Orlando Sights: Gardens and Parks

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• Arboretum, University of Central Florida www.green.ucf.edu/sustainLandscaping/main.php, 4000 Central Florida Boulevard; 407-823-3146. An arboretum and botanical garden covering 80 acres (32 hectares), containing more than 600 species of plants (including more than 100 bromeliads) in cultivated gardens. Its cultivated areas currently include a Conservatory Compound, a Bromeliad Sanctuary, Cycad Garden, Fern Garden, Palm Collection, Rose Garden, Swamp Habitat, and Wetland Plants Display. Free.

• Harry P. Leu Gardens, 1920 N Forest Ave; +1 407-246-2620, leugardens.org. Beautiful landscaped gardens and lakes set in nearly 50 acres of land, featuring flora gathered from around the globe since 1936, including the largest rose garden in Florida and America's largest camellia collection outside of California. The Leu House, Harry P. Leu's former home set within the grounds and dating back to the 1880's, has tours every 30 minutes around its museum illustrating Florida living at the turn of the 20th century (closed during July). You can get married in various places in the gardens and there are special events held throughout the year. Open daily 9AM-5PM except Christmas Day. Last garden admission at 4:00PM. Admission $7 (free every Monday 9AM-noon).

• Historic Bok Sanctuary, 1151 Tower Blvd., Lake Wales, FL 33853; 863-676-1408, boksanctuary.org. The Bok Sanctuary features acres of intricately landscaped gardens filled with an exotic array of flowers and trees. The gardens are home to a colony of wood ducks and many other wild birds. In the middle of the gardens sits the Bok Tower, with its 60-bell carillon playing music daily at 3PM. Bok Tower Gardens is open every day of the year from 8AM to 6PM with last admission at 5PM. The Visitor Center is open from 9AM to 5PM. Admission $10.

• World of Orchids, 2501 Old Lake Wilson Rd Kissimmee, FL 34747, www.aworldoforchids.com. Featuring thousands of blooms in an enclosed tropical rain forest, World of Orchids is a working greenhouse shipping orchids and other plants nationwide. A greenhouse covers nearly an acre (4,000 m²), and in this controlled climate of warm, humid air some 1,000 orchids are displayed in a natural jungle setting, with streams, waterfalls, and squawking parrots. World of Orchids also has a 1,000 foot (300 m) long boardwalk meandering off into nearby wetlands. Open Monday through Saturday, 9:30AM to 4:30PM. Closed: Sundays, New Year's Day, July 4th, the 3rd and 4th week in July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and December 26. Admission free.

• www.green.ucf.edu/sustainLandscaping/main.php
• leugardens.org
• boksanctuary.org
• www.aworldoforchids.com