Florida Botanical Gardens

I’d like to dedicate my newsletter this month to promote a great location for a visit during the central Ohio winter.  The Florida Botanical Garden in Largo, Florida is very near St Petersburg.  My wife and I have visited this garden three times over the years and it’s a great day trip if you are in the Tampa area.  I always find it interesting to see unusual specimens of tropical plants such as the banyan tree or the cannonball fig!

These gardens are easily accessible and just large enough for a nice stroll.  Admission is free, parking is plentiful and all the paths are handicap accessible.  There is a nice visitor’s center with exhibits and information.  There is an herb garden area, water gardens, natural areas, a section for edible tropicals such as banana, mango and star fruit.  Very noteworthy is the Heritage Village!

The Heritage Village is a nice collection of old southern buildings set in a pine and palmetto woods connected by wide paved pathways.  There is a little old church, school house, residence, train depot,  period gas station, etc, etc.  The buildings are mostly open to enter with helpful volunteers inside offering interesting information.  This section is also free of admission but is gated and closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

The Florida Botanical Gardens are open from 7am until sunset every day of the year,  although the visitor’s center is closed on weekends.  You may visit their website at  http://www.flbg.org/

Cannonball Fig

Gulf of Mexico Sponge Company

Lady Finger Bananas