After Toronto’s coldest February on record, here’s an alternative to Prozac: Allan Gardens.

It’s easy. Step past the Carlton St. dog park, where animals wearing winter boots wrestle in the snow. Fling open the doors to the shabby-chic (historical) greenhouse with the glass-domed ceiling. And enter the hothouse of happiness, Toronto 2015 version.

The following is an unembellished representation of a mother and daughter entering the warmth:

“Oooooooo,” squealed the little girl.

“It’s spring!” cried her mother.

Seriously, everything is better inside Allan Gardens. It’s 16,000 square feet worth of temperature-controlled post-February therapy.

Unencumbered by winter coats and snow pants, children run through the winding pathways inside the greenhouse, peering into the fish pond, waving at turtles or watching ants crawl up rocks. Yes, ants — the insects of summer.

Lush flowers, bushes and trees abound. It’s a gardener’s dream and a pleasure zone for those who read Latin. Turn right, to see the Hong Kong Orchid Tree. Take a left for the sweet aroma of the Winter Jasmine. Pick a direction, the plants are gorgeous and people are smiling.

“It’s my favourite place in Toronto — it’s a breath of fresh air,” said Nimrod Salamon, who brought his elderly father for an afternoon outing. They relaxed in the Arid House, home to cacti and succulents like agave, opuntia, haworthia and aloe.

“When you come here, you feel like spring is coming soon,” Salamon said. “This has been the worst February. A month straight with no melting. For seniors, it’s been terrible. Here, you feel rejuvenated.”

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Saman Atiq brought her two-year-old daughter Marian, for a walk among the palm trees. Atiq recently moved to Toronto from Edmonton, where residents know cold. This is her observation about winter in Toronto: “It’s quite depressing. The last two weeks have been so bad, with the wind chill, that I couldn’t go anywhere.”

She heard about Allan Gardens and came with her daughter to explore. “It’s beautiful and refreshing to see all the green and the flowers. As soon as we entered she said, ‘Wow, what a beautiful garden.”

Alexandra Kisselev, the four-year-old girl who entered the dome with such excitement, spent the afternoon running through the pathways, stopping to examine the gold fish and the shape of leaves. “Spring flowers, pretty, pretty flowers,” she called out to her mother, Nadia.

She’s right. In Allan Gardens, Toronto’s happy place, the tulips have blossomed.