HARRY P. LEU GARDENS

Walking through the Harry P. Leu Gardens was calming, relaxing, educational and visually stimulating. Various gardens are on the grounds and kept up by many volunteers.
The Harry P. Leu house is on the grounds and tours are given every 1/2 hour. It is beautiful and worth the wait, on the porch, if another tour is taking place. 

Several sculptures in the gardens depict everyday life in Florida. 

Picking oranges, or are those grapefruits?

Tropical ~ the plants and vines growing on the trees. Notice the tiny red flowers.

Father and son going fishing.

How beautiful is this?

February and there was a Monarch caterpillar munching away on a favorite bush.  
Soon to make a chrysalis/the cycle continues. 

Harry P. Leu's house ~ wonderful tour.

Isn't this just gorgeous?  

Bird sculpture ~ in one of the gardens.

Beautiful paths throughout the gardens.
I will return in April to see the gardens in full bloom.

Large clumps of Bamboo growing in the gardens.  Bamboo has so many uses.
I have several T-shirts made from Bamboo.
Bamboo can grow up to three feet a day and creates more oxygen than trees.

Muskogee Crepe Myrtle ~
an interesting tree - with no bark.

THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH

Resident peacocks at the park.

               


              ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA HAS 
                THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH!
A daytrip ~ a cool, rain threatening day took us North to St. Augustine.  Starting with a great breakfast, at one of the local diners, we were off, with friends Gail and Jerry, to check out the quaint streets of the town.  After meandering through the streets and nosing around in the shops we decided to visit ~ 
                THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH!  

Ponce de Leon met the natives and saw how young, strong and vital they were in comparison to himself and his crew.  He deducted it was the water they were drinking, from the spring in the area.
Thus: Ponce de Leon discovered ~
THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH

A painting of the water coming from the spring when Ponce de Leon found it. 

1518 Discovery by Ponce de Leon

The original well that the natives drank from.

The original cross ~ marking the spring's location.
Ponce de Leon also claimed Florida and all land north to Canada - calling the entire area of land Florida. 
Florida meaning: place of flowers
This is the story told by our guide.