This weekend was the annual plant sale at Harry P. Leu Gardens in Orlando. Since my friend was one of the vendors – and park admission was free for the day – I decided to make my first trip to the gardens that I’ve heard about for so many years.
And what a perfect day to do so! Not a cloud in the sky, and while it was hot, walking along the trails shaded by the trees was kind of perfect.
Leu Gardens incorporates 50 acres of southern style gardens. It boasts the third largest Camellia collection in the U.S., the largest rose garden in Florida, and a National Historic House from the 1880s.
As stated on its website, the mission of the gardens is “to inspire people to appreciate and understand plants, the environment of Central Florida and the Gardens’ historic significance.”
While I was visiting during an event that may have distracted from the garden’s usual plant life, I definitely think I learned to appreciate the variety that call the gardens home.
My favorite part of the day was a walk we took along the outskirts of the property, taking us through a camellia garden, a palm area, and massive bamboo trees. I even spotted trees filled with roses that reminded of the scene in Alice in Wonderland where the Queen of Hearts insists the cards paint the roses red! The trail was a perfect place for a quiet stroll to relax after a long week. I can only imagine how peaceful the gardens would be on a typical day!
Because the plant sale was in full swing, we also got to see many other species not found in mass within the gardens. Everything from orchids and Frangipani (a personal favorite!), to bonsai trees and agave plants. If only I had a yard to plant them in!
If you live in the Central Florida area, and you’re looking for an escape for a day, I definitely recommend a trip to Leu Gardens. And bring a blanket, too… there are plenty of wide open lawns where you can relax!
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Harry P. Leu Gardens is located at 1920 N. Forest Ave. in Orlando, close to Winter Park. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Check for events at the park, as they are known to host Movie in the Park nights, too!
I chose three herbs from the six packets that came in the box: sweet basil, cilantro and curled parsley. Well… 2 out of 3 seem to be flourishing in their little environment. The sweet basil and cilantro are both doing great! Both still have a couple weeks to go before I’ll start using them, but I’m looking forward to it! To be honest, just seeing two of them sprout to life is enough of a win for me. One day, when I have a backyard, I’ll start a real garden… which hopefully I can keep alive, too!
