largo florida Archives - Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA

Pinellas County Florida Botanical Gardens is located in Largo Florida. Here you can wander through over 30 acres of cultivated gardens and view the wildlife in the 90 acres that are kept in their natural, wild state.

The cultivated gardens include a herb garden, palm garden, tropical fruit garden, patio garden, butterfly garden, succulent garden, bromeliad garden, native plants garden and a seasonal plantings display area. In addition to that, there is a beautiful wedding garden as well as a tropical courtyard.

Naturally, a botanical garden down here in Florida would not be complete without an aquatic habitat demonstration area with a large retention pond complete with water lilies and alligators. There are also sixty acres that were once used for agriculture and are now being restored to it’s natural state. Volunteers are available to answer your questions throughout the park. There is also a gift shop and an information center where you can bring in plants or soil to receive guidance on your own garden.

Pinellas County Florida Botanical Gardens is adjacent to both the Florida Gulf Coast Center for Fishing (with their interactive museum) and Heritage Village (28 historic structures dating back to the 19th century). This is the perfect destination for the entire family! The botanical gardens are open seven days a week.

Eagle Lake Park located on Keene Road in Largo Florida is a beautiful 163-acre park that once belonged to the Taylor family. This pioneering family raised cattle and had orange groves. Many of these trees are still growing in the park.

Pinellas County purchased two sections which now comprise the park back in 1998 and 2006. Now county park-goes can enjoy the picnic shelters, playground, fishing piers and miles of hiking trails. The fishing is catch and release only.

Here you can also bring man’s best friend and let your pet romp in the enclosed dog park with other visitor’s pets. Outside of the enclosed dog park, dogs must be on a leash at all times.

This natural habitat includes over 2,000 feet of well maintained boardwalks over beautifully restored wetlands. Convenient to both north and central Pinellas County, Eagle Lake Park is a popular destination for locals to hold birthday parties, family outings and even morning yoga classes. One of the things I love about Eagle Lake Park is how the turtles come swimming up to the piers, obviously awaiting handouts. That makes photographing these marvelous creatures ever so easy!

Eagle Lake Park runs from Belleair Road to the north all the way to Rosery Road to the south and is a real treasure for the neighboring communities!