August 3: Largo and St. Petersburg

Today was a red-letter day for sightseeing.  After a healthy breakfast of avocado toast with arugula and tomatoes, a boiled egg and some Greek yogurt, Nancy and I left for Largo, about 15 minutes from where Nancy and Jim live.  It threatened to rain, and there were still significant rain-sodden trails (making for some creative sidestepping as we strolled along), but luckily the rain held off and, in spite of the heat and especially the humidity, Nancy and I prevailed.  

This botanical garden was none of the finest I have seen.  Both educational and aesthetically beautiful, the following gardens were featured:

1. Patio Garden: This home garden demonstrates a creative way of displaying plants and landscape features. All the senses are catered to, with a gently gurgling waterfall, scented flowers, colorful foliage, and a relaxing, shaded gazebo.
2. Herb Garden:  Lovingly cared for, this intimate garden delights visitors with scents, colors and fascinating stories about the long history of human’s relationship with medicinal, culinary and ceremonial plants.
3. Tropical Fruit Garden:  The visitor can stand among the towering trunks of over a dozen different varieties of banana and plantain, and discover how a pineapple grows.  Citrus, mango, papaya, and other exotic fruits are here for all to enjoy.
4. Native Plants Garden: Thisn is a collection of Florida natives, demonstrating the broad palette of plants suitable for the home landscape. Wildflowers, groundcovers, trees and shrubs, each with a unique season of interest, mingle here in colorful harmony.
5. Cactus / Succulent Garden: Many plants have adaptations for life in dry climates. Here there were many beautiful and strange plants from all around the world, cleverly displayed in a small garden space.
6. Butterfly Garden: This is the newest garden devoted to butterflies and located in front of the Welcome Center.
7. Palm Garden: Palms are among the most economically important plants in the world, providing food, fiber, building materials and oils, which help keep the world’s economies running.
8. Vegetable Garden: Vegetables and flowers grown in raised beds.
9.  Vinery Display: A 239-foot fence was installed as a backdrop and aluminum Hubble trellises – unique three-dimensional designs that will turn vines into trees, were added.
Among the formal gardens were the following
1. Wedding Garden: This elegant walled garden has been the stage for several hundred joyous occasions during its history. Beautiful mosaic tiles have been added to enhance this garden area.
2. Tropical Walk: This entailed a stroll through a shaded tropical walk. Here, bold foliage and bright colors combine to create a taste of the tropics.
3. Tropical Courtyard:  Scented plants in planters occupy this beautiful picnic area.
Natural Areas include an Aquatic Habitat and a natural area stressing the wonderful diversity of plant and animal life.  If any of you are in Largo, Florida in the future, be sure to visit this delightful botanic garden.   Before proceeding to our next venue, Heritage Village, Nancy and I shared baked cod, julienned vegetables, and rice pilaf, as well as halved a piece of Key lime pie—a Florida institution.   Our next venue was Heritage Village, right next to the Botanical Gardens.  It is a 21-acre living history museum located in the heart of Pinellas County.  The natural  pine and palmetto landscape features some of Pinellas County’s most historic attractions, including a variety of historical homes, a general store, barn, railroad depot, two schools, a church, a gazebo, and lots of craft demonstration areas.  It being so hot, and those sites being manned by volunteers, we did not witness any craft demonstrations.  As you see in the photos I am posting on Facebook today, we saw the following buildings in chronological order: 1. House of Seven Gables; 2. Plant-Sumner House; 3. Safety Harbor Church; 4. Safford Pavilion; 5. Sponge Warehouse; 6. Williams Park Bandstand; 7. Boyer Cottage; 8. Greenwood House; 9. McKay Creek Boat Shop; 10. Union Academy; 11.  Lowe House and Barn; 12. A fire engine dating back to the year 1917; 13. H.C. Smith Store; 14. McMillan House. After having returned from our odyssey, we have washed our feet and our shoes thoroughly.  Tonight, we are going to a seafood restaurant with live music as a farewell sendoff to my visit here.  It has been a wonderful experience, and I plan to come again next year if I am invited.  Perhaps the Florida Keys will be next on our focus, God willing. Tomorrow, I am going to church with Nancy, and then I will pack.  Perhaps we can fit in one more thing before I need to get to the airport for a 7ish flight.  And so I will end this missive as the penultimate focal point of my travels.  This next weekend will generate one more flying visit to Houston to see the Venables, before I once again start school.  What a summer it has been!  Thanks for tagging along, if you have decided to come along and travel with me in interest and spirit.  As ever, and until next year’s adventures (God willing!), Sylvia V.