06/09/2026
One of the most remarkable things about Ministers Island is the incredible variety of landscapes visitors can experience in just 500 acres. Shaped by wind, water, soil, and time, the Island is a patchwork of ecosystems - including coastal shorelines and cliffs, forests, meadows, fields, and wetlands.
As we begin exploring the Island’s natural plant life each Tuesday on our posts, we wanted to point out that not everything here is native to the island. Sir William Van Horne had a passion for horticulture and frequently ordered fruits, vegetables, trees, and shrubs to enhance the estate grounds.
Attached is a fascinating example: an April 1910 plant order preserved in the National Archives of Canada. This historic document offers a glimpse into Van Horne’s vision for the landscape and helps explain why some of the plants found on the estate today are not naturally occurring on the Island.
Interested in finding out more? Stay tuned to our Tuesday posts or register for one of the guided nature hikes led by our experienced guides. https://www.ministersisland.net/copy-of-group-tour-form