Sunday, September 4, 2011

Alamo Placita Park, Denver, Colorado


Alamo Placita Park (Little Place of the Cottonwoods) has often been called Denver, Colorado's most ideal and most beautiful park.



Part of Denver Parks and Recreation Alamo Placita Park is a public park located on the north side of Speer Boulevard between Ogden and Emerson Streets. While I was in Denver last week, to go shopping with my daughter for her wedding dress, I passed the park many times while driving down Speer Boulevard.  Seeing it's beauty from the corner of my eye, I decided that one day I had to stop and explore it further.




I was amazed by its array of beautifully well maintained flower beds!




The park was a landscape artist's masterpiece.



A very beautiful oasis of beauty next to the very busy highway. As you can see in the photos it still contained some cottonwood trees after which it was named.





Even though the month of August in Denver was in the 90's almost every day--the hottest August that was ever recorded in the city--the flowers were all in wonderful condition.



Just a few of the many beautiful blossoms in the park.



An informational placard in the park told the varied and colorful history of the land this park is located on, including the fact that this was once the site of an amusement area that was called "The Coney Island of the West."  This photo, as well as all the photos in this post can be enlarged by clicking on them once, and then again when they reopen. More of the history of the park and surrounding neighborhood can be read at this link.



Directly across from Alamo Placita Park is a section of the Cherry Creek which winds though the city of Denver and is a favorite bicycle and walking path.


It is truly wonderful that municipalities such as Denver maintain such beautiful green spaces within city limits for the enjoyment of all!


I'm adding this post to "Mosaic Monday" on Mary's blog Little Red House. Thanks, Mary, for hosting this wonderful event each week!



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34 comments:

Tanna said...

I hope you squeezed in lots of grandbaby hugs, too! ;) The flowers are so pretty. Everything is brown and dried out down here. Not our usual. I'm longing for green and vibrant colors again! Thanks for at least letting me see some here! blessings ~ tanna

Rajesh said...

Beautiful park. Very colorful with those flowers.

black eyed susans kitchen said...

The gardens in these pictures are beautiful! Seems you had a very busy and fun visit in Colorado. As we all know though..."there is no place like home".

The Gathering Place said...

What beautiful flower beds. I haven't seen as many pretty flowers this year as most (strange weather here) so I enjoyed your photos! Good luck with the wedding plans.

Kris said...

Denver looks lovely! You must be having a ball!!!
I would love to be entered into your drawing too!!

Barbara F. said...

Welcome back, you were missed! This is a very beautiful park. Loved all the red flowers, so vibrant. xo,

Ginny Hartzler said...

I'm so glad you went there, now we are all benefiting from it. It is all just beautiful!

My name is Riet said...

That is a very beautiful park Pat. The colors and the flowerbeds are so pretty. It is good for the people to have parks and greens in the neighborhood. You must have had a wonderful time and of course the babies were there to cuddle and love.
Have a nice day
Riet

Ola said...

I can see you are visiting so many parks, no wonder, they are so colorful and well maintained on your pictures!

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

What a beautiful park Pat. I can't get over all of the canna lilies. I had no idea they would grow in Colorado.
Sam

diane b said...

WOW! They are beautiful gardens. The flower beds are amazing with so many colourful blooms. Much better to have a park like that than an amusement park.

Tracy said...

The floral landscaping is just DAZZLING! LOVING the rich variety of shapes & color--what a park! Really loving the close-ups of the zinnas...such happy summer flowers. Thanks for taking us along, Pat. :o) Happy Week ((HUGS))

Veronica said...

Hi Pat. As always you make me feel like I was there with all the vibrant masaics and gorgeous pics. looks like you had a great visist!

Veronica
www.mothercitymagic.blogspot.com

From Beyond My Kitchen Window said...

The gardens in the photos are stunning. Years ago I worked with someone who grew up in Denver and she use to tell us all the time how gorgeous it was. Good luck to everyone on the give-away.

A Garden of Threads said...

Beautiful park. It is full of brightly colour flowers.

Sheila said...

Pat you have a special way of describing every new place you visit and I enjoy looking through your camera lens. It must have been wonderful to spend the weekend with your daughter ...so many plans to talk about...wonderful!

Old Kitty said...

Awwww Little Place of the Cottonwoods! What a lovely name and a gorgeous park too!! So glad that it was developed by residents as interest in their community grew.

The flowers are just gorgeous!

Thanks for sharing these pics here! Take care
x

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

What gorgeous flowers! This is such a beautiful place to visit...and such a happy time for you and your family! Happy Monday, my friend! ♥

ellen b. said...

What a beautiful park that is. I love how bloggers develop that great "seeing stuff out of the corner of your eye" skill. 90's all week...yikes. Was it a dry 90?
Gorgeous mosaics! Happy labor day to you.

Pondside said...

Denver is beautiful, and a garden like this one isn't something I'd expect to see where one things of rugged mountain views. What a lovely break that must have been for you.

Betty said...

What a pretty park and beautiful photographs as usual. You have such a good eye. I had no idea Colorado got that hot! I was thinking it would be nice and cool, but you can see the burned grass along the path by the river.

Michelle said...

Denver is such a great city. We have had the pleasure of being there when my husband has business in the city. Your pictures are always so beautiful and I love your collages.

Gracie said...

Beautiful park indeed and as always with your photos you've captured the best of it!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Gorgeous gardens, Pat. I love them.. I read this last night--but I was on Networked Blogs and could not leave a comment from there. Do not understand that thing... Wish I knew more about how it works.
Hugs,
Betsy

Lisa@GrandmasBriefs said...

How very appropriate for you to cover the Coney Island of the West! :) The flowers are indeed beautiful, despite our record-breaking heat. Looks like you made the most of the visit...and I look forward to any and all photos to come (as I'm sure you've got more!).

Happy Labor Day to you!

Snap said...

It's been 40 years since I've been in Denver, but I remember Cherry creek and that it snowed on April 1!!!! I can always depend on you to find a beautiful garden!

steviewren said...

The flowers are glorious! I especially like the collage of reds.

My daughter and I just returned from Austin. The temp the day we arrived topped out at 112F. It felt like a oven...but even so I thought it was more comfortable than the humid upper 90s summer we have had here this year.

Linda said...

What a beautiful park...I think Colorado is such a beautiful place. Was your daughter able to find a dress on your trip? My nieces wedding was Saturday and she has the same colors...it was very pretty. Happy Labor Day!!

Sarah said...

What gorgeous flowers. Looks like a beautiful day in the park. You never disappoint, Pat. Thanks for taking us along.

Ciao Chow Linda said...

You find beauty wherever you go Pat. Wonderful photographs with such vibrant colors and great focus.

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

Those reds are calling my name...."PJ! PJ!"

Lovella ♥ said...

Beautiful Pat. I wonder how many huge cities have begun because a small settlement began around a winding stream. I've never been there ..yet.

Claudia said...

I would love to take a bike ride down Cherry Creek - so welcoming. Cottonwoods abound here (and cotton flies through the air during May and June). They are worthy, majestic, long-lived trees deserving of glorious blooms. Hooray for Denver for preserving parks for all.

Mary said...

Wow, what a fabulous garden! You always have the most wonderful and informative posts, Pat. Thanks so much for sharing your talents at MM. :) xoxo