Head of Tide

I think most people in this country are familiar with the United States National Park System and how much of an asset this is to the American people. It amazes me that the park system still exists and actually expands from time to time with so many individuals only thinking of short-term gains. Hopefully, the system of parks will be around for many more generations to enjoy.

What I didn’t have an appreciation for is the number of local and state parks, as well as, all of the beautiful gardens that exist in this country. Whenever we go to a new location we try to scout out things to do and looking for a nearby park or garden is high on the list. There is a lot of variability between the places we find but a number of them are worth mentioning. Here are a few of the places we’ve visited (selected pictures of these parks can be found here) :

Mitchell Park – Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Three domes enclose most of the park and within each dome is a different ecosystem. This interesting take on a garden makes for a year-round experience.

Wisconsin Dells

To be honest I’d never heard of Wisconsin Dells until we were driving through. A kind museum worker in Madison remarked that we should visit so we booked a week there. Wisconsin Dells is basically a tourist vacation destination with lots of indoor and outdoor water parks. It has its share of gaudy souvenir shops, go-cart tracks, and substandard expensive restaurants so you have to look beyond that. There is a nice river walk in the city along the Wisconsin River but the real beauty is on the river. One needs to take a cruise on the Upper Dells to appreciate the area. A visit to H H Bennett’s photography studio is also a must because my pictures don’t do it justice.

Garvan Woodland Gardens – Hot Springs, Arkansas

We stumbled upon this garden and found many acres of formal gardens with many additional acres of woodland trails along two peninsulas that extend out into Lake Hamilton. This is a well-kept garden and our visits make for enjoyable outings. We visit whenever we stop in Hot Springs.

Missouri Botanical Garden – St. Louis, Missouri

When we visited this garden there was a spectacular Chihuly blown glass display in various areas of the park. The colorful glass was a marked contrast with the plants and made the visit a more memorable one. 

Bedrock Gardens – Lee, New Hampshire

One of the most eclectic gardens we’ve come across. The small privately maintained garden contains a lot of whimsical art. Although this garden lacked dramatic plant diversity it made up for it with its obvious attention to detail.

Lincoln Memorial Garden and Nature Center – Springfield, Illinois

This garden is more of a ‘wildscape’ than a formal garden but there are many trails that border Lake Springfield making this a good place to be outside and get some exercise. 

Olbrich Botanical Garden – Madison, Wisconsin

When we visited the surrounding city streets were under construction and parking was at a premium. The gardens themselves were lush but modest. The butterflies were a delight.

Dogwood Canyon Nature Park – Lampe, Missouri

The Bass Pro Shop sponsored park is clean, safe, and well-maintained. The three-mile walk along paved paths takes one along a creek with several spring-fed waterfalls. There is little wildlife due to the heavy use due to the availability of a guided tram that travels the same path.

America the Beautiful Park – Colorado Springs, Colorado

Located near the heart of downtown Colorado Springs, this park pales in comparison to its neighbor the Garden of the Gods but it was a nice walk along the creek and there were a lot of families using the water feature to splash and play. The large rotating art is amazing. The park is well used and any park with Pikes Peak in the background is worth visiting.

Springfield Botanical Garden – Springfield, Missouri

This city-run park consists of several gardens maintained by various garden groups in the area. The day we visited, the Rose Garden and White Garden were in bloom. The paved walkways include one around a small lake making our fall day one to remember.

State Botanical Garden of Georgia – Athens, Georgia

The 300-plus acre grounds contain a conservatory and extensive garden areas dedicated to providing educational opportunities to encourage good stewardship. The garden is an extension of the nearby University of Georgia and is supported by volunteer organizations. In addition to formal gardens, several trails allow a casual walk in the woods. Extensive labeling provides the visitor with instant identification of the diverse plants that can be found there.

There are many parks worth visiting and we plan to see as many as we can. It is always a joy to get outside and take in the view.