February 7, 2022 - Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando
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On our way from Sebastian to "The Villages", we stopped by the Harry P. Leu Gardens in Orlando. We had no idea of what to expect but we ended up discovering a real gem in Orlando. The gardens contain nearly 50 acres of landscaped grounds and lakes, with trails shaded by 200-year-old oaks and forests of camellias.
Mr. Harry P. Leu was an Orlando native who built a successful industrial supply business. He married his secretary, Mary Jane. In 1936 they purchased Leu House and 40 acres of land. The couple traveled extensively and brought back plants which shaped their estate into a botanical showplace featuring 240 varieties of camellias, roses and azaleas. Their passion for horticulture transformed their estate into a wonderful botanical oasis with over 40 different plant collections. On December 22, 1961 Mr. Leu turned his beautiful estate over to the City or Orlando for a token payment of $56,018.73 when it was valued at approximately $1 million. Mr. Leu died in 1977 at age 93. His wife Mary Jane died in 1986.
This big "Garden House" is the main entrance where you buy your tickets. It's always used as a venue for events, with a nice terrace out back overlooking Lake Rowena.
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The photos rarely capture the beauty of a place like this, but still, here they are.
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| The gardens had a fairies scavenger hunt. We didn't play but Lynnette did find a treasure chest. |
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| Lynnette knows the name of the plants much better than I do. |
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| Magnificent cypress. |
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| Unusual hanging bells of this tree. |
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The Gardens were not crowded at all, and very peaceful.
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| At the heart of the gardens is Harry and Mary Jane Leu's home, known as the Leu House Museum, which has been meticulously restored and is on the National Historical Register. Guided tours of the Leu House, illustrating turn-of-the century Florida living, used to be available but were not today because of Covid, of course. |
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The Rose Garden. Mary Jane Leu loved roses. She saw the garden as a place of beauty and education for future generations. This is the largest formal rose garden in Florida and contains old garden roses, those existing prior to 1867, and modern roses.
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| Dragon sighting! There were multiple colorful dragons about which I'm sure the kids love. |
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| Bamboo grove. |
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Lynnette at the base of a very tall bamboo stand.
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| Dragon eggs! |
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Some color in the sky.
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| Hanging moss. |
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| Leu Gardens is home to the largest documented camellia collection in Eastern North America. Nestled under the towering oak trees in the north and south woods, Mr. Leu’s favorite collection consists of over 200 varieties which bloom from midOctober through March. |
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More Camellias
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Lynnette with Lake Rowena in the background.
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| Pretty. |
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| Looking up hill at the Leu House. |
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Exiting after a few very enjoyable hours at Leu Gardens.
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