Five Fun Things to Do in April

Ah, spring. Open the windows. Let in fresh air. Inhale.

Makes you restless, doesn’t it? Have I got a cure for you – five fun events for April all happening in places from my book “50 Great Walks in Florida.”

Chapter 1: The Joys of Meandering: Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park, Tallahassee.
Saturday, April 5 at the Gardener’s Cottage from 3-5 p.m. is a program on spring arrangements for your Easter table. Program is free with park admission.

And did you know that every Monday you could volunteer to work in the gardens and the greenhouse and learn gardening techniques? Call 850-487-4115 to let them know you are coming.

Chapter 13: Traverse Two Terrains: Little Talbot Island State Park, Jacksonville.

Saturday, April 11 at 1 p .m. join a park ranger for a talk on shark’s teeth and the kinds found on the area’s beaches. Also check their Web site for ranger-led nature and beach walks.

Chapter 29: Garden of Delights; Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando.
Friday, April 3 is Date Night at the Gardens. Gardens open at 6 p.m. and a movie “Mama Mia” shows at 8:30 p.m. Bring a blanket or chairs and dinner picnic basket. Admission $7 plus tax for adults and $2 plus tax for children.

Come back on Saturday, April 11 for their Hibiscus Show and Sale. The Plant sale starts at 9 a.m. and a hibiscus show runs from 1-5 p.m. Free admission to the show. Expert advice on taking care of your hibiscus from the Central Florida Hibiscus Society.

Chapter 33: “Gardens, Landscapes, and Native Habitats: Florida Botanical Gardens, Largo.
Celebrate Earth Day on April 18. From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. admission and parking is free. The usual produce and products with their Saturday Market in the Park will be there plus exhibits and experts to share easy ways to protect Mother Earth.

Come early. The first 60 participants receive a free native oak tree.

Chapter 36: Mangroves, Orchids, and a Bo Tree: Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Sarasota.

Through April 18 is an exhibit and sale called Rainforest Masks featuring master carvers from an indigenous reserve next to a rainforest in Costa Rica.
Visit on a Sunday afternoon and hear live music in the gardens from 1-3 p.m. On Sunday, April 5 music is by the Swing Merchants.

So, fill up the gas tank – go forth and enjoy. Oh, yes, and take 50 Great Walks with you!

Copyright 2009 Lucy Beebe Tobias. Lucy is the Authentic Florida expert for VISIT FLORIDA and the author of 50 Great Walks in Florida, University Press of Florida

Azaleas in Full Riot at Rainbow Springs State Park

Yes, all the azaleas are blooming! That’s the good news from Rainbow Springs State Park in Dunnellon.

Rejoice. Do not hesitate. Pack up the kids, the family dog and its leash. Alert your neighbors, get together and carpool or caravan. This is huge. The azaleas blooming at Rainbow Springs means spring has officially arrived to North Central Florida.

It is a sight worth seeing – masses of azaleas blooming along old brick walkways, meandering up the sides of waterfalls and cascading down the hillside to the headwaters of the Rainbow River.

In the Florida timeline there are two eras: BD and AD. Translation: Before Disney and After Disney. Rainbow Springs was a thriving private attraction in the BD era. A Wild West theme had cowboys and their horses – the old stable are still visible in the back area of the park. Glass bottomed boats glided on the Rainbow River. Overhead, gondolas went through the air on a suspension cable, going into tropical bird aviaries. And the azaleas, ah yea, they were here, by the hundreds, a blooming reminder that landscaping in Florida doesn’t have to be tropical to be beautiful.

When Interstate 75 arrived, everyone drove straight to Disney. In the AD era, old time attractions like Rainbow Springs died. The horses were sold. The glass bottom boats sank to the bottom of the river. And the azaleas? They stayed on, blooming in the fullness of Florida springtime, oblivious to the economic downturn.

A developer bought the headwaters and surrounding property. The Rainbow Springs residential area began to grow. Being able to go to the springs was a perk of having a home nearby. Some green thumbs noticed that under the jungle of overgrowth were beautiful azaleas and other plants. They formed a garden club called the Friends of Rainbow Springs and began weeding. In the fullness of time the developer decided to build condos at the headsprings.

Condos? The green thumbs thought not.  They fought to save the springs and won. A combination of county and state monies purchased Rainbow Springs State Park in 1990.

But there was no money at first for staff so the same homeowner volunteers became the Friends of Rainbow Springs State Park. They kept it open, kept it maintained and waited for improvements. For one dollar you could visit the park. The park has staff now, and many amenities including covered picnic, a swimming area, gift shop and restrooms. It is still one dollar to get in the gate. Such a deal!

Guided garden tours are given the first and third Saturday of the month through April. Tour starts at 11 a.m. No reservations necessary.  The walk around the gardens is about one mile. Some of the walk is on uneven brick surfaces with slightly steep grades going uphill.

You’ll go by beautiful manmade waterfalls leftover from the private attraction days, get a glimpse of the old stables, hear about the springs and how what we do with our lawns affects its water quality, see the Rainbow River Run and of course, lots of azaleas.

On the second Saturday of every month except June, July, and August, there is a guided bird walk that starts at 8:30 a.m. On your own, you can take a backcountry nature trail that meanders for 2.5 miles. The free trail guide is in the gift shop or ask for it at the main gate.
Dogs are not allowed on the bathing beach or concession areas. They may walk the trails of well behaved an on a six-foot hand held lead.

Want more? Ranger programs also include guided canoe/kayak trips, guided snorkeling trips and on the third Saturday of each month there is Music on the Grounds – open mike and coffee house at 8:30 p.m. Bring a chair, a mug a musical instrument, perhaps some poetry and hang out with local talented artists.

Rainbow Springs State Park address is 19158 S.W. 81st Place (off U.S. 41), Dunnellon, Fl. 34432, phone (352) 465-8555. Their Web site is under: www.floridastateparks.org

Admission is $1 per person, children under the age of six admitted free.

Lucy Beebe Tobias is the Authentic Florida Expert for VISIT FLORIDA and the author of “50 Great Walks in Florida.” Chapter 18 in “50 Great Walks” is all about Rainbow Springs. She lives in Ocala.