Botanical Gardens of Montreal
Sep 21, 2022 | Montreal, QC
I can't remember if I mentioned before, but we bought a "passport" to the "Space for Life" series of exhibits in Montreal. This gives us a year of unlimited visits to the Biodome, the Biosphere (yes, there is both a dome and sphere), the planetarium, the insectarium and the botanical garden. We already hit the insectarium and the Biodome, so it was time to do the botanical garden. It ended up being such a massive place that we had to take a lunch break and come back to it again after. And even after all that, we only saw maybe half of the space. Hopefully we'll come back through Montreal on our way back west and get to hang out in the other half and maybe see the Biosphere.
A blond squirrel
A blond squirrel
There are many different areas at this massive botanical garden. The first area we wandered into was the Chinese garden.
There are many different areas at this massive botanical garden. The first area we wandered into was the Chinese garden.
You can come to the Chinese gardens at night and they supposedly light everything up in some way or another. We never saw it at night, but I assume these goofy sculptures look better that way.
You can come to the Chinese gardens at night and they supposedly light everything up in some way or another. We never saw it at night, but I assume these goofy sculptures look better that way.
Bonsai collection
Bonsai collection
Yes, I took a picture of the floor
Yes, I took a picture of the floor
Yes, I took another picture of the floor
Yes, I took another picture of the floor
These things look gnarly to touch. Even their stems under the water are like 2 inches circumference and spiky as hell. Bottom line: don't swim with these lily pads.
These things look gnarly to touch. Even their stems under the water are like 2 inches circumference and spiky as hell. Bottom line: don't swim with these lily pads.
Had to test if a cement lounge chair could be comfortable. It was... okay.
Had to test if a cement lounge chair could be comfortable. It was... okay.
Second bonsai garden in the Japanese garden area
Second bonsai garden in the Japanese garden area
The Japanese garden wasn't as flashy as the Chinese garden
The Japanese garden wasn't as flashy as the Chinese garden
Humongous abandoned wasp nest in the tree. Montreal is absolutely lousy with yellow jackets in the late summer, but I believe this is a paper wasp nest.
Humongous abandoned wasp nest in the tree. Montreal is absolutely lousy with yellow jackets in the late summer, but I believe this is a paper wasp nest.
Every year on the anniversary of the Hiroshima bomb they ring the bell by hitting the atomic symbol with a hammer once for every year passed since 1945.
Every year on the anniversary of the Hiroshima bomb they ring the bell by hitting the atomic symbol with a hammer once for every year passed since 1945.
You can see the atomic symbol on this side
You can see the atomic symbol on this side
We were at the gardens for a couple hours already and were getting hungry. But there was so much to see that we decided we'd have to come back afterward. We didn't have a whole lot of days left in Montreal so it was now or never, and the gardens were too cool to abandon.
Here's where we ate. The server was very friendly and wanted to hear about our travels and lifestyle. He told us that Quebec City (next on our list) is boring, but I have a feeling he doesn't appreciate the breadth of activities that we do.
Here's where we ate. The server was very friendly and wanted to hear about our travels and lifestyle. He told us that Quebec City (next on our list) is boring, but I have a feeling he doesn't appreciate the breadth of activities that we do.
Erika got a matcha latte and I got a coffee cocktail called Cafe Limo. It was espresso, lemon, and some liqueur that I can't remember. But it was really tasty. And they put the biggest hunk of ginger ever as a garnish.
Erika got a matcha latte and I got a coffee cocktail called Cafe Limo. It was espresso, lemon, and some liqueur that I can't remember. But it was really tasty. And they put the biggest hunk of ginger ever as a garnish.
Cafe Jones is a full vegan restaurant. They had French tacos here but called them "Pockettes" instead. Which kind of makes sense considering French tacos don't resemble Mexican tacos in hardly any way. These ones had avocado, cashew cheese, and saitan meat. So in a way they were a bit more Mexican leaning than the usual French taco.
Cafe Jones is a full vegan restaurant. They had French tacos here but called them "Pockettes" instead. Which kind of makes sense considering French tacos don't resemble Mexican tacos in hardly any way. These ones had avocado, cashew cheese, and saitan meat. So in a way they were a bit more Mexican leaning than the usual French taco.
The face was made out of a rough hole/chip in the wall
The face was made out of a rough hole/chip in the wall
We had to schedule our visit back to the garden and we gave ourselves a leisurely amount of time to do so. So we walked all through the alleys of far north east rue Ontario Est because there was so much art around here.
