Cities and parks just seem to go together, maybe because urban dwellers need green spaces to escape the noise and bustle all around them. Green spaces like New York’s Central Park and Golden Gate Park in San Francisco have an almost legendary place in our culture, and others like the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris and Hyde Park in London have histories going back for centuries. If you happen to find yourself in the vicinity of any of the six world famous parks described below, be sure to take the time to visit.
Parks have trees and greenery, of course, which are welcome sights in the concrete jungle. But they also offer much more – history, music, famous artworks, zoos, rare plants and even wildlife. They have always been places for reflection and inspiration. You will bring home unforgettable memories as well as ideas for you own garden at home. It could use a cherry tree, or a small water feature, right?
Here’s a very brief rundown on what to see in the most beautiful parks in the world.
Hyde Park, London
This London landmark is famous for its Speakers Corner where people can still go to air their views in public. Many a fictional character has come to grief in hilarious fashion here. Besides the ridiculous, there’s also the sublime: the Serpentine, which is one of the lakes that crosses the park, the Memorial Fountain for Diana, Princess of Wales, the Grand Entrance and the Wellington Arch, music concerts and the legendary Rotten Row with immaculately-turned out riders.
Central Park, New York
Not as old as Hyde Park, but quite as famous, New York City’s Central Park covers fifty city blocks and offers a haven to natives and tourists alike. Designed in the 1850s by the famous landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, it has lakes, meadows, woods, lawns, fountains, statues and a mini zoo with penguins.
Luxembourg Garden, Paris
Close to the Latin Quarter but miles removed from its hustle and bustle, this peaceful and beloved urban oasis has greenhouses full of orchids and orchards with apple and pear trees. There’s a puppet theatre and swings and a merry-go-round for children.
Hibiya Park, Tokyo
This popular urban park was once part of the palace grounds belonging to a feudal lord during the Shogun era. Situated across the street from the Imperial Palace, it has played an important part in Japan’s history. It is as much a cultural center as a natural oasis, with a museum and library on the grounds. The park is also a venue for open air music concerts, and a good place to admire cherry blossoms in the spring.
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
This is another famous landmark, familiar to anyone who watches movies. Covering a thousand acres that stretch from San Francisco’s famous Haight-Ashbury neighborhood to the edge of the ocean, it has gardens, woods, walking trails, and museums. One of the most famous features is the Japanese Tea Garden, with ponds, bridges, waterfalls, statues and lanterns.
Visitors will be surprised to see a herd of free-roaming bison at the western end of the park, but these shaggy, iconic beasts have been there since 1892. In case you start to worry, we should tell you that they are under the care of the staff of the San Francisco Zoo.
Villa Doria Pamphilli, Rome
This is another historic urban park popular with both natives and visitors. Once the grounds were part of a country house belonging to a noble family. There are manicured gardens, statues and historic architecture, a lake and concert venues.
Bringing it Home: Inspiring Ideas for Your Garden
Gardens and parks are all about inspiration, and you will see many things you may want to try out at home. A cherry tree that blossoms every spring and tulip beds are relatively easy projects. You may even choose to install a fountain in your own garden.
But remember, planning a fountain is both an aesthetic and technical enterprise, and along with designs and statutes, you’ll be pondering suction pumps and water aeration systems. It’s important to keep the water clean and well aerated, so the right equipment is important.
Parks offer many things to city dwellers and visitors. They can provide quiet oasis to retreat to, as well as a place to think and plan in beautiful natural surroundings. Best of all, you can bring homes ideas to try out in your own garden.
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