Folmer Botanical Gardens & Garden Centre

Folmer Landscaping and Botanical Gardens began in the spring of 1996 with the purchase of our 108 acre farm, 5 minutes west of Walkerton on the # 9 highway. The property was perfect for our landscaping business and garden centre, located on a busy highway with lots of exposure. The acreage was also perfect for developing a garden. Natural features include a hardwood bush at the back of the property, and forested wetlands on the east side, with a coldwater creek meandering through the wetlands. There is also a significant natural limestone rock outcropping facing the highway, as well as numerous fields and meadows, mature tree specimens and old forested fence lines. Previous owners also dug a large pond in the wetlands.

These natural features have provided the perfect framework for the extensive gardens that we have incorporated into these existing assets. Alpines, dwarf conifers and xeriscape plants have been nestled into the natural rock outcroppings to create a large rock garden. A trail through the forested wetland and along the pond include ferns, hostas, rhododendrons and native plantings to form naturalized shade gardens. Existing wooded fence lines have been augmented with trees, shrubs and perennials to provide pleasant views for the walking trails that have been created along them. Extensive themed perennial borders including a white garden, ‘hot’ garden, alpine garden, butterfly garden, wildflower meadow and mixed perennial and ornamental grass borders have been developed in the old fields and meadows.

Numerous formal gardens have also been created, and form an interesting juxtaposition with the more natural and ‘English style’ surrounding gardens. A formal Serviceberry tree allée, shrub parterres, extensive formal rose gardens, boxwood gardens and a circular maze are all points of interest. Our 20th anniversary garden project is a formal Mediterranean garden and knot garden in our front courtyard. An extensive collection of container gardens features tropical and succulent plant collections from around the world.

Our gardens also have an extensive collection of native and ornamental trees and shrubs, and we grow many rare and unusual plants for our climate throughout the grounds. Native species are extensively planted throughout, both in mixed border plantings as well as native gardens.

Our Garden Centre and Home and Garden Décor Gift Shop is located in the middle of the gardens. We offer an extensive selection of trees, shrubs, perennials, annual and tropical plants, as well as many unique and beautiful home and garden accents, from the rustic to the modern. Our gardens have public washroom facilities, a bus turnaround and ample parking facilities. Garden and bus tours, weddings, workshops and special events are all accommodated and celebrated through the seasons. We have been featured in numerous gardening television shows, magazines and print media. At 108 acres, we have the largest gardens and retail garden space in Grey/Bruce, and welcome you to come for a visit!

Brian, Jana, Abby and Colby Folmer and staff,
Folmer Botanical Gardens, Garden Centre and Gift Shop.

Owners: Brian and Jana Folmer

Hours: 8-6 Mon-Fri, 9-5 Sat, 10-4 Sun

Self-guided walking garden tour: $ 10.00 incl. HST.

We accept debit and credit cards’ and also ‘Tour bus parking and turnaround’.