JRS Co-Leads a Walking Tour of the David Braley & Nancy Gordon Rock Garden at the Royal Botanical Gardens

Posted September 16, 2025

On Saturday, September 13th, Janet Rosenberg and Matt Perotto of JRS were pleased to lead a tour of the David Braley & Nancy Gordon Rock Garden at the Royal Botanical Garden (RBG) along with the RBG’s COO Kimberly Viney and Director of Horticulture Jon Peter.

We had an exciting discussion about the garden’s continual evolution including strategies for future proofing the design for resilience in a changing climate, and shifting programmatic demands of a destination landscape. In the ten plus years since the garden’s construction, changes in maintenance practices, the managed evolution of plant material, balancing cultural and ecological interests, and adaptations to changes in weather and climate have all contributed to the vibrancy of the Rock Garden as a living space that continues to thrive. We also discussed the role of Landscape Architects and contractors in projects like this one. It was great to spend a morning learning and sharing about this unique and beautiful garden!

Many thanks to the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects (OALA), who organized this event, and the RBG’s Kimberly Viney and Jon Peter for hosting us and enrichening the discussion.