The new horticultural centre at Assiniboine Park plans on having a rotating schedule for different displays throughout the year, the latest exhibit represents new beginnings.

After having it planned out since 2009, Assiniboine Park had the grand opening of The Leaf on December 3, 2022, and a steady flow of visitors has made its way to check out the greenery that awaits inside.

The Leaf contains four unique biomes, the Hartley and Heather Richardson Tropical Biome, Mediterranean Biome, the Babs Asper Display House, and the Shirley Richardson Butterfly Garden. With its incredible size, each of these biomes has its own space to attract the visitor's eyes.

Since Monday, January 9, The Leaf has been closed to the public for garden maintenance and for a display change at the Babs Asper Display House. It is scheduled that the display will change around four to five times each year, to explore seasonal and global themes, meaning each display will be different from the last.

The horticultural centre reopened today with its new display, Unfurl. 

"It is inspired by the new year and new beginnings," says Laura Cabak, the public relations communications manager at the Assiniboine Park Conservancy. "There's going to be lots of greens, whites and pinks but also some vibrant colours. Rejuvenation and relaxation is sort of the theme we're trying to express with that new display and then that will change again in the summer, in the fall and then back to a different holiday show around November/December this year."

Along with the new display, The Leaf also offers a wide variety of programming to visitors. There are regular tours of the gardens, a special Sustainability Tour that explains some of the sustainability features that support its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, Gardener Chats that explore the different types of plants, the connection that humans have with them and the biomes they reside in.

"In addition to that, we will have some entertainment from time to time in the biomes, we have some more planned over January and February."

There are also activities for the kids with arts and crafts sessions available in the classroom, which is adjacent to the biomes. A meditation series will also be offered in the Mediterranean Biome on Thursdays.

The Gather Craft Kitchen & Bar allows visitors to stop for something to eat after wandering the gardens, and a gift shop to remember their visit.

For The Leaf's hours of operation and tour dates and times, visit the Assiniboine Park website.

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