I have not been to Leu Botanical Gardens but have heard very nice things about it. It is not a public garden, but the Epcot flower and garden festival starts in March, I think. Probably most things will be blooming at that time.

Too bad that you won't be here towards the end of March because when Harry P. Leu Gardens has their fantastic annual plant sale, admission to the gardens is free. Even if you have to pay, it is still worth visiting. It is the best gardens in Central Florida. Yes, there should still be some camellias left blooming.

Christine

Thanks!!

Theme parks I'm somewhat hesitant about -- big bucks, crowds, and bedding out? For instance, Busch Gardens I think is doable as a day trip, but is it a garden (-; ?

E

Busch Gardens is not exactly best known for its gardens, but they have very nice landscaping and zoo animals in addition to the rides. I only mention Epcot because I go to the flower and garden festival every year and they really work hard to make everything look nice at that time. They have seminars and topiary displays, etc... It probably would be crowded, but nice if you like flowers. I saw my first blooming corpse lilly there last year.

Also since you may be driving toward Tampa, I think Cypress Gardens will be reopening in March. They closed to renovate and get rid of the amusement park rides (which I didn't like anyway). The Gardens were very nice last time I was there and very nostalgic.

Aha, yes, that's why I wanted to hear from gardeners on this!

Seems like there's no firm info yet on Cypress Gardens' re-opening. I will keep an eye on it... we will be in the southwest part of Orlando so it looks doable even without Tampa.

I will just miss the Epcot show, probably. I wonder what kind of nursery operation is required, to guarantee corpse lilies for display. Imagining a row of ten budding plants, in the back of a steamy greenhouse...

Silver Springs Attractions just east of Ocala has very nice gardens
Felix

Leu Gardens is one of my favorite places and always worth a visit, no matter what time of year. In March, Orlando is into it's spring blooming time and that should be a wonderful time to be here. We can still have a random freeze late in Feb or early March but it doesn't happen often and most of us have our gardens in by mid March.

The EPCOT Flower Festival is worth the effort, even with the cost involved, so if you can extend your trip to March 19th when it opens you should consider it. Crowds are never bad at EPCOT so that shouldn't be a big problem. You can even arrange to take a behind-the-scenes garden tour while you are there - a delight for any gardener.

Orlando has another public garden - Mead Gardens - located pretty close to Leu. It's not large, but it's lush and beautiful.

Don't miss the Polasek Sculpture Gardens!!! The plantings are as much of an attraction as the outdoor sculptures and they are fabulous. I guarantee you'll like it. Next to Leu, this is the place I would most recommend to visit.

Kate

Anybody been to Bok Towers recently? It's been years since I've been there but that would be a fun old-time-Florida trip from the southwest side of town. Do they still do their large beds of annuals? I keep meaning to get there but...

Kate

My last visit to Cypress Gardens was very nice; I'm glad they're re-doing, tho...it would be nice for them to go back to mostly gardens - the ski show has always been an ear-mark. Leu Gardens is incredible...you do NOT want to miss this if you're looking for real gardens...also, I agree with Felix: Silver Springs is a beautiful attraction without all the crowds. The grounds are wonderful. It makes you just want to walk and walk and stop and sit and then walk some more. They still have the glass bottomed boats for the nostalgia..it's just a wonderfully relaxing spot. Leu Gardens and Silver Springs would get my first two votes. If you're interested in 'wildlife' tours, check out Forever Florida. I'm on the east coast near Kennedy Space Center - if you're interested in wildlife over this way, let me know...will be happy to tell you of things here...we're about 45 minutes east of Orlando International Airport.

Bok Towers is amazing! Yes, they still have large annual beds. A great way to spend a day. There is so much beauty there, I felt overwhelmed. Kate, be good to yourself and make the trip. ~ Sharon

Hey Kate,

I've been having to donate a week a year of use-or-lose to those needing sick leave as I just don't take enough time off, and I just reached a point where I get ANOTHER week a year off so Cathy just read me the riot act....Looks like we'll start taking an additional week off in March and September, point being I want to come over for the Leu Gardens sale AND I'd also like to see EPCOT and get the Behind the Scenes tour. How long does the EPCOT Flower Festival go on?

Tom

I recommend Bok Tower Gardens too. Their gardens are beautiful, and the ride out there is nice too.

I've been to Cypress Gardens...before it closed and re-open, and I guess closed again lol. I loved it, it truly was a beautiful place.

I've been meaning to go to Leu, Bok and Epcot Flower forever. Anyone have dates for the things mentioned earlier? Maybe if I actually put a date on the calendar, I'll actually go :)

Definitely Polasek and Leu. Take the boat ride also!It is right around the corner from polasek.we hit Polasek the boat and Leu in one day.Leu is Huge. Polasek is short and sweet!
And free unles you go inside.
And yes if you can get to Epcot ,pretty,pretty!
I was told Mead was really just a park and not to bother,anyone know differently?
Let us know.

Here is a link that might be useful: Polasek Gardens

Thanks again!!

