fully exposed to direct sunlight.
Visit during the peak peony bloom, typically mid-June, to see the majority of the collection in flower.
Check the official website for fountain show timings before arriving to ensure you don't miss the synchronized displays.
Visiting in late autumn or winter when the gardens are dormant and many displays are not visible.
Closed during the winter months; operates seasonally from spring through autumn.
Stay on marked gravel paths to protect sensitive plant beds; do not pick flowers or foliage.
