Resident garden creatures add charm and drama. Emerging from behind a palm leaf, I encountered two swans, followed by a bevy of squawking ducks ambling blithely ahead along the path. This entourage clambered down into the stream and glided majestically out of sight around a bend in the water. Stopping later beside a fern wrapped lagoon, I watched playful koi, darting streaks of orange, gold and black, rising in a tumble to regard me with open mouths. At the same moment, there came a startling flash of color high above, as a scarlet macaw careened with a whirring of wings into a tree and began to walk upside down, pecking away at the bark.
Birds are a star attraction at the gardens. The bright feathers of the macaws and Amazon parrots appear to echo the shimmering colors of the orchids. Other residents include poison dart frogs, tropical Asian squirrels, pigeons of the worlds and African chameleons. A tropical mural painted by a local resident blends naturally into the general scene; and Oriental touches, like a tea pavilion and curving Japanese bridge, lend elegance and enhance the atmosphere of tranquility.
All of the garden's attractions are not under glass. Moving outside into the Florida sunshine, sultry and warm even on the January day I visited, I discovered a "rose gazebo" and a wildlife pond, slumbering under a lacy covering of water lettuce. I then followed a nature trail, a thousand-foot boardwalk plunging into a wilderness area of slash pines, palmettos, native magnolias, Osmunda fern, Cypress mosses and lichens. Here was a chance to experience a taste of the "natural Florida," which sadly is rapidly disappearing, thanks to the recent booming development of the area.
Few visitors leave the gardens without being captivated by the wondrous collection of orchids, and, chances are, they will want to take one or two plants home with them. A stop-off at the gift shop is in order. All should be warned, however, that growing orchids could be addictive! The pursuit is also a lot easier than many people think.
The key, according to Kerry Richards, is to cultivate "by controlled neglect-do not over-water, do not overfeed." He also made the interesting point, given the exotic allure of these plants, that orchids are probably the most inexpensive plants in cultivation. "An orchid averaging five years to flower," he says, "costs between $15-25. That's 1,825 days to produce, or, at $15, a 0.008 cents per day selling price."
As an added girl to the community, the Richards have recently offered free admission to their gardens, one of the many reasons to visit again and again. I know I certainly will. I also know that I've acquired a new hobby and that the rich glow from a purple Denodrium nodding from one of my sunny windows brings back the memory of my special day spent at A World of Orchids.
Photoku
