Posted By: Kyle Anderson
Today over breakfast we were engaged with an astonishing lesson of the history of green-spaces placed intricately throughout the cities of the world. Grasping the idea that our wonderful city parks were based off the early forms of our cemeteries proved challenging at first. The romantic perceptions that are involved in creating a quintessential area for our deceased to lay at ease followed the nature, art and adornment, melancholy, national identity, and a didactic approach to reinforce the gratitude that we have for our loved ones. Frederick Law Olmstead, after many jobs and travels around the world, was able to grasp the design concepts to create a space that appealed to the public. Olmstead provided the U.S. and several other countries, including Canada, the gift of city parks. Central Park in NYC is one of his greatest accomplishments, but in Montreal, Mont. Royal is a spectacle worth viewing. Our group packed up and hit the streets towards Mount. Royal.
Arrival at the base of the Mount. Royal showed us the importance of a green area in a city. After viewing skyscrapers and endless concrete, the dense forest and untamed rock expressed the contrast that Olmstead sought after. We climbed the steps up the mountain viewing the various activities and relationships that were very different from the city just steps behind us. Arriving at the pavilion atop Mount. Royal we were astonished by the city scape before us. A short tour of the Smith House lets us understand the gravity that this green space has in the city of Montreal. A break for lunch in the park is well needed after a sweltering hike up. We then make our way around the pond that offers excellent recreational activities, both during the summer and winter. Our group then gravitates towards the children’s playground and the kid in all of us comes out, playing on various bouldering rocks and swings. We then split into two groups to find art in nature. Assigned with the task to establish a form of art with nature, our groups collect various pieces of plant matter and natural elements to create an image in nature.
After a long day in the park our group reconnects to head out for dinner. Tonight we were able to try a magnificent Venezuelan meal in a busy and cultured part of Montreal. Various flavors and combinations of meals were tasted as well as several flavors of tropical fruit juices. A walk down a street popping with color and life capped a day of exploration of all the different corners that a city can offer.
“Take it or Leaf it.” Earth art by Group B.
A whimsical representation of our movement around Mount Royal
msu landscape design & horticulture 