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Kenilworth Park and Aquatic GardensDinner plate sized flowers seem to float among four foot diameter leaves.
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Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens
Plants
 
northern wild rice and boardwalk in winter
Doug Rowley
Marsh of mostly northern wild rice at the edge of the pond area.

It is a balance of what seem conflicting mandates that makes this park spectacular all year.  This site is home to both cultivated, historic water gardens, and wild wetlands including some of the original tidal fresh water wetlands that characterized the area before a city was built.  Both have their own unique beauty.

Management decision are made that maintain both the cultivated gardens and the river marsh surrounding the ponds on three sides.  This balance has including building marsh land in areas excavated decades ago, and growing cultivated plants that are attractive but less likely to be eaten by neighboring wildlife. 

Since 1938 the balance has been maintained, an example of what can be done in other areas. 

 
Lotus in flower in full bloom.
Doug Rowley
There are now dwarf lotus which take less space in your garden.

Click here for sources of water plants our visitors recommend.

 

 

 

Franklin Pierce, 14th President: 1853-1857  

Did You Know?
Franklin Pierce was the first president to introduce the Christmas tree to the White House in 1856 for a group of Washington Sunday School children.

Last Updated: February 08, 2008 at 09:51 EST