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.

In the St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood, the Castle's pretty little courtyard is tucked in behind the Esplanade and is a calm spot to eat your lunch or just enjoy a sunbeam.

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

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.

Tucked in behind City Hall, the Diversity Garden features large elevated planters and pots, lots of benches, and paths of wood chips to give your feet a break from pounding Queen Street.

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.

Like rhodos? This is the place for you. Eighteen acres of rhododendrons, with walking trails.

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.