The Mossèn Cinto Verdaguer garden is by far one of the most beautiful in Barcelona. The combination of the different flowering periods and seasonal changes of the leaves on the trees grant exceptional colour to this space dedicated to bulb, rhizome and aquatic plants. Each season has its charm and colour. The serenity and landscape design of the space alone are worth a visit.
The Jardins de Mossèn Cinto Verdaguer slant down a slight slope where great views of Barcelona, the sea and on clear days, Montseny can be enjoyed. The garden is part of Parc de Montjuïc, where it is one of the most outstanding thematic gardens and at the same time neighbours the Jardins de Joan Brossa and the Viver dels Tres Pins.
The main entrance, on Avinguda de Miramar, is monumental. The visitor is welcomed by a large shield of Barcelona formed with bulb plants and framed by large Magnolias that when in bloom, at the end of spring, make the arrangement spectacular. From here you can gaze at the view of a large green carpet formed by the grass that softly ascends. MAP IT
The collectionTulips, Narcissuses, Lotuses, Hyacinths, Water Lilies... these and other bulb, rhizome and aquatic species are the most prominent in the space. Everything surrounds them and they have all been arranged so that their flowering periods, in the majority of species both extraordinary and brief, stand out.
The collection is planted in 2,800 m2 of parterres spread out over the grasslands forming a kind of continuous colourful snake, embracing the sunniest areas of the garden and drawing out the main path.
Each year around 80,000 bulbs are planted, distributed according to colour, flower duration and plant height. There are two great flowering periods: March and April and from the end of July until the beginning of September.
While the bulb and rhizome species are distributed throughout the garden, the most important part of the collection of aquatic plants is concentrated in the higher area, shared out over a set of thirty small connected pools that are situated on both sides of a large stairway.
The water falls from a small elongated pond situated in front of a wall of stone chippings with a small waterfall. A wooden bridge completes the delicacy of this spot, where one of the entrances is found. Slightly further up, a group of conifers stands out, and down the stairway, there is a lake and immense grasslands with large trees at the end where the path that connects the gardens with the Jardins de Joan Brossa is situated.
The Jardins de Mossèn Cinto Verdaguer are a place to be and to stroll. The space is so peaceful that it is not strange to see turtledoves walking on the grass.
Everywhere there are paths and little stone stairways adorned with ivy that has been planted between the steps. This means that one can move between the large grasslands in the garden and keep discovering the garden's plant collection. The ivy is so bright that in spring and summer it contrasts with the flowers and in autumn with the ochre tones of the trees and deciduous plants.
The collection of bulb and rhizome plants combines with other herbaceous plants that maintain the attractiveness of the garden when the bulb plants are dormant. Some plants are evergreen, such as African Lilies (Agapanthus sp) and Daylilies (Hemerocallis sp) that remain permanently planted. Those that must be newly planted each season are dormant in summer and autumn and flower in winter and spring, like Tulips (Tulipa sp.), Hyacinths (Hyacinthus sp.), Narcissuses (Narcissus sp.), Crocuses (Croccus sp), Anemone Flowers (Anemone sp.), Buttercups (Ranunculus sp.) and Grape Hyacinths (Muscari sp.); Dhalias (Dhalia sp.) and Canna Lilies (Canna X generalis) flower in summer and at the beginning of autumn and are dormant in winter.
Art and Architecture
There are two female sculptures in this park. Noia dels lliris, by Ramon Sabi (1970), and Maternitat, by Sebastià Badia (1970). The first sculpture, near the lake, pays homage to Mossèn Cinto Verdaguer and has an inscription of verses from the great poet: "Bonica és la rosa / més ho és el ram / mes ho és el lliri / que floreix tot l'any". The second sculpture is situated near the gardeners' shed, under a great Maritime Pine. It is a serene, sweet and very tender image of a women looking at her son who is on her lap.
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Source : Garden web site
