Green Animals Topiary Garden - Portsmouth, Rhode Island

I have spent plenty of time in Newport, almost always stopping at the mansions to walk the grounds in the summer or see the mansions decorated for the holidays. The Green Animals Topiary Garden was always on my list but for one reason or another, we never made the trip. We were planning on visiting my grandparents in Fall River, a quick 15 minute drive from the gardens and the perfect opportunity to finally get out to the gardens. 

f i r s t   i m p r e s s i o n s

The gardens are in Portsmouth, Rhode Island (the top of the island, 25 minutes north of the Newport Mansions) so be prepared for a bit of a drive if you are coming from the mansions. 

We enjoyed our visit and the lovely grounds.  It's a great place to walk around (bring a picnic), relax, and enjoy the gardens and the view. The property has a large lawn that stretches right down to the water (Narragansett Bay). The topiaries are the main attraction and it is fun to walk around and try to identify the sculptures. The rest of the garden is also beautiful, with all different types of trees, shrubs, flowers, and even vegetables. There is a large Victorian house (closed to the public) with chairs on the shaded wrap-around porch to sit back and enjoy the views. The property also abuts a railroad where you can do one of those rail bike excursions too (extra fee). 

I thought it was a bit pricey for the short amount of time you spend in the garden and the topiary area was smaller than we thought. At $20 a person, it was a bit steep for the hour we spent. If you are a member of the Newport Mansions/Preservation Society, admission is included in the membership (they offer student discounts and some great perks if you are in the area or visit often). 

If you want to stretch your time at the garden, bring a picnic to enjoy on the lawn, in the chairs on the wrap-around porch, or one of the benches or picnic tables throughout the garden. Your ticket also gets you admission to the gardens and grounds of The Breakers, Marble House or The Elms. I would pair this visit with a trip to the grounds of the other Newport mansions (10 miles south) or, visit the nearby Greenvale Vineyards (6 miles southeast) or an afternoon at the Newport Polo grounds to watch a match (4 miles south) 

Great spot for kids as they can play on the lawn, see the gardens, and enjoy being outside. Everything is outside so it is a safe place to be during the pandemic. 

Elizabeth Park Rose Garden - Hartford, Connecticut

One day long, long, ago in my early twenties, I was sitting at the break room table at my job as a seasonal employee in the middle of summertime, exasperated that it was only Wednesday.  Between bites of whatever I was eating, I sighed out loud that I wished it was Friday.  And then I heard some of the best advice I have ever been given.  Don't wish your life away. 

Boom, it was such a short saying that packed a punch. You can't live for the weekend, and you certainly can't sit at the break room table miserable with your job wishing it was Friday.  Because Monday through Thursday?  Well, they can rock too. 

So maybe you can't go on an epic hiking trip on a Tuesday afternoon.  But what you can do is find a new-to-you treasure right there in your home state, maybe even the next town over.  I am thankful that Connecticut has a lot to offer in the summertime.  Concerts on the beach, amazing parks, beaches galore, dinner on the farm series, and so much more.  What I didn't know until recently was that Connecticut also has this amazing rose garden in a place where you least expect it, our less than glamourous capital city of Hartford.  Not only does it have this beautiful rose garden but it is dog-friendly, FREE, and home to a Wednesday concert series.  

Jardim Botanicos da Madeira - Botanical Garden - East Funchal. Madeira

You know you are getting old when you start to enjoy tourist attractions like gardens.  I had read about the Botanical Garden in my pocket guide, and a few people in our group mentioned wanting to see the garden.  The admission was cheap, at 5.50 euros ($5.93), and the garden was absolutely beautiful.  The park is packed with native Madeiran species, as well as many exotic plants  The colors are gorgeous and the ocean views in the background only enhance this botanical garden.  Make sure you relax and have a "cerveja" (beer) before you leave!

Jardim Botanicos da Madeira

Hours:  9am to 6pm

Admission:  5.50 euros, ($5.93)

Getting there:  Bus- 31/31A, cable car, taxi, or drive. 

GPS: Jardim Botanico Cable Car – Top:  GPS = N 32°40'34.4", W 16°53'57.2″ Jardim 

Notes:  The neighboring aviary Loro Parque can be visited on the same ticket.  There is also a cafe overlooking the garden where you can purchase drinks and food.  Also note that there are two cable cars.  The main one from the shore, and a shorter ride from the top of the first cable car to the garden.  The top shorter cable car was out for service when we visited. 

No Car? No problem!  Book a tour!  

* * Book your tour of the Botanical Garden here! * * 

"Covering 80,000 sq. meters, rising from 150 meters to 300 meters above sea level and crammed with the most exotic collection of plant life in Europe, Madeira's main botanical garden is like few others.  Unlike other institutions of its ilk- normally the preserve of botanists and bored school groups- the Jardim Botanicos da Madeira teem with tourists who wander in amazement at the leafy spectacle on offer.  Only created in the 1950's, it's one of Madeiras top tourist attractions".  -- Lonely Planet Guide Madeira 

Entrance to the Botanical Gardens

My father posing in the Botanical Gardens

Walkway around one of the buildings

Large garden

Parents posing in the large garden 

Posing in the garden 

Greenery in the garden

Signage in the garden 

Stairs in the garden 

Looking over the garden 

View of the tunnel from Lover's Cave 

Flowers in the Botanical Garden

Overlooking a large garden

Red flowers in the garden

One of the cats near the cafe

Bathrooms at the Botanical Garden

Posing after a great day at the Garden

Red Butte Garden - Salt Lake City, Utah

  I hope you are all having a fantastic week.  It is quite warm here, 90s all week getting a little hotter each day until we reach 100 on Sunday.  Hot, 0% chance of rain....Perfect beach days, well you see, without the beach.  Well, there is no beach so lets talk about a garden.

A few weekends ago I went back to visit the gorgeous Red Butte Gardens.  Being a U of U student, I get free entry into the garden, so I love to stroll through the garden during the different seasons and enjoy the flowers.  

You can read and see the pictures from my September 2014 visit.  

Red Butte Garden

300 Wakara Way

Salt Lake City, UT 84108

May 1-Aug 31: 9 am-9 pm*

Entrance Fee: 

Members: Free

Adults (ages 18-64): $10

Seniors (ages 65+): $8

Military w/ID: $8

Children (ages 3-17): $6

Children (under 3): Free

U of U Faculty/Staff: $8

U of U Students: Free with valid ID