GARDENS: Washington Oaks Gardens State Park

Check out these charming gardens, beach and river on Florida's east coast. Page 1.

It's easy to see why many couples choose Washington Oaks Gardens State Park for their weddings, given that the park is the result of a marriage between art and nature.

As we wandered under giant moss draped oaks, exploring the park's gardens with our cameras, it was easy to reflect upon the appealing ironies of this union.

Most gardeners are too down to earth to think of themselves as artists, let alone take on silly art world poses. Yet they understand that the creations of the natural world provide a richer palette for expression than any mere man made media.

After all, if one is going to be creative, why express your vision in anything less than the same materials used by the original Creator, right?

Their passion for the very best materials, and lack of distracting pretensions and explanations, makes gardeners the most charming of artists.

This garden is painted upon the canvas of a grove of mature live oaks. Large stately trees arch majestically overhead, holding curtains of hanging spanish moss that dance gracefully in the breeze.

The unique charm of this park is that these trees provide a beautiful oasis of shade just a short walk from the beach, a land of relentless sun. Those who find the environment of Florida beaches too intense might be able to enjoy the experience more if they knew they could quickly retreat to the protection of these gardens when the need arose.

Citrus groves border the garden in a couple of areas, and very appealing fruit was hanging from them on the days of our visit. Signs in the grove read our greedy tourist minds and reminded us to behave and leave the fruit to ripen in peace.