In the Spring, I often visit public gardens and parks for inspiration and to get outdoors. This past weekend, I took a walk through the Cancer Survivors Park, which connects to the famous Falls Park in Greenville, SC. We parked at the entrance to the Cancer Survivors Park on Cleveland Street. I took the ramp that made it a bit easier for my aging knees. Walking among the displays of sculptures and plantings I could see the first signs of a glorious Spring starting to take bloom. For those that haven’t been, Unity Park, Falls Park, Cancer Survivors Park, and Cleveland Park all connect like a string of pearls alongside the Reedy River. Greenville has done an amazing job of creating public parks that families can enjoy and explore together. The Reedy River runs like a common thread, along with the Swamp Rabbit Trail, throughout each park. The cascading river, with its big rocks and falls is the main focal point.
Looking around at the park, it was hard to believe that I was in the middle of one of the fastest growing cities in the South. Nature and beauty sit among the trees and in the shadow of the buildings that make up the city. Along the river, I saw a Great Blue Heron and some turtles sunning themselves. A favorite attraction is the root tree, a Medusa Tree, with all of the roots exposed in the bank along the path. Beautiful sculptures are placed strategically throughout the garden. The famous Swamp Rabbit Trail runs through the whole network of parks throughout Greenville County. The Trail is for walking or biking and continues for many miles. See the website with an interactive Map. https://grvlsc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/minimalist/index.html?appid=c29d31875d334912ab029a495cf9f259.
If you are into garden walks, there are many gardens to visit within a few miles of the Upstate of South Carolina. One of my favorites is the South Carolina Botanical Gardens, on the campus at Clemson University. I have walked the trail around this beautiful garden many times in past years. Visiting the gardens at Clemson often inspires me to create something new in my own garden. The volunteers and employees who keep the garden in top shape have done an excellent job of marking the different varieties of plants that you might be interested in. I hope to visit it in the coming days to enjoy the first signs of spring blooms that are always breathtaking. A great time to go is when the dogwood is blooming and the daffodils have come out. It is breathtaking. For more details visit their webpage.
Soon, we will drive up to Asheville, North Carolina, and visit the North Carolina Arboretum. The flowers in this area are a little behind the ones in the lower Piedmont or Upstate region. The mountains of North Carolina are cooler, so check the website to see what is in bloom. This garden does charge a fee, but there is much to see. There are several different trails with varying degrees of difficulty where you can enjoy the outdoors. Recently, I read that the mountains are asking that visitors return to support some of their local businesses. I can’t think of a better way to spend a few bucks than to support the beautiful North Carolina Arboretum. See their website for more details. https://www.ncarboretum.org/.
Each time I visit a lovely garden, I come away inspired to create something, on a much smaller scale, in my yard. Even if you are not into gardening or growing things, connecting with nature and the outdoors is a great way to decompress for a few hours and enjoy your spring!