There is lush green, blue sky, white puffy clouds and lots and lots of water in this part of the world. Twin public parks include walking paths surrounding a long lake. The recognition of the laborers of the coal and steel industries are part of the purpose of this city park. This green space is not even listed on the city’s website and not in guidebooks as of yet. Still for a restorative break from travel this is worth the walk from the city harbor. This is a fine example of maximizing what nature gives you. Rock work, trees, water, and entertaining ducks provide a pleasant visit.
Marigolds on Main Street
St John, New Brunswick, Canada
A spectacular fall day with bright blue sky and strips of white clouds floating about, the temperature is 70 degrees and I hear a story of marigolds. St. John is alive with orange and yellow marigolds along the main street. Elementary school children have been planting marigold seeds in their classrooms each spring for the past 14 years. Watering the seeds and overseeing the plants growing into strong little plants. Students then gather at the end of school to plant the flowers in their community to enjoy all summer long. According to H.P Smith writing for the Telegraph Journal. “I think it shows that we’re close to a generation of children who have made changes in our community,” Barry Ogden(founder of the event) said, adding that many children, while learning, ask themselves questions about why they learn.
The Elms
Newport, Rhode Island
Built in 1901 as a summer retreat of Edward Julius Berwind & his wife Herminie. The house was inspired by an 18th century French Chateau. The house is huge, gilded and filled with art. It is the garden that drew me here. Elm trees were a significant feature in the landscape of this city in the early 1900’s. The “cottages” of the Vanderbilts, Astors, Doris Duke and other titans of unlimited power and money were only summer places used for 8 weeks during the summer. The shade from these great trees helped cool the space for parties, croquet and cocktails.
Brooklyn Heights Promenade
Finding green space in the City of New York is surprisingly easy. A population of 8 million people speaking 800 languages it seems they all speak garden. Trees, window boxes, flower beds, shrubs and vines reach for the sun especially on a beautiful September day. New York Magazine describes it “The city is filled with amazing views, but few can top the ones from this scenic third-of-a-mile stretch along the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. Postcard-like views of lower Manhattan, South Street Seaport, the East River and the Brooklyn Bridge draw photographers, couples on romantic walks, and New Yorkers who want an inspiring place to sit and think. “
A Winter Garden, Manhattan, NYC
We were in New York City on Sept. 11, 2011, the anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy. The city was busy, thoughtful and highly secured. We walked to the site of the World Trade Center memorial and rebuilding. The enormity of the space and an awakening sense of how intense the event was in this neighborhood grew as we explored.
In the World Trade Center there is an overlook of the construction site and the memorial. We were directed to walk toward the “Winter Garden.” Interior hallways link many buildings in lower Manhattan and we continue to follow the hall way until we came to this large open space.
Up on the roof
Truly one of the great treasures of this country is the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Founded in 1870 by a group of American citizens it is now one of the largest art galleries in the world. There is 2,000,000 square feet of gallery. This big building also has a large roof, known as the the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Roof Garden. It offers views of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline. The museum is open late on Friday nights and after an inside visit we went up on the roof to have a drink and watch the sunset in Manhattan. The roof garden space to features a summer sculpture exhibition and so the garden is not the main focus. But still there are pots, plants, vines and trellis to soften the space. The view of the trees of Central Park quickly enhances the garden effect.
Inspiring words
Presentations made include:
Weeders Garden Club
Dobson Women’s Club
Tempe Garden Club
Ahwatukee Garden
RECOM City of Mesa
Kingman Garden Club
Osher Lifelong Learning, Indiana State U.
Prescott: Alta Vista Garden Club
Dobson Ranch Garden Club
Traveling
Gardens in the late summer, early fall are full of surprises. There are gardens everywhere and I intend to find them in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Staten Island, the Bronx, Boston, Newport, RI, Portland, ME, St. John’s, Halifax, Quebec City, and Montreal, Canada.
Too hot to garden?
Furnace Creek Inn, Death Valley, CA
As the summer heat wears on I wonder if I might feel cooler thinking of places that are hotter and drier than where I am. So Death Valley National Park and Furnace Creek CA spring to mind. Just the names sound hot and years of record high heat support its reputation of the hottest, driest, and lowest place in the U.S. Though Death Valley was set aside as a protected area in 1933, it didn’t become a National Park until 1994. Always curious about this fierce sounding place I was completely surprised by the flowers of the park and the oasis garden at the Furnace Creek Inn. Travel really does break apart our preconceived notions of a place.
Plant People
San Diego Botanic Garden
Just before the killer cold snap last January I had managed to prune my torch bougainvillea into a heart shape topiary. It made me smile and I eagerly looked forward to it as part of the landscape for a Valentine celebration in February. Then nature changed my plans and the shape was lost in the freeze damage. A topiary is a fanciful thing, it isn’t a garden style that appeals to everyone. It is a living work of art that requires a vision, patience and an artist using the medium of plants.