Leu plant sale is March 21-22. Epcot starts the 18th and runs till May 31.

Beth7, my gang is definitely interested in Merritt birding and the Space Center. All nature tips appreciated. To me it looks like the only real walking at Merritt would be along the beach?

Elizabeth

Here is a link that might be useful: Epcot flower festival

Oh yeah! I forgot about the boat trip from Polasek. Charming and very, very "Orlando".

At Merritt Island you'll want to take the Black Point Wildlife Refuge drive. It's only a couple miles long but it's a gravel road (more like a path) with a 15mph limit. If you like birding you'll love this and will see birds you probably don't get to see where you live. March will be close to the end of the winter birding season here but you'll still see a lot, including bald eagles that don't usually leave until May. I was just there a couple weekends ago. It's a real mental health getaway drive for us. About 2/3 of the way through there's a parking spot with a 5 mile hiking loop off of it. Restrooms too. Bring your camera, sunscreen, mosquito spray and a bottle of water!

From there you can follow the signs to a manatee viewing spot just a couple miles away. Not too exciting but since you'll be close it's another nice Discovery Channel moment.

You'll also be very close to Canaveral National Seashore. Go there to walk on the beach. You'll pass right by one of the shuttle launch pads! This beach is usually quiet and you'll see very few people here. Since it's a national park the only amenities you'll find are restrooms. (If you have kids with you, you should know that sometimes the far end gets 'natural'; if that would offend you just stop at one of the first 3 or 4 parking areas. )

If you want a great beach experience with lots more people, restaurants, beach volleyball and surfers then go to Cocoa Beach. There are fun restaurants on the pier and usually live music, at least on weekends. There's a parking lot right at the pier too.

Both of these beaches are great for walking, either on the sand or in the surf if it's not too rough. I like the Atlantic side beaches better than the Gulf side because I would rather walk and watch the waves than sit on a beach towel all day. The Gulf side sand is very soft and the beaches are better for sunbathing and 'bathwater warm' swimming. Both sides are beautiful though. If you hit the beaches, wear sunscreen and bring dark glasses! The sun is much stronger here and a bad sunburn can quickly ruin a vacation.

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Tom, if you come over for the Leu sale, be sure to let me know! I'll be there and it would be fun to gather a group of gardenwebbers, at least to say 'hi'. I still think we need t-shirts so we can all find one another in a crowd.

Kate

what Kate said!!! and, to add to that...some of the very BEST restaurants are at Port Canaveral -a bit of an 'island' feel out there- we happen to love Jetty Park...
normally the beaches here in Brevard aren't so crowded, but March will be lots more than 'normal' because of spring break. (us locals shy away at break time!). The Space Center is a great day, too...course, my pantry gets filled from there..I'm not biased at all! *smile* Hubby works there and also his dad was on the Apollo program WAY back when! Our zoo here (Brevard County Zoo) is like a walk through the woods...but on boardwalk...beautiful and easy. There's another nature hike a bit south of me, too. How many months are you staying?????

Well...I will be there just a few days but I'm pretty sure of being able to get to the Leu cluster and the Canaveral cluster. Less sure of Silver Springs and the southern ones. Epcot Flower Fest. is not an option, though if my gang does Orlando in a future year I will put in a request for good dates.

"My gang" includes my parents who are serious birders, a bit frail, and will be in Florida for 3+ weeks, as well as various sibs/spouses and a couple of little kids (3 and 6mo.) A few of us will be pining for some real exercise... but zoo sounds like about the right speed for most.
Mom's interested in Orlando Wetlands Park as well -- which has the Florida trail! handy.

Tom, if you come over for the Leu sale, be sure to let me know! I'll be there and it would be fun to gather a group of gardenwebbers, at least to say 'hi'. I still think we need t-shirts so we can all find one another in a crowd.

Kate, we're definitely coming over for the Leu sale. I think we should start a separate thread sometime in early March so we can all get together...I like the T-shirt idea too.

Tom

Every Monday morning is FREE entrance to Leu Gardens .
We tried this last month and had a wonderful tour .
You can stay there all day long and parking is free .
Lots to view with so much acreage and the changing seasons .
We will definitely return - on a Monday morning .

Every Monday morning is FREE entrance to Leu Gardens.
We tried this last month and had a wonderful tour.

That is great info, thanks. Maybe well start off the week at Leu, when perusing the gardens would be less crowded, and then go back Saturday for the sale ;-)

We went to Leu Gardens last year, it was really crowded and if you are going to buy, you need one of those carts to push plants, otherwise is a long walk to the car. Unless, you are a member of Leu, then you can get earlier, park inside and have a better choice of plants.
By the time we were arriving at 9am, we saw some beautiful and exotics plants leaving. We only got the bananas as they were already pre order.

We also took the family that was visiting to Epcot, I highly recommend it, it is worth the trip and the money. You won't forget the experience!

Tom, maybe we can be your tour guides, since we will probably be doing both trips again. Let us know.

Willy