Discover VanderVeer Botanical Park, Davenport

     

Mail box holds brochures for 2021 them: Travel Colors Your  World

These AAS selections are gorgeous plants and flowers.

An interesting planting at one corner, outside the Conservatory.

    The land first was the site of the Scott County Fairgrounds. That was before the City of Davenport purchased the property in 1885 and named it Central Park after the famous park in New York City.

    The park, like its namesake, features a pond, glass conservatory, bridge, floral gardens and a fountain.

    Find all that, and much more, today at Vander Veer Botanical Park, 215 W. Central Park Ave., Davenport.

    It measures almost a mile around the perimeter and I like to walk and jog along the sidewalks. There is shade from huge trees, planted in 1890 or so, and always something to look at inside the active park.

    During a recent afternoon I decided to view the flowers outside the conservatory and they are just stupendous. Dazzling. Impressive.

    One main interest is annual flowers and Vander Veer has an All-American Selections garden that is jaw-dropping gorgeous. It is in this space where selections are tested from the AAS, a non-profit organization that tests new varieties and introduces new flowers and plants as top performers.

    Consumers can trust AAS selections for various reasons; the noted plants and flowers are solid choices for purchase.

    The municipal rose garden is an All-American Selections Rose Garden, and was first planted in 1948. A visitor will notice several rows of well-care-for rose plants, with informative signs on each variety.    

    The hosta garden is an American Hosta Society Official National Display Garden. It was planted in 1998.

    For 100 years the conservatory has featured four seasonal displays: Spring bulbs, summer tropicals, a Chrysanthemum Festival in the autumn months and the Poinsettia Festival in the winter. It is a sure picker-upper when the weather outside is frightful.

    This year the park has adopted 2021 Davenport-wide summer theme: "Travel Colors Your World." A brochure shows the colors of the park, and there are special locations to discover information from each of five "countries" in the park. Locations include the Stone Bridge, Stone Fountain and the Warming House next to the pond.

    Interested in supporting the park? Check out the non-profit Friends of Vander Veer organization. Contact information: www.FriendsofVanderVeer.org, or call 563-323-3298.

Source information:

https://www.davenportiowa.com/government/departments/parks_recreation/locations/vander_veer_botanical_park

https://www.traveliowa.com/destination/vander-veer-botanical-park-and-conservatory/7332/

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