荷花池公園原名南池、硯池,又因池中廣植荷花而名為“荷花池”。清初汪(wang)玉樞在(zai)(zai)池邊建有(you)別墅,名南園(yuan),為(wei)當(dang)時揚(yang)(yang)州(zhou)八大名園(yuan)之(zhi)一(yi)。園(yuan)臨硯池,隔岸有(you)文峰(feng)(feng)塔,景名“硯池染(ran)翰”。園(yuan)主購得太湖(hu)奇(qi)石(shi)九峰(feng)(feng),大者(zhe)過丈,小(xiao)者(zhe)及尋(xun),玲瓏(long)(long)剔透,相傳系宋代花石(shi)綱遺物。該園(yuan)舊有(you)澄空宇、海桐書(shu)屋、玉玲瓏(long)(long)館、雨花庵、深(shen)柳(liu)讀書(shu)堂、谷(gu)雨軒、風漪閣諸勝。乾(qian)隆帝南巡(xun)游此,大加贊(zan)賞,賜名九峰(feng)(feng)園(yuan),并紀事略。后(hou)奉(feng)旨選二峰(feng)(feng)送往(wang)京師御苑(yuan),揚(yang)(yang)州(zhou)今尚存二峰(feng)(feng),一(yi)在(zai)(zai)瘦西湖(hu),一(yi)在(zai)(zai)史公祠,稱(cheng)“南園(yuan)遺石(shi)”。嘉慶之(zhi)后(hou)園(yuan)漸圮,咸豐年間(jian),廢(fei)而不存。
1981年在荷花(hua)(hua)池建(jian)南(nan)郊(jiao)水上(shang)公(gong)園,即荷花(hua)(hua)池公(gong)園。公(gong)園在池之北,呈半(ban)鳥形,綠樹(shu)成蔭。已建(jian)古典(dian)式(shi)磚木(mu)廳(ting)房、風景(jing)各一(yi)座(zuo)。廳(ting)房三(san)楹,三(san)面回(hui)廊,飛(fei)檐(yan)翹角;六(liu)(liu)角風亭居西北高阜(fu),檐(yan)下(xia)六(liu)(liu)面飾(shi)精雕花(hua)(hua)板(ban)。園內(nei)有花(hua)(hua)房,栽(zai)百余種花(hua)(hua)木(mu),四季花(hua)(hua)香,春有杜(du)鵑(juan)、茶花(hua)(hua)、春蘭(lan)、茉莉(li);夏(xia)有仙(xian)人曇(tan)花(hua)(hua)、睡蓮、六(liu)(liu)月雪、夾竹(zhu)桃;秋有桂花(hua)(hua)、菊花(hua)(hua)、石(shi)蒜、一(yi)串(chuan)紅(hong);冬(dong)有臘(la)梅(mei)、天竹(zhu)等(deng)。四季常(chang)綠的有鐵樹(shu)、五針(zhen)松(song)、南(nan)洋杉(shan)、黽背竹(zhu)等(deng)。園內(nei)陳列大量盆景(jing),樹(shu)種有黃楊、雀梅(mei)、榆樁、羅漢松(song)、刺(ci)柏等(deng)。花(hua)(hua)房內(nei)置小型湖石(shi)假山,旁(pang)有水池,假山有滴(di)泉。公(gong)園池面放養(yang)魚苗,池南(nan)辟作苗圃。