Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando: A Peaceful Springtime Retreat

When spring is in the air in Orlando, most tourists flock to Disney World, Universal Studios and the water parks. Venture beyond the tourist trek to visit Harry P. Leu Gardens and you'll be treated to a feast for the eyes. You can spend the entire day navigating fifty acres of lush gardens and scenic landscapes, and also take a tour of the historic Leu House.

I took a guided tour of the show gardens and Leu House Museum last spring when most of the plants and flowers were in full bloom. The guided garden and home tour takes about two hours. If you prefer to explore the gardens at your own pace, you do have the option to take a self-guided tour.

Take a stroll through the Rose Garden, the largest formal rose garden in Florida, to see the collection of over 1,000 roses including Bermuda Mystery, grandiflora and miniature varieties. Another show garden that will take your breath away is the Tropical Stream Garden, a lush tropical setting home to hundreds of native plants and trees. A stream connected to Lake Rowena runs around the flowers, ferns, rocks and foliage here, and this peaceful setting made for a very relaxing and meditative experience. This garden is connected to the Wetland Garden with a collection of more native plants, ferns, live oaks and bald cypress trees.

When you need to escape the heat, cool off in the Shade Gardens where giant flowering plants and shrubs provide plenty of protection from the scorching Florida sun. This tranquil setting is also a good spot for picture-taking. The Butterfly Garden at Harry P. Leu Gardens isn't an enclosed garden so don't expect to see hundreds of butterflies on any visit. Still, it's among the prettier settings at the venue.

One of the most enriching experiences at the gardens is the tour of the Leu House Museum. During your tour of the two-story farmhouse, you'll see that the home has retained much of its 19^th-century charm.

A trip to Harry P. Leu Gardens can be a relaxing escape from the buzz of Downtown Orlando and the resort areas. Whether you spend a few hours or an entire day here, you'll discover picturesque settings and an extensive collection of native plants, lush tropical landscapes and botanical flowers in bloom.

Harry P. Leu Gardens
1920 North Forest Avenue
Orlando, FL 32803
Hours of operation: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week except Christmas Day
(407) 246-2620
www.leugardens.org