(Left) Mead
Botanical Garden
was hit hard by
Hurricane Ian.
Many areas of
the park were
flooded for
months. Addition-
ally, the park
is still seeking
grant money for
recovery from
hurricanes in
2004. Photo by
Sarah Finfrock.
Around Central Florida, many public gardens provide a space where residents and tourists alike can connect with nature. Situated on the shore of Lake Maitland,
Kraft Azalea Park is a popular photoshoot destination and reception area for weddings. Another garden close to Downtown Orlando, with 50-acres of land and a garden
house, Leu Gardens has a variety of both tropical and temperate plants for guests to learn about and view. Just two and a half miles from Leu Gardens is the site of Mead
Botanical Garden, which is another popular photo and wedding venue, as well as a space for various outdoor activities containing 37-acres. Whether one is interested in
gardens for their beauty or for recreation, all of these gardens share the ability to bring the Central Florida community together by prodiving meeting spaces in nature.