Let’s drive a different road home? We left the USA through to Montreal, Ottawa, and Sudbury Canada to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Despite all the rain, we had our most enjoyable time at the botanical garden (Jardin botanique) in Montreal. It had Japanese, Chinese and First Nations gardens. There was so much to see!
The Chinese Garden resembles a private garden of a 14th – 17th century Imperial court official in China. This garden was built in China, dismantled and shipped by sea to Montreal! In 1990 it was reassembled by 50 Chinese craftsmen brought here from China. In 1991 the Dream Lake Garden opened. All of this demonstrates quite a friendship between China and Montreal. Plus, read below about The Magic of Lanterns Festival each year!
There was also a First Nations Garden in the deciduous forest. The Canadian Constitution recognizes 11 First Nations, Métis and Inuit. First Nations is the largest group. Our walk was through hardwood and conifer forests and landscape of tundra. This garden was inaugurated in 2001 along with an interesting display and we saw a red-shouldered hawk fly in! Wow! Then a short time later we saw 2 hawks in a tree. Look closely at that photo!
