Situated on 7 hectares (17 acres) next to the Madawaska River, it has more than 80,000 plants, making it the largest arboretum east of Montreal.

In addition to the Botanical Gardens, the Province of New Brunswick also maintains an antique automobile museum on the same grounds.

Ultimately, the City declined to get involved directly with the management and that mandate was transferred to the New Brunswick Botanical Garden Society.

A five-year agreement was signed in April 2008 between these three organizations to ensure the functioning and long-term development of the garden.

However, as botanical gardens cannot accomplish this mission on their own, they need to work in partnership with many institutions, societies, communities and individuals.

Starting mid-May, approximately 10,000 bulbs distributed into forty varieties of tulips, crocus are planted and bloom early in the season.

In the beginning, gardeners created simple geometric forms but over the years, mosaiculture has become more complex and has come to include such three-dimensionsl shapes as butterflies, vases and birds.

The trees overlooking the garden form a natural roof which ensures the right amount of light to shine through to sustain the shade and light-shade plants.

These plants represent a unique aspect of the Maritime Region for their ability to survive in cold climates and acid soil conditions.

In addition to the Botanical Gardens, the Province of New Brunswick also maintains an antique automobile museum on the same grounds, featuring a Bricklin and about two dozen examples of early motoring history.