Welcome to the Garden City! St. Catharines boasts over 1,000 acres (4 square kms) of parks, gardens, and trails, perfect for picnics, walking or cycling. Enjoy beautiful gardens in Jaycee Park or stroll through the Rose Garden in Montebello Park.
St. Catharines has been known as the “Garden City” since the middle of the 19th century. This name came about because of the community’s location in the fertile belt of land at the northern end of the Niagara peninsula where the unique micro-climate created by Lake Ontario and the Niagara Escarpment creates the perfect conditions for growing tender fruits and vegetables.
The city is also home to one of the oldest horticultural societies in Canada. The St. Catharines Horticultural Society was formed in 1857 and met regularly until 1869, reformed in 1898 and, over the course of the years, held massive exhibits of local flowers and produce.