Founded In 1934, Duke Gardens Named One of the Most 'Insanely Beautiful Public Gardens'

In 1935, more than 100 flower beds were in glorious bloom in the area that is now the South Lawn. They included 40,000 irises, 25,000 daffodils, 10,000 small bulbs, and assorted annuals. But by 1936 severe rain and floods caused the original gardens to decline.  But then April 1939, after years of planning and construction, Mary Duke Biddle, daughter of founder Sarah P. Duke dedicated the NEW Gardens.  Now coming up on its 77^th year of beauty, grace and instruction… the Sarah P. Duke Gardens thrive and continue to garner award after award.

Mounts Botanical Gardens of Palm Beach County - Still Farmers' Best Friend

It is the mission of this stunning place to promote gardens and gardening

unique to the subtropics while providing opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to learn the art, science and joy of gardening.

And what a wonderful surprise it was to find this place!  The Mounts Botanical Garden of Palm Beach County dates back to 1925 when its name sake made his way to the region at the age of 26... Marvin 'Red' U. Mounts. 
  

In addition to the 14 acres of gardens, with their local plants, palms and water features, there’s a garden shop, nursery, a master gardener program/University of Florida extension and resources from the master Gardener Help Desk! 

Maria Shelby Gardens, Come Curious, Leave Enchanted

On the eastern shore of Sarasota Bay, Florida rests the beautiful boutique, The Marie Selby Gardens where they boast 'Come Curious, Leave Enchanted'.  And they're right!

Marie Selby was born Mariah Minshall in Wood County, West Virginia, on August 9, 1885 and it was her love of all things out-doors that has created and educated thousands to this day.

As you enter the visitor’s center from the tropical and close parking area, you may choose to enter the Tropical Conservatory as we did, for the humidity and heat controlled tropical plants, especially their wide variety of orchids display very well in an intimate setting.  Beyond this building, the choices abound. 

Ladies and Gentlemen Step Right Up, Stroll the 66 Acres of Ringling Bayfront Gardens

The Ringling on Sarasota Bayfront in Sarasota Florida has a number of outstanding

venues and is a centerpiece for Sarasota.  I had gone to see the Bayfront Gardens of Ringling, where The Museum of Art, Circus Museum, Asolo Theatre and the Ringling’s winter home Ca’D’Zan also exist, all on the same compound.

If the name Ringling sounds a bit familiar, it should. John Ringling was one of the five brothers who owned and operated the circus rightly called “The Greatest Show on Earth.”  His success with the circus and entrepreneurial skills helped to make him, in the Roaring Twenties, one of the richest men in America, with an estimated worth of nearly $200 million.  In 1911, John and his wife, Mable, purchased 20 acres of waterfront property in Sarasota… where I stood and marveled on this very day.

Mr. Pearl Fryar’s Yard Beautification Project Turned into An International Treasure

It all began in 1984 in an effort to win "Yard of the Month".  Mr. Pearl Fryar started to work on his 3-acre garden at his home on the outskirts of Bishopville, SC.

In the northeast corner of South Carolina, almost directly south of Charlotte NC, is one of the best topiary gardens in North America and even better, the story of its creator, curator and horticulturalist, Mr. Pearl Fryar.   In January I drove with my relatives from Greensboro, NC  to see what has been billed as the most amazing topiary garden around. I had heard, read and even seen the video ‘A Man Named Pearl’ of the creator of this garden and his extraordinary creations!  This visit turned into something quite special for me.

Combining Science with Design and Insights, Milliken Addresses Today's Concerns

The Roger Milliken Center in Spartanburg, S.C. is a staggering 600 acres of manicured fields of staggering beauty.  Inspired by Mr. Milliken, no doubt raw farm land (peach orchard) in its beginnings, now transformed with many types of ornamental and shade trees, architected together with the variety of ponds and fountains, fields, vistas and allees! 


The picture in image one to the right, shows a pathway leading from one corporate structure to a prominent fountain!  The 20 or so Zelkovas on either side of a stone walkway flanked by 50 understory Magnolias and large clumps of Holly leading to this dramatic fountain surrounded by another 25 mature Magnolias!  Wow!

Fight Love Live and All That is Filoli Gardens

Filoli Gardens in Woodside California, just south of San Francisco on Highway 280, is a splendid place everyone should see! 
 

The property developed in the early 1900’s by a family whose wealth was from a gold mine, really!
In the area they established this 600-acre estate wanting to make a place similar to where they had travelled in Ireland. In addition to the manor house (remember the opening clip of the series Dynasty? This is the house).  But my favorite are the 16 acres of gardens surrounding the home.

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge

‘Way down upon the Suwanee River’

A very interesting stop off I-75, east of Valdosta Georgia (southern Georgia) is the Okefenokee Swamp!

More correctly called the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, approximately 400,000 acres! The site now sets between i-95 to the east and I-75 to the west. The name Okefenokee is thought to be Cree Indian for “land of trembling water” or "quivering earth" in that there exists many floating islands which are really large peat beds.

Of course, all the customary creatures live here! Wildlife species include wading birds, ducks, alligators and other reptiles, a variety of amphibians, bobcats, raptors, white-tailed deer, black bears, and songbirds.