Olmstead's Natural Beauty, Delaware Park

Delaware Park is a very beautiful and picturesque park, it is a very peaceful and enjoyable place to walk through. And from one casual stroll alone I can immediately understand exactly what Olmstead was going for with the concept of his parks. Even today years after the park was designed it stills manages to retain a surprisingly peaceful atmosphere despite the fact that it now has a freeway running through it.

One can see the exit signs just behind the trees, and yet the park retains it sense tranquility. Beyond that there are signs of Olmstead's manufactured natural beauty everywhere you look. Curving and winding footpaths, hand picked trees that generally do not grow in the same area located right next to each other, a very handcrafted feel to the over all area in general. Large swaths of open space and and trees growing along the side of paths is certainly not truly natural.

This is my favorite picture, kinda feels like it captures what Olmstead was going for at least to me.

 But unlike what Olmstead presents as natural beauty, true natural wilderness is so much more busy, it uses all possible space to grow as much as possible. 

These photos are back from when I attended and archaeological field school, and as anyone can see real nature is not inclined to look picturesque and and tranquil, it can at times but in general this what real nature looks like. And this is far from what Olmstead envisions in his idea of nature, but I still appreciate and enjoy his vision nonetheless.