Boston is hardly a concrete jungle with the Commons and Public Garden in the heart of downtown. However, on beautiful summer days these green oases can become a jungle of another kind, congested with strollers and tourists swarming the swan boats.
On a particularly flawless summer Sunday, a friend and I decided to venture off the Green Line and seek out some true greenery. Our destination was the Arnold Arboretum, a 265-acre swath of land in Jamaica Plain. After a bit of navigational confusion (you can take either the Orange Line or the #39 bus), we finally found ourselves wandering through a wonderland of green!
There are tours offered at the Arboretum, but we chose to explore the networks of paths on our own. Along the way, we browsed the carefully cultivated and labeled collections of plants. I loved the blossoming rhododendrons abuzz with bees and the gazebo of miniature bonsai trees. There also is a fantastic view overlooking the city from atop Peters Hill. We walked for a few hours and didn’t even see everything – the sheer size of the Arboretum is definitely part of its appeal.
A picnic would have been a perfect under the canopy of the tulip tree but the Arboretum prohibits picnicking and we didn’t have the forethought to pack one anyway.
However, our hunger led us to another great discovery along the route of bus #39: City Feed and Supply. This grocery shop and café on Centre Street in JP specializes in natural, organic, local products. It was crowded, but we managed to grab some counter seats and ordered a brunch spread including fair trade coffee, tea with local honey, Pink Lady apples, an egg sandwich, and fresh mozzarella with tomato and basil on a baguette. Yum!
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