At the Japanese Garden The cycle of the seasons 
Japanese culture is marked by great sensitivity to the present moment and to the many signs of the changing seasons, with the impermanence of things making the transformations all the more precious. The illuminated Japanese Garden is a living work of art where the landscaping and the plants themselves, with their myriad forms and colours, take pride of place. The pine forest, dressed in the sounds of acoustic instruments representing the wind, offers visitors a moment of serenity.

At the First Nations Garden The rhythm of life
At the heart of the circle of the seasons of life, flowing one after another in an endless stream, the Moon marks time and sets the rhythm. Embodying the fundamental principles shared by Indigenous peoples and given voice by the words of Innu poet Joséphine Bacon and the songs of Moe Clark, the First Nations Garden’s illuminated path beckons visitors on an immersive and poetic journey into the circle of life.

At the Chinese Garden The legend of the butterfly lovers
In the middle of Dream Lake, the two most famous butterflies in Chinese culture have come to light on a luxuriant stand of lanterns. Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, the Chinese butterfly lovers, have transcended time, and this fall they have come to light up the Chinese Garden to the strains of the Violin Concerto, one of the best-known works in Chinese music. This beautiful, timeless legend has inspired and sustained people for centuries with its profound vision of love and life.

Timed tickets
Timed tickets, a popular and effective admission reservation system, are back. To make the most of your experience, you will have to choose a set time for your visit when purchasing your tickets. Your timed ticket will allow you to wander freely through the Jardin botanique’s three cultural gardens. It will also give you access to the entire Jardin botanique, which can be visited at any time on the same day.
Ticketing and schedule

Gardens of Light is funded in part through the Entente sur le développement culturel de Montréal between the City of Montréal and the Government of Québec.

La Presse, Partner of the Gardens of Light event

Espace pour la vie is made up of the Biodôme, the Biosphère, the Insectarium, the Jardin botanique and the Planétarium Rio Tinto Alcan. These five prestigious City of Montréal institutions form Canada’s largest natural-science museum complex. Together, they are launching a daring and creative urban movement, encouraging all of us to rethink the connection between humankind and nature and to cultivate a new way of living.