gardens near Stratford, Ontario

We're going up to Stratford end of September to see a friend who's in the Shakespeare Festival.
Anyone know any good gardens to visit in that general area? We will have a car.
Calling all Canadiens.
Ruth

the Royal Botanicial Gardens in Hamilton are great

Thanks, Paul. That goes on my list. So far, it's #1.

Mine?

I also make an amazing coffee cake which is more impressive than the garden tour :)

Gwydion,
How far is Kitchener from Stratford. Coffee cake might even be better than Shakespeare! Is it on the way from NY?

We are about 30 minutes east of Stratford. You are certainly welcome. I can show you our humble city gardens and send you off with a full stomach and a pocket full of seeds. When is the play?

Gwydion, it's Sept 27, 28, 29. We're seeing 3. My friend is in 2 of them. She's a Mezzo-soprano who usually gets leads. She took the Stratford gig even though it was supporting roles because she had a big wait until the next Opera role in 2002. That's Opera in the States. Very hard for singers to make a living. Meanwhile, she has a nice part in Sound of Music and a small role in Inherit The Wind and we're going to Merchant of Venice as well.
What fun to stop in for a brief moment during the day on the 28th or 29th. And I will bring plants and/or seeds to pay for my coffee cake.
Ruth

No payment needed. I love baking for people. I will e-mail you my address and phone number. Sometime before you head North you can give me a call and I can give you directions. It's not hard to find us.
Stratford is a lovely little town. They have some very nice resturants as well. When you get about 15 minutes east of there you will run in to Waterloo Region (Waterloo, Kitchener, Guelph, Cambridge etc.) all these cities are smoke free. Basically it works like this. You may not smoke in any building or within ten feet of any building entrance. They rarely enforce the 10 foot law although they are quite strict about smoking indoors. It doesn't matter if it's a bar or a bingo hall. This deters some tourist. I hope you don't mind if you are a smoker.
There is a Casino in Brantford which is also close to where you will be but it is nothing to compare to the one in Niagra; if you are crossing at the falls. The Lewiston crossing is also nice and not as busy usually.
I could go on far to long. I will email later :)

Gwydion,
I think it's terrific and I look forward to it. I was a smoker for 55 years, but managed to give it up last year, much to my eternal delight.
Look forward to your e-mail. Bye,Ruth

I spent 20 years practicing dieing before I kicked the nasty habit just January past. May the entire world join us ;)

I'll second that
Ruth