Wednesday, May 1, 2002

Top 10 lawns offer fertile travel opportunities

A stroll through America's top 10 lawns will take you to Spanish orchards, opulent estates, tropical streams and Japanese gardens. Whether you are looking for sites to see during a cross-country road trip or planning a one-day adventure not too far from your backyard, these lush lawns are must-see destinations across the United States.

Briggs & Stratton's fifth annual list recognizes outstanding public lawns and landscapes and offers a range of experiences-from historical and educational to playful and inspirational. Here's a brief look:

2002 Top 10 Lawns

Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver, Colo., is home to more than 15,000 plant species. Covering 25 acres, the gardens feature plants that easily adapt to Colorado's climate.

Goldsmith Seeds, Gilroy, Calif., is a former prune orchard turned into a research and development site for a wholesale breeder of bedding plants. The site features a two-acre lawn with free-form beds of flowering bedding plants and six acres of experimental field trials.

Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando, Fla., offers 50 acres of peaceful grounds to enjoy old Florida. In addition to towering moss-hung oaks, this historical showplace also boasts one of the nation's largest collections of camellias.

Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site, Springfield, Ill., is in Oak Ridge Cemetery, the second most-visited cemetery in the United States. Abraham Lincoln was laid to rest here in 1865. The site's 13 acres are home to a variety of trees and shrubs, including oak, dogwood, maple and flowering crab.

Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, Mo., is widely considered one of the top three botanical gardens in the world. This National Historic Landmark includes Japanese, Chinese, English, German and Victorian gardens, plus a tropical rainforest.

North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, N.C., is dubbed a "museum without walls" as artistic endeavors extend to the natural outdoors with sculptures, an amphitheater and a bicycle/pedestrian trail.

South Dakota State Capitol, Pierre, S.D., is surrounded by landscaping that has evolved from barren space in 1907 to one of the country's most beautiful and well-kept lawns. Visitors may enjoy 80 acres of cultured grass, 6,500 trees and more than 25,000 flowers.

The Children's Garden at the Oregon Garden, Silverton, Ore., is an imaginative site that attracts kids of all ages with its hilly landscape for rolling and tumbling. Features include the Dinosaur Dig, Ladybug Garden, Bamboo Grove and a special garden planted and maintained by youths.

Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza, Phoenix, Ariz., is named for a former Arizona governor. The downtown park spans two square blocks and is home to several monuments erected to honor those who have contributed to the Grand Canyon state.

William Paca House and Garden, Annapolis, Md., is the reconstructed 18th century city garden of Declaration of Independence signer William Paca. Two upper terraces contain four formal parterres, and the lower terrace is home to an original 18th century wilderness garden.

The Top 10 Lawns are evaluated on overall appearance, lawn and garden maintenance, use of green space, visual appeal and site significance. Sites are nominated by turf management professionals, horticulturists and landscape designers.

Briggs & Stratton, sponsor of the Top 10 Lawns List, is the world's largest manufacturer of engines used in outdoor power equipment, including lawn mowers. For more information about the Top 10 Lawns List, visit www.toptenlawns.com.

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