DO check opening times before you visit!!!

Today I tried to visit a garden that's been on my list for a while - Historic Spanish Point - on the Tamiami Trail, near Osprey and south of Sarasota. But I hadn't checked the website and if I had, I would have discovered that Monday is the one day of the week it's closed. Now I know why I always provide links for my readers, so you can check the opening days and times before you go to any of the gardens I write about. Shame I didn't do that myself!

But I found another beautiful garden in the making and can't wait to tell you about it, because once it's open, it's definitely going to be worth a visit - this is the former Burrows-Matson home (above), adjacent to Spanish Point, which sits in beautiful grounds overlooking Little Sarasota Bay, and which is currently being restored by the Sarasota Conservation Foundation. They will open the property later this year as a public community park, and work is already well underway.
Other plans for the site include a museum in the former mansion; an artist-in-residence programme (with artists staying on site in one of the restored properties); walking trail; and a cayak and canoe launching area. It's a truly wonderful location for all these activities and visitors will also be able to visit Spanish Point - on the days it's open! And of course, I was in heaven here, just as I am elsewhere in Florida, because you've got all the birds in the bay, including pelicans (like the one diving below), ospreys, and herons. I will certainly be keeping a close eye on this beautiful property and perhaps when I return later this year, I'll also get to see Spanish Point.

Comments

  1. I've done that very thing when traveling to see a garden...twice! Liz simply will not let me live it down either.
    Scott

    ReplyDelete
  2. Pelican caught in an amazing moment. Olympic gymnast over the high jump.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This opening blunder has happened to me quite a number of times too. Oh, I love the first picture of the entrance with the big tree and dangling vines? This is picture perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oops, I'm drooling. Wow. What beautiful gardens even if you didn't quite get in all the way. Those kind of places just take my breath away. Great catch on the pelican!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Pelican perfect! Do give another visit soon. The one you did find looks wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Well poo---but looks like your time wasn't wasted. Very nice to visit this garden with you.

    ReplyDelete
  7. That pelican is spectacular -- my mouth dropped open when I saw it. I've had many a situation when I wanted to kick myself for not checking the days open or the hours of operation. If only the world revolved around my schedule... :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Excellent photo of the pelican! I have done the same thing with the local art museum. Loaded up the kids, their friends, husband and drove across the water only to find it was the one day of the week they were closed. All dressed up and nowhere to go.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh yes, we once promised a very young son he could visit a castle if he behaved on holiday and then found it was closed on the day!! This garden does look wonderful and the photo of the diving bird! Wow!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oops but at least it led to a great discovery.

    The pelicans are one of my fondest memories of our holiday in Florida. They're such fun aren't they?

    ReplyDelete
  11. What an acrobatic bird! Garden opening times can be very strange sometimes. Even when I am aware of the problem I have still made the odd mistake and found a garden closed on the only day I can visit.

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a great capture of the pelican! I love the Spanish moss on the trees!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I've done that twice, both at the same garden (Sissinghurst), which is even more stupid. It has the most complicated set of opening times, which is my excuse.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment