Gardening season is coming upon us like a vigorous clematis and Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood along Queen Street East is full of green-spiration!
Whether you’re looking for perennials, shrubs, veggies, medicinal herbs, stylish and whimsical decor to spruce up your outdoor living space, or gardening gloves, be sure to check out our roundup of where to shop in Riverside for all your growing needs, and outdoor living dreams.
771 Queen St E
Queen Garden Centre located at Queen and Saulter is hard to miss with artist Nick Sweetman’s stunning pollinator mural as the backdrop. You’ll find over 500 different varieties of trees, shrubs, and perennials perfect for the sun or shade and with a focus on native varieties. If you live on Queen St E and need a lot of greenery, this garden centre is super convenient and staff will even help you carry your plants home with a wagon!
660 Queen St E
Many Torontonians know a giant backyard is not synonymous with an outdoor oasis. Not only is container gardening versatile, mobile, and weed free, it’s also totally doable wherever there is light. Quince Flowers, at the corner of Queen St E and Munro, offers beautiful pots and containers to help you transform your deck, patio, or balcony into a full-on fruit and vegetable or flower baring gardening.
790 Queen St E
Turn your outdoor living space into a work of art with help from the Arts Market on Queen St E, just west of Boulton Ave. With one of a kind handmade decor, perfect for hanging on a wooden fence, and interesting clay pots, this boutique carrying products from over 50 local artisans is definitely worth checking out when it’s time to put together and personalize your outdoor sanctuary.
760 Queen St E
Aside from vintage vinyl, this expansive Queen St E shop carries an array of wall art that can be hung outdoors and not get damaged. Swing by to check out their eclectic metal face masks and giant lizards made of beads that can be hung on your fence. If creating a zen outdoor space is what you have in mind, Riverdale Trading Company just west of Boulton is big on Buddha statues and sage.
772 Queen St E
If you’re a frugal gardener or only recently acquired a green thumb, Riverside’s Dollarama location has all the practical items you need for everyday gardening including gardening gloves, small hand tools, plant labels, spray bottles, as well as packs of seeds for all kinds of flowers, fruits, and vegetables. The best part is everything here is $4 or less.
Community Gardening in Riverside
In addition to shopping along Queen Street East for outdoor living inspiration, Riverside is also home to community gardens which are great for individuals who want to garden but have no space at home to do so, or simply if you like gardening as a social experience!
The Riverside Green Initiative, a grassroots community group formed in 2012, maintains the Riverside Community Garden in Joel Weeks Park. The garden works on a ‘communal mode’ where gardeners decide on what they’d like to grow and divy up tasks (no individual plots). It’s a great way to learn from others and enjoy a gardening experience! Members who live or work in Riverside are welcome to join – find out more and become a member by getting in touch.
Our outdoor space is an extension of where we live, so jazz it, give it some care, add some colour, and spend as much time outdoors as possible. Summer has yet to officially begin but it’s time to start enjoying the sunshine!
DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE GARDENING PRODUCT, SERVICE, OR CLASS IN RIVERSIDE YOU WOULD LIKE TO TELL US ABOUT? WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Karen Lloyd is a writer, photographer and website designer in Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood. This blog is part of the series giving you the inside scoop on Riverside, Toronto. Read other blogs in the series: Riverside Patios, Places to Stay in Riverside, Brunch Spots, Health & Wellness in Riverside, Kid-Friendly Riverside, Event & Catering Spots, Riverside Chefs, Self-Care in Riverside, and It’s Easy Being Green in Riverside.