Boston Public Garden

The Boston Public Garden was established in 1837 to be the first public botanical garden in the United States. It is a small, rectangular parcel, bound by Beacon, Arlington, Boylston, and Charles Streets, and is comprised of 24 acres on the site of an old salt marsh.  You can see Boston Common right across Charles Street. Both Boston Public Garden and Boston Common were part of the Emerald Green Necklace of contiguous parks envisioned by Frederick Law Olmsted, but never fully realized. (We have encountered Olmsted before, as the designer of Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland, and of Central Park in New York City).

Graceful willows along the bank of the lake

Central to the design is a serpentine lake, intersected by a unique suspension bridge. Mature weeping willow trees grace the sides of the lake. I can see why folks from the East frequently plant willow trees in their yards when they move to the West. They are beautiful, and would be a wonderful reminder of home (though not a good water choice in our dry Western climate). A Victorian era wrought iron fence surrounds the park.

Gum drop trees and planting bed

The lines of Boston Public Garden are curving rather than linear, reflecting the move to a more naturalistic style of gardening that was emerging. We’ll learn more about the Landscape Movement in future Gardening History posts – the style was emerging in reaction to the extravagant, manicured gardens of the Renaissance; Revolution in Europe and America; and the demands of the Industrial Age. Paths meander through the park, enabling you to stroll at your own pace (compare with the practical linear paths of Boston Common, which get you efficiently across the green belt).

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The garden uses bedding plants in the Victorian style – bright exotic flowers and plants in combination, and designed to be swapped out seasonally. Shaped shrubs are used, but not in the extravagant shapes or heights of the Renaissance. The park is home to a collection of native and exotic trees, including Ginkgo, Dawn redwood, elms and oaks, and many others, befitting the first American botanical garden and true to the Victorian zeal to collect plants and trees discovered all over the world.

Rose garden and fanciful clipped shrubs

My husband and I walked through Boston Public Garden on our way to see the beautiful and historic Trinity Church and Boston Public Library, and returned another day to stroll and explore the Garden. We had perfect fall weather – sunny, clear, and warm. The leaves were just starting to turn to their fall colors. This increased our optimism about finding fall colors on the next leg of our trip –  North to Vermont.

Fall colors and dappled shade