Citizen Spring at the Jardin botanique Espace pour la vie is offering, in cooperation with external organizations, four weekends of free activities at the Jardin botanique’s Frédéric Back Tree Pavilion, an inviting, dynamic and lively space for meetings and exchanges. In April, reconnect with nature and take the opportunity to explore, create or exchange with others, while gearing up to take concrete action towards the socio-ecological transition and the protection of biodiversity. April 25 | Discover the Yummy Side of the Transition - Day 1 Rediscover the plant world from a food perspective! Through fun zero-waste activities and lectures on nutrition and plant-based diets, everyone will leave with a new appreciation for plants. Program The Jardin botanique team offers books, games, and creative activities for everyone on an ongoing basis. 10 am to noon - Au naturel! Story Time for the Whole Family Courtesy of Pouce Carré Enjoy a fun and relaxing moment as you discover books that celebrate trees and nature! Join the Pouce carré facilitators, who will read entertaining children’s stories and present fascinating documentaries that will help you better understand and appreciate the environment! New for 2026: a table packed with reading suggestions for all ages General public and families In French only 10:30 am to noon - Guided Tour: The Arboretum in Spring Courtesy of the Friends of the Montréal Botanical Garden The Arboretum’s tree collection allows visitors to admire the awakening of nature in spring. Come (re)discover this space through the eyes and stories of our passionate volunteer guides! This activity is offered by the Friends of the Montréal Botanical Garden. Children must be accompanied by at least one adult. General public and families Up to 15 people In French only 11 am to 12:30 pm - Introduction to Urban Agriculture Courtesy of Éco Gaïa, instructor Natachat Danis, driven by Le Semoir Show participants that they can grow food in the city—be it on their balcony or in their yard—and give them the tools they need to create their own vegetable garden, thereby promoting a certain degree of self-sufficiency. The workshop covers basic horticulture concepts, sketching, and planting. General public and families (5 years and older) Up to 20 people In French only 1 to 2 pm - Lecture/Tasting: Edible Flowers Courtesy of Fleurs en Ville This lecture will introduce you to the world of edible flowers: their history, culinary uses, ideas for integrating them into your dishes, and much more. At the end of the lecture, there will be a tasting to convince you to use them at home. Adults Up to 20 people (for the tasting) In French only 1 to 4 pm - Training: Get involved with Le collectif Les Fruits Défendus de Montréal Courtesy of Les Fruits Défendus de Montréal Harvest experts are at the heart of Le collectif Les Fruits Défendus. This training session aims to give citizens the tools they need to pursue the collective's mission in their neighbourhood. Would you like to organize harvests, share the abundance of summer, meet your neighbours, and get involved with organizations near you? Come take this intensive training course and join our citizen collective this season! Adults (18 years and older) Up to 50 people In French only 1:30 to 4:30 pm - Family Activity: No-waste Challenge: Save It or Waste It! Courtesy of the Jardin botanique de Montréal (EPLV) Cooking can sometimes be quite a challenge. Preserving fruits and vegetables and avoiding waste is a journey fraught with surprises and hassles. Come and experience the food adventure and find out that it’s not because a food item isn’t pretty that it isn’t yummy! General public and families In French only 1:30 to 4:30 pm - Discovery kiosk: “Small Sprouts to Savour” Kiosk Courtesy of Agro-Passion Come and discover the world of microgreens! You will have the chance to plant some on site that you can take home with you afterwards. Your microgreens will be ready to eat 10 days later. It’s a simple way to grow your own greens with no equipment whatsoever. Fun for kids and adults alike! General public and families Up to 200 people In French only 2:30 to 4:30 pm - Workshop on Propagating Edible Plants: Cuttings Courtesy of Hamidou Horticulture During this workshop, participants will get their hands dirty. They will learn how to take cuttings and repot any species of plant on offer. Participants will be able to take their cuttings home with them at the end of the workshop. General public and families In French only