As spring approaches, public gardens across the country are primping and preening, getting ready to enchant visitors with their colorful displays. No matter where you live or where you may be traveling, there will be a garden nearby you can visit for ideas, inspiration and information.
To get the most out of your time at a public garden, consider these suggestions:
- Wear comfortable shoes. Most gardens can be quite expansive, resulting in lots of walking. Although there are usually numerous places to sit and rest, don’t let sore feet limit your exploration and enjoyment.
- Spend a few moments when you first arrive looking at the map of the grounds which is usually handed out with your admission information. This will allow you to see all the sections of the gardens and to plan your route. Decide which areas are of least interest and leave them until last, in case you run out of time.
- Take a notebook, tape measure, pencil with eraser and camera. These tools will come in handy when you want to commit a particular plant or design to memory. Use the notebook to write down ideas for your own garden. When you see a plant you like, be sure to write down its botanical name, as plants can have different common names in different parts of the country.
- Allow plenty of time for your visit. Most gardens have numerous areas to see and cover quite a bit of area. Don’t find yourself so rushed for time that you have to sacrifice interesting parts of the property.
- Take a small snack with you so hunger doesn’t end your tour earlier than planned. Some gardens, particularly the large, well-known ones, often have a restaurant or snack bar.
- Filoli is a magnificent 654 acre estate with 16 acres of formal gardens just south of San Francisco. The gardens and house were originally built in 1917 and continued to be occupied, first by a gold mine owner and then by a shipping magnate, until 1975. The name Filoli comes from the motto of the original owner: Fight for a good cause; love your fellow man; live a good life. The gardens – really a series of outdoor rooms – are nothing short of spectacular. They include parterres, terraces, pools, allees and an intriguing knot garden. Two large parterres which, in the spring, hold a profusion of bubble gum pink tulips and baby blue forget-me-nots are visions of beauty. Many striking containers are tucked alluringly into corners beside moss-covered statuary or are boldly framing a walkway. Plan to spend the better part of a full day touring this treasure.
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