Hatley is the largest intact Edwardian garden in Canada. This turn of the century 565-acre estate includes first growth forest in which stands today an 800-900 year old Fir tree with a trunk whose diameter is 8 to 9 feet. It is felt to be one of the largest fir trees in Canada . This setting inspired the landscapers Brett-Hill from Boston to have two paths leading from the port-cochere entrance of the manor house towards the woods.
See also Hatley Bog Gardens and Hatley Japanese Garden
One path led up a formal staircase to a fountain, featuring Neptune , flanked with cherubs against a backdrop of the forest. The other axis of the path led to the 'controlled nature' of the nearby glen overlooking its “falls''. Here you can still sit on the original bench made of local slate tucked against a hillside under the towering native moss and fern covered trees looking down at the falls and creek below. The bank has a naturalistic rockery covered in moss blending in with native plants making it difficult to tell where man stops and nature starts.
The second terrace with balustrades is overlooking the croquet court with its herbaceous boarders and incorporates the formal Italian garden Here you enter a time of elegance as you walk through a classical style pavilion and circular pergolas. You then proceed past box outlined beds and original urns and the classic statues (Pomona, Ceres, Flora and Hebe) representing the four seasons In the formal box enclosed beds the lady of the house chose to showcase her favourite plants such as delphiniums, peonies, iris, Japanese anemones and dictamis (the gas plant) in informal plantings.
Also the grounds of the estate include a Mediterranean garden with its wide array of rock and alpine plants, an Edwardian style post and rope rose garden against a backdrop of forest, a walled rose garden featuring David Austin English roses and a four acre Japanese garden.