| Florida has a great amount of biodiversity and nature | | | | Garden and the new Kitchen Garden with herbs, |
| lovers will enjoy the great variety of plants found in | | | | vegetables and a butterfly garden!"Highlands |
| the Sunshine State. On our recent trip to Orlando we | | | | Hammock State Park 5931 Hammock Road, Sebring, |
| had a chance to visit several locations with a beautiful | | | | FL 33872; Phone: (941) 386-6094. "The contrast of |
| parks and gardens, such as the Harry P. Leu Gardens | | | | the dark swamp waters against the bright trunks of |
| and the Historical Bok Sanctuary. Even my excursion | | | | the bare trees is reminiscent of more northerly |
| on the Scenic Boat Tour in Winter Park brought me | | | | forests. White-tailed deer munch their way through |
| up close to some of the fascinating flowers and | | | | the campsites, enjoying the scattering of acorns |
| plants found in the Orlando area.Florida has a mix of | | | | around the base of many oaks. Bobcat tracks are |
| subtropical and tropical climates and the area around | | | | found each morning in the damp sands along the |
| Orlando are more subtropical. Central Florida has a | | | | roadways, and the Barred owls call as soon as the |
| hot, but often stormy climate and experiences many | | | | sun goes down. Visitors are enjoying viewing |
| thunderstorms with a frequent risk of | | | | alligators as they soak up the warm sun that follows |
| hurricanes.Geographically, the Central Florida area | | | | the cool nighttime temperatures."Lake Kissimmee |
| encompasses Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, | | | | State Park 14248 Camp Mack Road, Lake Wales, FL |
| Brevard, and Volusia counties, and some consider | | | | 33853; Phone: (941) 696-1112. "Florida's cowboy |
| Polk and Sumter counties also to be part of Central | | | | heritage comes alive with living history |
| Florida. This low-lying area is dominated by hundreds | | | | demonstrations of the early Florida "cow hunters" in |
| of lakes surrounded by marshland. Historically | | | | an 1876-era cow camp, open 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. |
| predominant industries include cotton, citrus and | | | | weekends and holidays. White-tailed deer, bald eagles, |
| cattle-raising. The climate favours a great deal of | | | | sandhill cranes, turkeys, and bobcats have been seen |
| plant and animal species.Nature lovers will revel in | | | | in the park, located on the shores of lakes |
| Central Florida's abundant gardens and parks which | | | | Kissimmee, Tiger, and Rosalie. Visitors enjoy boating, |
| give them a perfect opportunity to enjoy nature up | | | | canoeing, and fishing in the picturesque lakes. Nature |
| close. Here is a collection of parks and gardens that | | | | students can hike over 13 miles of trails to observe |
| will give you great exposure to Central Florida's | | | | and study the abundant plant and animal life. Six miles |
| natural beauty:Archbold Biological Station P. O. Box | | | | of trails are open to equestrians. A large, shaded |
| 2057, (Old State Road 8), Lake Placid, FL 33862 | | | | picnic area with pavilions is available. The park has |
| Phone: (941) 465-2571. "The Station fosters long-term | | | | full-facility campsites, as well as a primitive camping |
| ecological research on native plants and animals of | | | | facility. The youth camping area can accommodate |
| central Florida and also provides environmental | | | | up to 50 people. The dark skies make stargazing a |
| education for K-12 children."Bok Tower Gardens 1151 | | | | popular nighttime activity for campers."Ocala National |
| Tower Boulevard, Lake Wales, FL 33853-3412; Phone: | | | | Forest USDA Forest Service, 17147 E. Hwy 40, Silver |
| (941) 676-1408. "Historic Bok Sanctuary offers | | | | Springs, FL 34488 Phone: (352) 625-7470. "The |
| visitors Florida's most abundant | | | | Forest offers 383,573 acres of unique ecological sites, |
| opportunities for aesthetic, cultural and personal | | | | trails, natural springs. There are hundreds of camping |
| enrichment. The lush landscapes of the Olmsted | | | | sites throughout the forest offering everything from |
| gardens, the majesty and music of the carillon tower | | | | full-service campgrounds to more rustic sites. The |
| and the splendor of Pinewood Estate create an | | | | National Forest also has designated trails for |
| experience that inspires all who visit."Cypress Gardens | | | | horseback riding. Hunting is permitted in designated |
| 2641 South Lake Summit Road, Cypress Gardens, FL | | | | areas where the enforcement of state regulations is |
| 33884; Phone: (800) 282-2123. "Standing sentinel in | | | | strict. Recreation areas include Alexander Springs, |
| the historic gardens is the giant Banyan tree, which | | | | Fore Lake Recreational Area, Juniper Springs, Lake |
| was planted in 1939 from a seedling during the parks | | | | Eaton Loop Trail, Lake Eaton Sink Hole, Mill Dam |
| early years. Topiary Trail features a collection of | | | | Recreation Area, Salt Springs and Salt Springs Trail. |
| colorful topiaries, including a variety of animals such as | | | | Specially marked walking/hiking trails are located |
| a rabbit, swan and serpent. The crowning gem in this | | | | throughout this wonderful resource. Lake Eaton |
| trail of jewels is the waterfall, a sparkling cascade | | | | Sinkhole and the Lake Eaton Loop are only two of |
| accented by brilliant floral blossoms. The Plantation | | | | the trails that allow the visitor to explore the area on |
| Gardens grace the manicured landscape of Snively | | | | easily traveled interpretive trails."Silver River State |
| Mansion and include the aromatic herb garden, a | | | | Park 7165 N. E. 7th Street, Ocala, FL 34470; Phone: |
| glorious rose garden and the butterfly garden | | | | (352) 236-1827. "This park has more than 14 distinct |
| adjoining Wings of Wonder."Disney Wilderness | | | | natural communities, dozens of springs, and miles of |
| Preserve 6075 Scrub Jay Trail Kissimmee, FL 34759; | | | | beautiful trails. The adjoining Silver Springs attraction |
| Phone: (407) 935-0002. "Fifteen miles south of Walt | | | | houses the headwaters of the Silver River, which |
| Disney World, in the heart of Central Florida, lies the | | | | flows through the park into the Ocklawaha River. |
| Disney Wilderness Preserve. The site, originally the | | | | The park is home to a pioneer cracker village and the |
| Walker Ranch, is now owned and managed by the | | | | Silver River Museum and Environmental Education |
| Nature Conservancy, a private, non-profit | | | | Center. The center is operated by the Marion County |
| conservation organization that is responsible for the | | | | School District in cooperation with the park and is |
| largest network of private conservation lands in the | | | | open to the public on weekends and holidays from |
| world."Harry P. Leu Botanical Gardens 1920 N. Forest | | | | 9:00 a.m. to 5:00. p.m. Admission to the Museum is |
| Avenue, Orlando, FL 32803-1537; Phone: (407) | | | | $2.00 per person.Children 6 and under are free."Silver |
| 246-2620. "Miles of paved scenic walkways that take | | | | Springs P. O. Box 370, (5656 E. SR-40), Silver Springs, |
| you through garden settings, including: America's | | | | FL 34489; Phone: (800) 234-7458. "Silver Springs is a |
| largest Camellia collection outside California and the | | | | 350 acre nature theme park surrounds the |
| largest formal rose garden in Florida, a house museum | | | | headwaters of the beautiful Silver River, the largest |
| dating from the 1880's, a palm garden and bamboo | | | | artesian spring formation in the world. Located 90 |
| garden. New gardens include the Tropical Stream | | | | miles north of Orlando, just east of Ocala, Florida. |