Rollin' and Strollin' at Maclay Gardens State Park
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| Passport Stamp #2! |
Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park
Tallahassee, FL
23 April 2017
Introduction
Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park 'A Masterpiece of Floral Architecture' resides in Tallahassee just North of the Thomasville I-10 ramp. The gardens were originally known as Killearn Gardens. Alfred Barmore (I can see why he opted for B. instead) Maclay, a New York finance guy, bought the land in 1923 for a winter home. He himself did much of the work to create the masterpiece. The Maclay family gave the land to the State of Florida in 1953, 9 years after Alfred's death. I will only be going through Lake Hall and the Gardens in this post as oddly enough, I have not been on the Overstreet trails yet.
It was a beautiful day for rollin' the kayak and strollin' through the gardens.
The Gear:
- Florida State Park Passport
- Dagger Mamba kayak
- Astral Brewers
- Paddle Float
The Story:
The Rollin'
Hall Lake - Rolling Lesson
I scheduled a private rolling lesson with Tommy Thompson with the Florida Kayak School. It's pretty awesome that I can find instruction in Tallahassee with someone else who has a whitewater boat. I know rolling isn't exclusive to whitewater, which means there are ocean kayakers etc. who would be able to help too. Since FL is like by the beach or something.
Hall Lake is the first right upon entering the gardens. There is a large parking lot, restroom facilities, boat ramp, and a beach recreation area. It is a great shallow and still place to work on technique. You just have to get over the fact that you look silly and everybody is watching you.
Hall Lake is the first right upon entering the gardens. There is a large parking lot, restroom facilities, boat ramp, and a beach recreation area. It is a great shallow and still place to work on technique. You just have to get over the fact that you look silly and everybody is watching you.
Roll with paddle float
Best technique of all the videos:
The Strollin'
The Gardens
The Gardens part of this state park are in the "bloom season". This means it costs extra to go into the gardens through the end of April. These photos may not be in order of my stroll, but I'll add details when I can. First up is the parking area. Beautiful tree, signs saying you should probably not pick the flowers.
The gates open right on the House Walk. It is a brick walkway that gives you views of Lake Hall to your right, has random turns into the garden on your left, and canopies above your head.
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| Don't pick the flowers dude |
The gates open right on the House Walk. It is a brick walkway that gives you views of Lake Hall to your right, has random turns into the garden on your left, and canopies above your head.
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| Lake Hall |
The Secret Garden!
Towards the end of the walkway you will stumble upon the secret garden. It's basically a gated/hedged off square guarded by lions (rad!).
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| Inside the secret garden Maclay Gardens State Park |
The following photos are of plants that were spotted inside the secret garden.
The Pond
The pond was the most gorgeous aspect of the gardens in my opinion. The water was beautiful as well as the surrounding vegetation. I may give Florida a hard time, but there is some really nice stuff here. I'm glad I'm taking this mission to visit as many state parks as I can.
Reflection Pool
If you are my age living in Tallahassee, you've probably seen the pictures on Facebook of every couple's engagement photoshoot in front of the reflecting pool. Either that or on train tracks (are train tracks really an import aspect of your relationship? just why?). So here is the pool in all of it's glory.
Now insert a couple holding a banner with their wedding date on it or standing in some odd, unnatural pose in front of it or holding a wooden ampersand. It IS pretty, yes. I think it's the trees that really make the photos. The pool adds a pop of color, but I think a statue of Abraham Lincoln or a cat (or a cat Lincoln) would make this more exciting.
The House/Museum
I was not aware of the Maclay House Museum. According to my research following up on my visit, it is only open during the blooming season (January - April). I awkwardly stepped inside to see what it was all about.
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| Maclay House Museum Maclay Gardens State Park |
I turned right to where the museum side was. It details the history of gardens starting with Medieval. Then it delves on to different European countries during the Renaissance such as Italy, France, and then eventually the British Isles. For the American Gardens section, it says "Each region of the United States has gardens uniquely its own, each full of creativity, historical background, and plant life indigenous to the area."
Then we specifically get to the History of Maclay Gardens.
If you've read other blog entries of mine, you will understand why I took the next photo. Cypress knees! It also shows the torreya tree which I discussed in my Torreya State Park post. I was curious about the torreya being in the gardens so I talked to the ranger on duty at the museum. He said there was for sure one Torreya tree by the reflecting pool on the end closer to Hall Lake. He asked if I would recognize it if I saw it, and I honestly have no idea. (He said he could only notice it if someone else pointed it out to him so I don't feel bad). It didn't stop me from trying.
Some more background information by Alfred B.'s wife Louise:
"...to bring it to its present state of perfection" - I love it!
The museum part was short, sweet, and to the point. The house had two rooms on display to look around. First is the Library.
Then the sitting room/living room:
I explored the gardens some more. It was neat how there wasn't a designated footpath except on the House Walk. I got to peacefully meander around on the open grass. I tried finding the torreya tree, but I am just like the ranger in that I need someone to point it out. I took some pictures of what potentially may be it, but I will consult with a better tree expert before I report incorrect information.
I stopped into the front gate ranger station on my way out of the park. They even let me stamp my passport myself!!
After a nice day in the sun, I deserved pizza and a beer. Momo's never disappoints.
Hurdles:
My shed key was missing, so I couldn't get my paddle. Said shed key was found in a jacket pocket the day after I had my lock replaced. Go figure, that's always the best way to find things. I also forgot my PFD, even though I grabbed the wetsuit right next to it. My instructor let me use his. At least I remembered to bring my kayak?
Relevant Quote:
I look at people like Picasso and Da Vinci and Escher and Miles Davis, and they'll write or paint that one definitive masterpiece of maybe 50 that they have that's really trying to go outside the box, trying to do something that's tough. And then when you accomplish it, you look back and go, 'Yeeaaaah - masterpiece.'-Lupe Fiasco
I went for a more light-hearted quote this time. Since the gardens are a masterpiece of floral architecture, I decided to find a masterpiece of a quote. Lupe Fiasco giving respect to the talents of many masterful minds. Pushing through something tough is very rewarding.
Note - Lupe Fiasco has some pretty damn good quotes.
Other:
- This was my 2nd visit to this FL State Park in my lifetime
- This was my 2nd visit to a FL State Park in 2017
- This park is 2/174 for passport stamps
- This was my 2nd visit to this FL State Park in my lifetime
- This was my 2nd visit to a FL State Park in 2017
- This park is 2/174 for passport stamps
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