Orlando is more than theme parks and resorts. If you are headed to the Orlando area and want to include something beyond the hustle and bustle of the usual attractions, plenty of venues exist that provide an escape from all the crowds. Harry P. Leu Gardens just north of downtown Orlando is one worth a visit for some peaceful interaction with nature.
On a recent visit to Orlando, I visited Leu Gardens with a friend I was visiting. We had a lovely time strolling through the paved pathways that meander throughout the different garden areas on the property. Leu Gardens showcases plants, trees and flowers indigenous to the central Florida climate. The garden areas include a color garden, rose garden, camelia garden, white garden, arid garden, palms and bamboo gardens, idea garden and a tropical stream garden. The Camelias and Azaleas had started to bloom when I was there, and the bushes were loaded with buds. If I had visited one week in the future, the entire garden would be full of flowers.
Several structures provide a place to rest and take in the beauty of the surrounding gardens. The first floor of the Leu House Museum is available to tour during posted times. The Leu House is a historical home that reveals the history of the owners; in particular, the last owners, the Leus, were responible for the development of the botanical showplace. The home is surrounded by a cottage garden, herb garden, butterfly garden and vegetable garden that the family accessed while living on the estate. Other structures on the estate include gazebos, trellises, the Lake Rowena Overlook, a floral clock and the entrance pavilion. The first owners of the property are buried in the Mizelle Cemetary area, situated near the entrance.
Harry P. Leu Gardens showcases special exhibits occasionally. Right now through April 25, 2021, The Dinosaur Invasion Exhibit is installed throughout the gardens. As you stroll along the pathways, keep an eye out for a T-Rex, Citipadi nest and many more Jurassic creatures. A dinosaur map is available at the entrance to help find all the creatures hiding in the different gardens throughout the park.
Harry P. Leu Gardens is open from 9-5, but on this day, I was only able to spend a couple of hours there. I definitely want to visit it again when I return to Orlando.
