This President's Day, a lot of focus falls on Abraham Lincoln due to the popular movie "Lincoln."
But if you want to connect to the first President of the United States, you might pay a visit to Washington Park in southeast Denver. During the growing season, Washington Park--fondly known as Wash Park--boasts some of the showiest flower beds in the Mile High City. With 165 acres and 54 eye-popping flower beds designed with more than 25,000 annuals grown in the City Park greenhouses, Wash Park pleases runners, cyclists, and people walking past the vibrant flowerbeds.
Washington Park includes two connections to the first president and his wife.
But Washington Park also includes two lesser known features. In the park stands a tall elm tree grafted from the Washington Elm in Massachusetts, at the site where then-General Washington assumed command of the Continental Army in 1775. Look for a tall tree surrounded by decorative fence. An inscription provides history of the tree.
Another tie to the Washington presidency is a sunken garden designed after a Martha Washington's garden cultivated at her home in Mount Vernon, Virginia. Mrs. Washington’s garden was constructed in 1926. The sunken garden has a formal elegance. A low retaining wall edging the garden represents the stone walls of Martha's original greenhouses. A privet hedge is shaped according to a display created by President George Washington at Mount Vernon.
With lakes, a boat house, playing fields and courts, picnic facilities, a recreation center, and pathways for pedestrians, in-line skaters, or bicyclists, the park provides diversions galore. But whether you visit on President's Day or any other time, take in these tributes to our first President of the United States and his wife.
••• "Cultivate your corner of the world.
You grow your garden; your garden grows you." •••
Colleen Smith gardens in and writes from central Denver. She's the author of the acclaimed novel Glass Halo and the whimsical, inspirational gift book Laid-Back Skier.
• To learn more, visit FridayJonesPublishing.com or GlassHaloNovel.com.
• Or visit Friday Jones Publishing on Facebook and become a fan. You'll enjoy frequent posts on gardening and other topics.
• Follow FridayPublisher on Twitter. Wag your tale!
• FridayWags on Pinterest inclues boards on gardening, books, art, music, Arts & Craft Bungalow and more.
Comments