We had to schedule our visit back to the garden and we gave ourselves a leisurely amount of time to do so. So we walked all through the alleys of far north east rue Ontario Est because there was so much art around here.
Found a friend in the alley. He was young and friendly, but also acted odd---stretching and rubbing on things in a weird way. I assume he was practicing "spraying" for when his hormones kick in.
Found a friend in the alley. He was young and friendly, but also acted odd---stretching and rubbing on things in a weird way. I assume he was practicing "spraying" for when his hormones kick in.
Even the moving trucks are painted on here!
Even the moving trucks are painted on here!
Montreal is the best because every single store does their best to have a look and personality of its own. This is a vintage/thrift store called "Lazy" that had old timey ads and decor on the walls. I decided to join the trend and bought a fanny pack here.
Montreal is the best because every single store does their best to have a look and personality of its own. This is a vintage/thrift store called "Lazy" that had old timey ads and decor on the walls. I decided to join the trend and bought a fanny pack here.
Easily the most ridiculous piece in Montreal, and maybe the whole trip. Mario but with a "B" on his cap for "bienvenue" which means "welcome" in French.
Easily the most ridiculous piece in Montreal, and maybe the whole trip. Mario but with a "B" on his cap for "bienvenue" which means "welcome" in French.
Back to the gardens!
Map of the gardens. At the end of the day we hit most all of the right half, but missed out on the seemingly more wild and open left half.
Map of the gardens. At the end of the day we hit most all of the right half, but missed out on the seemingly more wild and open left half.
Carnivorous pitcher plants
Carnivorous pitcher plants
We went into the greenhouse. It was varying degrees of hot and humid in the various rooms.
We went into the greenhouse. It was varying degrees of hot and humid in the various rooms.
Look at the tail on that thing!
Look at the tail on that thing!
Erika loves staghorn ferns and they had a bunch of 'em
Erika loves staghorn ferns and they had a bunch of 'em
See, she likes it!
See, she likes it!
One wing of the greenhouse was for desert/arid/succulents.
One wing of the greenhouse was for desert/arid/succulents.
Quite the trunk
Quite the trunk
For some reason we still had a bit of energy even after being out all day long, so we drove over to the "Old Port" area of the city. It took us forever to find parking and we ended up in a bizarre little parking lot that made us nervous with how many towing signs they had around (spoiler: we didn't get towed).
We went to dinner at an all-vegan sushi restaurant Erika had on her list called Bloom. Really tasty food. Then we wandered around for a while only half wanting to pay for a cocktail, but ended up going for it when we saw that there was street art in the walls.
Miso soup!
Miso soup!
I'm ready
I'm ready
The "fish" is made with layered konjac root. It creates a very realistic fish texture for sure.
The "fish" is made with layered konjac root. It creates a very realistic fish texture for sure.
We're usually not restaurant dessert people (especially me), but I was in the mood for some brownie (with raspberry sauce and ice cream).
We're usually not restaurant dessert people (especially me), but I was in the mood for some brownie (with raspberry sauce and ice cream).
Some chalk art in the street
Some chalk art in the street
The window of some art gallery
The window of some art gallery
There was chalk in this sign. It was really hard to capture in a picture.
There was chalk in this sign. It was really hard to capture in a picture.
Here's the place we finally stopped at for a drink. Vandale.
Here's the place we finally stopped at for a drink. Vandale.
I got the one the right "The Infamous JD" which was gin, xeres, orgeat, apricot brandy, maple syrup and lemon. Erika's on the left is the "Vida Criminal" (Estrella, Tequila, oolong tea, grapefruit, lime, bbq bitters and "fire water". Mine was good, hers was way too smoky!
I got the one the right "The Infamous JD" which was gin, xeres, orgeat, apricot brandy, maple syrup and lemon. Erika's on the left is the "Vida Criminal" (Estrella, Tequila, oolong tea, grapefruit, lime, bbq bitters and "fire water". Mine was good, hers was way too smoky!
This is an old flour mill that has a lot of history in the city. The sign has been up since 1948. It got bought recently by Smuckers and people are worried that they'll eventually stop maintaining it, but for now it works.
This is an old flour mill that has a lot of history in the city. The sign has been up since 1948. It got bought recently by Smuckers and people are worried that they'll eventually stop maintaining it, but for now it works.