It snowed a butt-ton yesterday and it's super cold, yet sunny, today. Most outdoor plants are dead. It is Winter.

So, I thought it would be fun to look at the beautiful vegetation of New Orleans in the City Park and Botanical Gardens.

I'm really not trying to rub salt in the wound that it's snowy and winter and slush and ice and suck. I just thought this could be a fun little escape. Let's all pretend we're in New Orleans. It's 82 degrees and sunny. Maybe a smidge humid, but not too bad. And keep in mind after we're done walking through City Park we get a beignet from Café Du Monde. *sigh*

On the website for the City Park, I learned that it is actually one of the oldest urban parks in the country, "The 1,300-acre outdoor oasis has enchanted New Orleanians since 1854, making it one of the nation’s oldest urban parks. Each year, millions of visitors stroll under the same historic oaks and picturesque moss canopies that served as the backdrop for dances, concerts, and even gentlemanly duels or “affaires d’honneur” for generations."

It's home to Botanical Gardens, Storyland, Besthoff Sculpture Garden, and Carousel Gardens Amusement Park. Not to mention all the trails, tennis courts, walking and running paths, golf course, casino, and paddle boats that look like swans!

We decided to visit City Park on a Tuesday, which we should have researched better because the sculpture garden and Storyland are closed on Tuesdays. Oh well, there was plenty of beauty to take in just walking around.

During The Great Depression funds were allocated to develop City Park to help create jobs. Then, when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, 95% of the park was underwater, but the people of New Orleans came together to get it back in shape!

Also, I would like to note that New Orleans was hit by Hurricane Zeta about a week after we were there. It is very humbling to know that we just missed the storm and it is great to see that the places we patronized seem to be bouncing back and doing fine!

New Orleans City Park

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