Shakespeare Garden
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Shakespeare gardens, created out of reverence for the bard, can be found throughout many locations in both the US and Britain. Of these gardens, one of the most famous is that found in Central Park, where it is located at West Side and 79th street.
What had formerly been known as the Garden of the Heart was, in 1916, renamed the Shakespeare Garden to mark the 300th anniversary of William Shakespeare's death. Following in the tradition of already established Shakespeare Gardens, the Garden was filled with the beautiful plants and flowers mentioned in the works of the playwright, as well as those featured in his own private garden in Stratford-upon-Avon.
The Garden covers four acres of plants that change according to season. Included among these are plants such as rosemary and pansies, alluded to by Ophelia in Hamlet, thistle, mentioned in the play Much Ado About Nothing, and even a white mulberry tree that is said to have grown from a graft of a tree planted by Shakespeare himself in 1602. To aid you in your quest to identify the various species of plant life located within the space, bronze plaques with corresponding quotations from Shakespeare's plays have been placed sporadically along the path. The Garden is located near the Delacorte Theatre, the site of the annual "Shakespeare in the Park" series held in the summer.
A rather less frequented attraction of the park, the Shakespeare Garden is the perfect place for a relaxing afternoon stroll along its winding paths amidst the lovely seasonal flora, which is particularly vibrant and lush in the springtime. Due to its serene and romantic atmosphere, the Garden is also a popular spot for wedding ceremonies.
— Jesse M. Wheeler
