Washington Oaks State Gardens

Washington Oaks State Gardens

Infobox_protected_area | name = Washington Oaks Gardens State Park
iucn_category = V



caption = Matanzas River on the western side of the park
locator_x =
locator_y =
location = Flagler County, Florida, USA
nearest_city = Palm Coast, Florida
lat_degrees = 29
lat_minutes = 38
lat_seconds = 06
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 81
long_minutes = 12
long_seconds = 14
long_direction = W
area =
established =
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body = Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Washington Oaks Gardens State Park is a Florida State Park located near Palm Coast, Florida, along A1A. The park is most famous for its formal gardens, but it also preserves the original habitat of a northeast Florida barrier island.

Ecology

Habitats preserved by the park include beach, coastal scrub, coastal hammock, and tidal marshes.

Flora

Vegetation includes live oaks, magnolias, hickories, sabal palms, and saw palmettos. Plants that can be found in the gardens are roses, camellias, and azaleas, among others.

Fauna

Wildlife include sea turtles, gopher tortoises, manatees, deer, raccoons, bobcats, foxes, opossums, gray squirrels, Pileated Woodpeckers, Northern Cardinals, Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, and the Florida Scrub-Jay.

History

The park's land has a rich history. Native Americans found the area a productive hunting and fishing area. After European settlement of Florida, the property had a number of owners and was used for various agricultural purposes. One owner was a surveyor named George Washington, a relative of President George Washington. In 1936, Louise Powis Clark, wife of the industrialist Owen D. Young purchased the property as a winter retirement home. She devised the name "Washington Oaks" for the property and is responsible for developing the park's formal gardens, citrus groves, and house. Mr. Young died in 1962 and Mrs. Young donated the property to the State of Florida in 1964. Her donation specified that the "gardens be maintained in their present form".

Recreational Activities

The park has such amenities as beaches (on both the Matanzas River and Atlantic Ocean), bicycling, fishing, hiking, picnicking areas and wildlife viewing. The original residence has been converted into a visitor center with interpretive exhibits.

Hours and admission

FLparkhrs An admission fee is required.

References and external links

* [http://www.floridastateparks.org/washingtonoaks/default.cfm Washington Oaks State Gardens] at [http://www.floridastateparks.org Florida State Parks]
* [http://floridaparks.com/stprks/central/washingtonoaks.htm Washington Oaks State Gardens] at [http://floridaparks.com State Parks]
* [http://members.atlantic.net/~lperry/oakpark.htm Washington Oaks State Gardens] at [http://members.atlantic.net/~lperry/tourroost.htm Tour Crane's Roost]
* [http://www.abfla.com/parks/WashingtonOaks/washingtonoaks.html Washington Oaks State Gardens] at [http://www.abfla.com Absolutely Florida]


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