"Turn off the news and build a garden with me " - Lukas Nelson
Color on the Creek is the world’s largest free public water garden. In its 12th year, the entirely volunteer managed garden currently extends about ⅜ of mile and covers over 34,000 square feet of water on Carroll Creek Linear Park at the heart of Downtown Frederick.
With thousands of perennial, tropical day and night blooming lilies, lotus, and bogg plants there is always something blooming for your visit.
The lotus collection was markedly expanded with the addition of 150 new plants. The large lotus blossoms including pink, white, yellow and red colors are spectacular as they rise 3 over feet above the water.
We are displaying 12 Victoria lilies this year which are native to the Amazon River basin. These plants can grow individual lily pads that reach 4 feet in diameter.
To replicate the water temperature of the Amazon River, four custom made heated pods are used to raise the soil temperature to about 94 degrees. The Victorias bloom over two successive evenings, changing the blossom color from a white, to a light shade of pink while simultaneously changing their sex from female to male in the process.
Check out these amazing plants.
The majority of the garden emerges and matures from April through September peaking in late July and August.
The water garden is always open with blooms 24 hours each day, although the best viewing time is between 8am and noon.
So grab a cup of coffee and a snack from one of the local restaurants and take a scenic stroll along the creek!
Explore More of Downtown Frederick
Carroll Creek Park
Learn more about the events, happenings, and fun happening on Carroll Creek Park.
