The green, green grass of home

We often travel far to seek out special places, failing to appreciate the ones that are closer to home. Having recently walked a lovely stretch of the Harborwalk for the first time, I am as guilty of this as anyone. With the publication of “Boston’s Gardens & Green Spaces’’ (Union Park) by Meg Muckenhoupt, there is no excuse for not exploring the parks of Boston and the suburbs. The biggies — such as the Emerald Necklace — are in there but so are the little gems — such as the Franklin Street Park in Cambridge — that offer an oasis of calm for jangled nerves.