Thinking of heading to St. Augustine this coming weekend. Any plant-related suggestions? Gardens maybe?

I like to stop at the Sugar Mill gardens which, I believe would be along your way. It is a small garden and very relaxing.
http://www.dunlawtonsugarmillg...

There are 2 nurseries in St. Augustine I like, Leonardi's and Southern Horticulture.

Have a good trip.

Thanks, Alice! DH and I may find ourselves "unexpectedly" at one of those

Yes, those unexpected stops just happen sometimes, actually my car often turns into nurseries all by itself. Sugar Mill really is a small but interesting garden and it is a quick stop, even my husband likes to walk around that one because he knows he will be back in the car before he gets tired or hot. Living in FL you would be familiar with most if not all of the plant material but the historic aspect is interesting.

@ardesia Alice, thanks for your recommendations! We found Leonardi's easily as it's on the way to the lighthouse and of course had to stop in They had some things I hadn't seen at my local nurseries, so that was a success We didn't get a chance to get to Sugar Mill, but it's on the list for next time we're out that way. Thanks again

I agree, if you ever get over to the Daytona Beach/Port Orange area you should try to stop in at Sugar Mill Gardens. There is no admission fee, it's open from @ 7:00 a.m. until dusk every day. It's a really nice place for a morning or afternoon stroll in spring and fall but can be quite hot and humid during the summer months, even with all the shade from the huge oak trees!

Sugar Mill Gardens isn't a very large place, only @ 12 acres total; around 10 acres of maintained gardens (including the sugar mill ruins) and @ 2 acres of trails through a hammock area. The property was a tourist attraction back in the 1950's called Bongo Land or something like that. They still have the cement Dinosaur statues around the property, which children (and even some adults) get a kick out of.

I volunteered at Sugar Mill Gardens for a couple of years; there are no paid employees ... maintenance and upkeep is all done by volunteers on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. They have separate little garden areas for specific plants; Cacti/Succulent garden, Fern Grotto, Butterfly Garden, Herb Garden, Children's Garden, etc. These are a few photos I took at the gardens about 4 years ago:


The Sugar Mill area:



The property was originally called Dunlawton Plantation back in the 1800's and of course there were wars with the natives.


Misc. view and a pond with a Giant Ground Sloth in the background


A few of the Dinoasaur statues

LOL, thanks Lin, I forgot about those statues.

I hope I'm not too late

http://www.washingtonoaks.org/
Washington Oaks State park
Beautiful rose garden, nice and shady, just take some bug spray this time of year since it is on the river.

There is also a nice plant nursery off A1A in Palm Coast - Hammock Gardens Nursery & Landscape

I agree with Sherri, Washington Oaks State Park is another really beautiful garden to visit, both intracoastal and Atlantic ocean side. No gardens on the east side but the ocean views are amazing and if it's low tide, a beautiful place to take a stroll on the beach! It's one of my favorite places although since we've moved farther south I doubt I'll ever get up there anymore.

I've passed by Hammock Gardens Nursery many times as we've driven along A1A but never visited ... always wanted to stop but hubby was always in a hurry.