Hi Carol,
First, let me tell you that I enjoy your Sunday column in the Stuart News. You seem to be a pragmatic gardener with knowledge of the latest thing when it comes to landscaping and plants. I appreciate that.

I'm a transplant from New York/New England; been here since '00, and love the joys and challenges of South Florida gardening. I'm also Coordinator (and a founder) of a local Garden Club. Our Club has about forty members, both ladies and men, with a wide range of interests and experience. This makes our Club very interesting and rewarding. We plan regular field trips and are wondering do you have any suggestions for interesting trips that we can take easily from the Treasure Coast?
Thanks,
Rich
Stuart

Hello Rich,
Thank you for your kind words. Here are some of my favorite trips for folks interested in gardens and gardening:
--The Annual Caladium Festival in Lake Placid, this year to be held August 27th and 28thm 2005. Worth the effort to get folks together for the trip. For more info, see http://www.lpfla.com/events/caladium.htm
--EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival ends June 5th this year, but usually starts in mid-April for net year's planning. http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/calendar/specialeventslisting/eventSubListing?id=FlowerGardenSubListingSpecialEventPage&bhcp=1
--Fairchild Tropical Gardens is always a great trip, but even nicer when the Mango Festival is in town, July 9 & 10, 2005. http://www.fairchildgarden.org/horticulture/mangofest.html For Fairchild's event calendar, visit http://www.fairchildgarden.org/publicprograms/n_events.html
--The American Orchid Society in Delray Beach is a good day trip. http://www.orchidweb.org/aos/visit/index.aspx
-One of my favorites is the Edison & Ford Winter Estates in Ft Myers. Edison was also a plant collector and has left a very interesting collection. http://www.edison-ford-estate.com/
--Harry P. Leu Gardens in Orlando is a trip that gardeners around Florida enjoy. http://www.leugardens.org/
--Dr. Brown at Valkaria Gardens up in Valkaria, Fl (Brevard County). Valkaria Tropical Garden is owned and operated by Dr. Frank Brown plant collector, hybridizer, and educator extraordinaire. His private garden contains a large collection of tropical plants including crotons that Dr. Brown collected and hybridized. This nursery & gardens are not open regularly, selected weekends only. For more information and times when the gardens are open call (321)768-1597 or send an email to valkariatg@aol.com

Hope these provide you with some new ideas and Happy Gardening,
Carol