These gardens are as informative as they are gorgeous, featuring several historically themed areas that tell the story of Nova Scotia settlement. Open to the public since 1981, the 7-hectare (17-acre) grounds are uncommonly beautiful, with a mix of formal and informal gardens dating from various epochs. Included are a geometric Victorian garden, a knot garden, a vegetable garden, and an Innovative Garden, showcasing methods and plant materials suitable for today’s urban environment. About 2,000 rosebushes (of 230 cultivars) track the history of the flower’s cultivation from earliest days through the Victorian era to the present day. Set on a gentle hill, the plantings are placed among lawns and shady trails, all overlooking a handsome salt marsh. Also on site: a replica Acadian pioneer cabin based on the pre-deportation 1671 time period and designed using evidence from local archaeological excavations. There’s also a cafe and gift shop.