Cloud Gardens sits on the block that runs east of Bay Street, between Temperance and Richmond. It's got several discrete themed areas, and terraces that are laid out over several storeys. A pretty cool place, and one that not a lot of people seem to use.

In the heart of South Rosedale, Craigleigh Gardens was originally the site of the estate of Edmund Boyd Osler, a 19th-century Toronto businessman. After Osler's death in 1924, the land was donated to the city for use as a public park. Enter off South Drive, through the old stone-and-iron gate.

Like a lot of spots on the UofT campus (Robarts not included), this sedate spot has a classic Ivy-League/Oxbridge feel to it. Flake out on the quad or in the shade of the gallery.

A spot for quiet contemplation, possibly shared with a cat. Apparently it does double duty as a makeout spot.

How many cities can boast a park designed by Yo-Yo Ma? The cellist designed The Music Garden (along with landscape designer Julie Messervy) as an interpretation of a Bach cello suite, and each section of the garden corresponds to a movement in the composition. Warning: listening to Lady Gaga while hanging out here may cause existential conflict.

The Sculpture Garden is found behind a wrought-iron fence on King Street just east of Church Street, beside the venerable French restaurant La Maquette. Only one large sculptural work is ever on display at a time; past works have included a life-sized flying saucer, a gigantic baby head, and a 20-foot-high stack of Honda Civics.

Nestled down in a ravine, the Brick Works is not only a combination interpretation centre/farmer's market/event space, it also has an amazing network of hiking paths that wind through the valley and along Mud Creek. Pause on the footbridge and check out the mammoth koi and turtles (mostly dumped there by inconsiderate former owners, but nice to look at anyway). There's a free shuttle bus that runs down to the site (and back!) from Broadview station.

Rosetta McClain Gardens is right at the edge of the Scarborough Bluffs, just west of Bluffer's Park. It's a patchwork of garden spaces and beds, a pergola and a folly. A bit of a stretch to get to, but worth the effort.

The 1854 house and its grounds were donated by the Ashbridge family for use as a public park. The Estate is on Queen Street East, just across from the Connaught streetcar yard. There are some really old trees (willow, birch, locust, horse chestnut) and lots of flower beds to wander through, sniffing deeply.

This former private home in Forest Hill Village was converted to a museum in 1984. The Victorian-style gardens are divided into sections - a kitchen garden, a cutting garden, and formal flower beds. Free, as long as you don't go into the house.

A great community gardening space with vegetables, herbs and flowers, including an historical kitchen garden.

This space is hidden behind the Canada Malting silos, just east of Billy Bishop Airport. The park is dedicated to the Irish who immigrated to Canada during Ireland's potato famine, and has a number of elements that call back to that history; a monument wall of Irish limestone, an illuminated tower of glass, and five striking sculptures of arriving immigrants.Ireland Park has been closed to the public for four years due to construction, but will reopen this month.

Sherbourne Common was created as part of the Waterfront revitalization in anticipation of the Pan Am Games. It's got a fantastic splash pad with vertical water jets, and lots of green space to stretch out and read or picnic.