Harry P. Leu Gardens

Step off the road and the city sound fades. Birds take over. The air turns green and damp. It is heavy with the smell of leaves and lake water. You are standing at the edge of fifty acres of garden. And this garden sits right in the middle of Orlando. The traffic is close. Yet here, the world slows down at once.

These gardens carry the name of Harry P. Leu. He was a businessman in Orlando. He loved plants. He traveled the world to find them. In 1936 he and his wife Mary Jane bought this land. It sat beside a lake called Lake Rowena. They made it their home. They also made it their garden, year after year.

For years the couple gathered plants from many countries. Harry Leu had a special love for camellias. On his trips abroad he brought back cuttings. He planted them here and watched them take hold. Slowly the collection grew. In time it became one of the largest of its kind in the eastern United States. Much of it still grows around you today.

In 1961 the Leus gave the property to the city of Orlando. They wanted everyone to enjoy it, not just themselves. The garden has stayed open to the public ever since. What began as one family's private grounds is now shared by the whole city. People come here to walk, to rest, and even to marry.

Walk toward the camellia beds. In the cooler months these bushes bloom. The flowers come in pink, red, and white. Some plants here are decades old. The blooms are wide and round, with thick petals. Look closely at them. You will see that no two are quite the same. Camellias are why many people first came to these gardens.

Above you, the live oak trees spread wide. Their branches reach out, then bend toward the ground. Long strands of Spanish moss hang from the limbs. The moss sways when the wind moves through. The shade underneath is deep and cool. On a hot day, this is where you want to stand. Listen. You may hear only leaves and birds.

Follow the path to the rose garden. The beds are laid out in neat, formal lines. In the warm months the roses open in many colors. Lean in gently and breathe. Each kind has its own scent. Some are sweet. Some are sharp. Bees move from flower to flower, slow and busy in the sun. The petals are soft to the touch, cool in the morning and warm by noon.

Near the center of the garden stands an old house. This was the Leu family home. Other families lived here too, long before the Leus came. The house keeps its old furniture and its quiet rooms. It is one of the oldest houses in the area. A guided tour will take you inside, room by room. Inside, the air is still and smells faintly of old wood.

From parts of the garden you can see Lake Rowena. The water is flat and still. Dragonflies move low over the surface. Turtles rest on logs near the bank. Now and then a bird drops down to fish. Sit on a bench here. Let your eyes follow the light as it shifts across the water.

Other parts of the garden feel like a forest. A small stream runs through a tropical section. Tall leaves arch over the path and hold the shade. In the butterfly garden, the flowers are chosen with care. They feed and shelter butterflies. Stand still and wait. With patience, one may drift down and land near you.

The garden changes through the year. Camellias come in winter. Azaleas and roses follow in spring. Summer brings heavy green growth and warm afternoon rain. In every season, something is in bloom. So there is no single best time to come. Each season shows the garden in a different mood.

Take your time as you walk. There is no need to rush from place to place. The paths loop and cross. They invite you to wander. Stop often. Look down at the small things, the moss, the petals, the insects. Then look up at the great old trees. Both are part of the same quiet world.

Harry and Mary Jane Leu planted much of what you see. They knew they would not watch all of it grow tall. A garden is a gift to the future. Find a quiet bench now. Listen to the birds and the moving leaves. Let the slow time of this place stay with you, even after you leave.