Reader’s Rock Garden

William R. Reader, Calgary's influential Parks Superintendent from 1913 to 1942, laid out this Arts and Crafts-style alpine rockery, which he maintained for decades: Built into a steep hillside near the Union, Chinese, and Burnsland Cemeteries, its rock paths, steps, and walls formed numerous planting beds. They tested and showcased the possibilities of gardening in Calgary, challenging assumptions that the southern Alberta climate was too hostile for agriculture and horticulture. Admired for its beauty and botanical diversity, this garden has long been a source of inspiration for professional and amateur gardeners.

Reader’s Rock Garden Historic Site - Calgary

Built in 1912 for William Reader and his family on Union Cemetery Land.