Drew B.
Yelp
The great thing about travel, is not just those legendary places you plan to see, but things that you never knew about that knock your socks off along the way. That could be said about the Niagara Parks Floral Park and its approximately 12-metre (40-foot) clock.
Flanked to the East by the Niagara River and to the West by the Beck Hydroelectric Station Reservoir, it is perfectly located stop about 11 km (6 miles) from Niagara Falls. It's also perfectly located for Niagara Parks (who manages the site) to keep the 16,000 carpet bedding plants flush with water.
Let's first give the stats for the horticulturists and flower nuts ... Alternanthera, Privet, Santolina are the most frequent additions to the clock. They change the flowers (and flower types) every year or so, as of now, they have Alternanthera ficoideas "Rosea Nana," (a.k.a. Calico Plant) "Missouri," and "Green" (a.k.a. Green Joseph's Coat) ... and I'm sure others I'm sure I've missed.
They change the design too. While they described their 2018 design as "whimsical ... that resembles large commas or flower petals" the current arrangement could either be described as "six yellow raindrops" or, more accurately IMHO, "six petals of yellow daisies." Either way, it's a beautiful site to see.
Now to the clock itself. Built in 1950, the Westminster Chimes ring on the quarter-hour with a sound reminiscent of something you may hear from Big Ben in that Westminster. I also highly recommend going behind the clock. There's an open door the leads to the inside. There you can both see and hear the gears, thingamajigs, and do-dads that run the clock, and also check out the signs and displays showing the history of the clock and its designs.
As well, it's a great companion piece to the Botanical Gardens ... nearby and also run by Niagara Parks.
Rain or shine, any season, I highly recommend a visit to the Floral Clock. You'll have a great time.