Zilker Botanical Gardens, located near the Zilker Park
complex, is a wonderful area for anyone in Austin looking to find respite in
nature. The Gardens are home to many individual areas dedicated to the
different flora native to the Austin area, ranging from cactus gardens to herb
gardens, stands of various trees and more.
The gardens have a sense of calm about them; after paying
your $2 admission fee inside the quaint visitor’s center, you emerge into a
quiet realm that would seem out of place in any other metropolitan area.
Families with small children tour the grounds, the elderly wander through the
herb gardens, and college students use the flowers as picture subjects. Yet
despite the various motives that bring people to the Zilker Botanical Gardens,
one thing is constant. Nearly everyone that visits is held in near silent
reverence of the beauty of the nature surrounding them. Walking along the paths
through the trees and flower beds is one of the most calming activities
imaginable, with an almost therapeutic quality. The many benches located
throughout the gardens are often occupied by people reading, bird watching, or
simply sitting among the natural beauty of the gardens. The sounds of the
nearby traffic barely break into the gardens; it truly is a quiet oasis in the
middle of the city.
Zilker Botanical Gardens exemplifies the beauty of the
natural American Environment, by harnessing and preserving a wide array of the
plants of the region. The gardens also help to expose visitors to flora that
they may not readily encounter elsewhere in the city limits. The gardens also
play host to a flower “popularity contest”, in which visitors vote for their
favorite flower type, causing visitors to consider at even greater depth the
value and beauty of the species of plant within the gardens. By centralizing
the experience of nature to within this relatively small area, the Gardens help
even the busiest of people experience the most natural bang for their buck (or
two). For these reasons, I feel
that visiting Zilker Botanical Gardens is a great way to reconnect with the
natural environment of our great city.
Let me start by saying that your descriptions are amazing. This place sounds beautiful and I am completely convinced that I need to see this place! After living in Austin for 3 years I still haven't been to any part of Zilker Park, which is going to change soon!
ReplyDeleteI for one have never been to the Zilker park botanical gardens and need to go, but after you description of this majestical place, I must say I am excited to check it out soon! The other benefit that you pointed out was that it was only a $2 dollar admission fee, seems pretty reasonable to me. You choose a beautiful place and sounds like it was an experience that connected to nature while not having to leave the city of Austin!
ReplyDeleteI've been to the Zilker Park Botanical Gardens once, and your description is pretty accurate. I even saw a couple getting married there, and I can see why. The gardens are definitely serene and they give people a place to connect with nature. The rose section (I don't remember the exact names of the sections within) was very beautiful and my favorite part was the Japanese style garden, complete with a small bamboo forest.
ReplyDelete2$ admissions? Perfect place for a cheap date! All kidding aside, I have never been here and always walk past it on the way back from acl. After reading this description I feel this is a good place to go blow off some steam and to relax before our final on monday!
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