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