The Toronto Horticultural Society, the first horticultural society organized in Ontario, was founded by Sir John Colburne, lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada (1828–1836). Horticultural societies existed in London, England (est. 1804), and Montreal, Quebec (est.1811).

The society was established to encourage the introduction and cultivation of improved varieties of fruits, plants and vegetables. Members included professional horticulturists (gardeners and landscapers) as well as enthusiastic amateurs and practitioners. Montreal, Quebec, had earlier but short-lived visions of such a society. The Toronto group has been in existence for more than 160 years.

First president: Honourable George Herkimer Markland, inspector-general of Upper Canada.

Vice presidents: John Beverley Robinson, the chief justice; John Henry Dunn, the receiver general; and Colonel Joseph Wells, a member of the executive council as were George Markland, John Robinson and John Dunn.

Committee: James Reid, Messrs. A. & D. Blue, J. Dempsey.

Treasurer: Bernard Turquand, the first clerk in the receiver general's office.

Secretaries: Bernard Turquand and Alexander Gordon, a professional horticulturist.

Seventeen regulations and by-laws set forth the agendas proposed by the society. Members (Torontonians and elite figures, honorary and corresponding prominent figures) were dedicated to the cultivation of the most esteemed products of fruits, flowers and vegetables within greenspaces threatened by fast urban expansion.

Membership also included practical and amateur groups to help ensure the survival of the society. Practical members included seedsmen, gardeners and nurserymen. New members had to be proposed by at least two subscribing members and approved at one of four general meetings held each year. Practical members paid a subscription fee of 10 shillings with an annual fee of 5 shillings while amateur members paid 15 and 10 shillings respectively (payment could also be made in quarterly instalments). The by-laws also provided for the equal distribution of seeds, roots and cuttings, as well as horticultural information among members to ensure successful offshoots for future exhibition.

Beginning in July 1834, regulated garden competitions were organized to encourage members in their practice of horticulture (floral, greenhouse plants, hotbed and outdoor produce, and ornamental gardening).

Officers: City mayor as president, W. B. Jarvis as vice president.

Treasurers: Professor Croft, William Atkinson, and George William Allan.

George William Allan was acting president of the Toronto Horticultural Society and donated a five–acre oval parcel of land (between Jarvis, Sherbourne, Carlton and Gerrard Streets). Mr. Sootheran of the Bank of British North America volunteered financial plans.

With a majority of society members, citizens presented a petition to the city council for the purchase of the surrounding grounds as a contribution to a public park ground.

A portion of the petition appeared In the article "Ornamental Public Grounds!" Globe 28 Feb. 1859.

"Your memorialists need scarcely remind your worshipful body that at present the City of Toronto is without a single park or square, and that nearly all the available lands, within a reasonable distance of the centre of the city, are so divided and subdivided into small building lots that if you omit to take advantage of the present opportunity for securing so desirable an object, you will never again have it within your power to obtain so advantageous a site for the purpose."

Within two years, the city's walks and gardens budget allocated £1,000 in funds to the society for expenses in establishing a drainage system, a greenhouse, fencing and benches for the gardens.

Mr. Edwin Taylor, an experienced landscape gardener from England, offered his expertise to the Toronto Horticultural Society. He provided a series of plans to establish an effective drainage system, a plateau for the conservatory with pathways within the oval parcel of land, and a glass house (conservatory).

In February, work on the gardens progressed rapidly with the notice of a royal visit to be paid by the Prince of Wales in September. Society members and nurserymen, George Leslie and James Fleming contributed a large quantity of plant material for the flowerbeds. A gardener's cottage and a rustic pavilion were built on the plot of land that was fenced in.

The official opening of the Horticultural Gardens took place on September 11, 1860, with the Prince of Wales, Toronto Horticultural Society members, the public, as well as local hothouse owners. His Royal Majesty and Mrs. Allan planted commemorative trees, a maple and an oak tree respectively, to mark the occasion.

Praised by The Mail newspaper, "The gardens presented a new appearance but in the background and around the garden itself many fine trees of various descriptions have been left standing and shrubs and plants so lately placed there will in due course open their luxuriant branches for our warm Canadian summer. The walks are so well laid out, have all been carefully graveled and rolled and the edges graded. The entrance gate of the garden was tastefully arched with evergreen, and various other decorations were placed about the gardens. The most marked feature was an immense rustic pavilion erected on a large elevated green platform..."

George William Allan conveyed the oval parcel of land as a gift to the Toronto Horticultural Society.

Allan offered to sell five more surrounding acres to the city of Toronto provided that the land would be used in accordance with the policies of the society.

Allan wanted to initiate a park system in Toronto to preserve green space.

Purchased by the City in 1864, leased to the Toronto Horticultural Society.

The society managed the land for more than 30 years.

The Pavilion Hall, a new conservatory, was built in the style of the Crystal Palace to house an impressive collection of tropical and exotic plants and provide ample space for balls, concerts, flower conventions and large gatherings.

The Parkdale Horticultural Society in the west end of Toronto joined with the Toronto Horticultural Society. The societies brought together like-minded individuals from different ends of the social hierarchy to share valuable information and create landscapes of beauty both inside and out.

 

1889

The land was surrendered to the City under Allan's conditions that it be used as a public park and conservatory free of admission.

The society continued its pursuits with seasonal exhibitions in the pavilion and decorative landscaping and gardening competitions throughout Toronto. Children's classes were also instated. By 1895, the society attempted to bring back its professional and amateur members. The process was long and difficult but by 1910, annual memberships cost $1 and lifetime memberships cost CAD $10. In 1912, the count rose from 134 members in 1890 to almost 800.

History Photo Catalogue is available for larger photos.