April 25 – June 4, 2016
Parks and gardens lend an undertone to the feeling of a city, even if you never get around to visiting them. I’ve definitely noticed the nicest cities always have beautiful parks, and places that lack them (like my home town of Los Angeles) can feel a bit barren. Nelson, not surprisingly, has some lovely parks.
(Click to enlarge/scroll through any of the photo galleries below.)
The town of Nelson sits sprawled out under a hill called Church Hill. There are steps that lead up to the beautiful Christ Church Cathedral, which sits at the top and is the only structure on the hill. The rest is parkland which is, arguably, the most beautiful in Nelson.
The most famous parkland is Queens Gardens, a smallish but very pretty botanical garden. This is the park which seems to draw in the most people.
Then there’s the small but significant Anzac Park, more of a square really, with a war memorial and lovely gardens.
The surprise park, for us, was one we stumbled across while walking around town: Albion Square, a historical reserve. It has some small historical structures, but what made it so special to us was its collection of exotic and fascinating pine trees. The square isn’t all that big, but the magnificent trees and peaceful surroundings make it will worth a visit!
Overall, a key to Nelson’s charm is it’s devotion to plants of all kinds. Trees are everywhere, flowering plants spill over from hanging baskets on the lampposts, and gardens are nurtured. It really makes it stand out as a particularly beautiful place. –Cyndi
