Every day, I walk seven minutes down Rue Orfila to the Gambetta Metro Station to take Line 3 toward Levallois. The transit part of my commute stays the same, but my short walk often changes. I vary which side of the street I take and when I cross, picking without rhyme or reason. Lately, however, a blooming wisteria plant along the fence of the park I pass has added a bit of consistency to my morning stroll. Now, I cross the street at the intersection just before the park, deliberately choosing the side where I can walk under its blossoms. In those moments, as the purple canopy and sweet fragrance envelop me, the world disappears, and I’m in a fantasy garden far away. Not a bad start to the day! And a far cry from my Cambridge commute, where the closest thing to the wisteria is the smell of lavender tea in the Smith Center.
As Paris bursts into color, with different blossoms spilling from parks, terraces, and windowsills, I’ve learned something about myself: I like flowers. I mean, I really like flowers. On a good day, a beautiful flower bed lifts me into that euphoric, floating, I’m-so-happy-I’m-abroad state. On a bad day, they remind me that there’s always something good in the world. Along with my newfound appreciation for flowers, spring has deepened my love for parks, patios, and all types of outdoor spaces. I’ve been perpetually in a good mood since the weather started warming up last month. As Earth Day arrives, I’ve realized how essential it is to regularly connect with nature and beauty for a good life. Fortunately, Paris is the perfect place to enjoy the outdoors.
Back to flowers. Last week, they nearly brought me to tears. On Monday morning, I took a 45-minute train to Giverny to visit Monet’s house and gardens. When I walked through the entrance and rounded the corner into the garden, my jaw dropped. An ocean of tulips, peonies, and other blooms in every imaginable color stretched out before me. As I walked up and down the perfectly straight, color-coded rows, I felt tears welling in my eyes. It was just so beautiful—a true aesthetic experience. I had never seen anything like it. I only spent two hours exploring the garden, the water lily pond, and the house, but it was enough to keep a smile on my face for the rest of the day.
Even without a trip to Monet’s garden, Parisian parks still put me in a good mood. My friends and I do everything outside—from writing history papers to enjoying un apéro in the grass. On some days, I spend over 75% of my waking hours outside. In addition to working through my croissant bucket list, I’ve slowly been checking off a park bucket list in the city, and I’ve found the perfect spots for every occasion.
Located only five minutes away from my classes, Jardin du Luxembourg is the park I visit most often in Paris. I’m clearly not alone—there are always crowds lounging in front of the French senate, no matter the day of the week. Half of its charm lies in its versatility: it’s big enough to go for a run without looping endlessly, play petanque (French bocce), sunbathe, read a book, or even write an Indy article. Unfortunately, you can’t picnic on the grass, but the benches and tables are perfect for a quick lunch with friends. Thanks to its prominence, the park is meticulously maintained. With every step, you’re greeted by beautiful Greek statues, fountains, and—of course—flowers.
Luxembourg might be a great spot to check your emails, but I would never dream of pulling out my computer in Parc Buttes-Chaumont. This dreamy park in the 19th Arrondissement is a hidden gem. Its main attraction is a small temple perched on a cliff overlooking a crescent-shaped pond. The park slopes face the water with some nice flat areas at the bottom. I only recently discovered this spot, but I already love meeting friends there for a picnic and lounging on the grassy hills. In certain areas of the park, you can’t see a single building in sight, leaving you to feel like you’re miles away in the countryside, not in the heart of a bustling city. It’s a welcome and relaxing escape.
Place de Vosges, in the Marais, is surrounded by art galleries and French Romantic writer Victor Hugo’s former home, so it’s no surprise it’s my go-to park when I’m seeking artistic inspiration. The statue of Louis XIV at its center makes a perfect subject, as do the beautiful arcade buildings around the small park. Its petite size reminds you that you’re still in the city, but the proximity to such beautiful architecture is a feature, not a fault, for me. And unlike Luxembourg, here you can sit on the grass. It’s a perfect little breath of fresh air.
Admittedly, one of my favorite parks in the Paris area—Parc Sceaux—isn’t inside the city limits. But since it’s reachable by the RER (Paris’s commuter rail), for all intents and purposes, I’d classify it as a Paris park. I visited once with friends to picnic under the blooming cherry blossoms, and I felt that same magical feeling as I do under my wisteria plant. That feeling only deepened as we explored the grounds, taking in beautiful views of the château and gardens that seemed to go on forever. Covering nearly 450 acres, Parc Sceaux is about nine times bigger than Luxembourg Gardens. Walking around, I felt in awe that such immense beauty was so close to where I lived.
While each of these parks differs in its means, they all offer me the same end: time outside with nature. Being surrounded by sunshine and greenery is the best way I’ve found to relax and reset, and these spaces allow me to do just that. My recent visit to Giverny reminded me just how necessary this is.
Monet, one of the greatest artists in the world, chose to plant a stunning garden outside his home so that he could be greeted and inspired by beauty every morning. Although I don’t have two acres of my own to cultivate flowers, I definitely have taken this sentiment with me back to Paris. I continue to find inspiration in every flower and park in the city. This semester has been an opportunity to seek out ways to enjoy the simple pleasures of life, and as a result, it’s been one of the happiest times of my life. Each breath of fresh air is a call to slow down and appreciate the beautiful world around us.
Frances Connors ’26 (maryfrancesconnors@college.harvard.edu) was a regular at Petali Flower Shop before going abroad.