In late winter, azaleas create ribbons of vibrant colour beneath the dwell oak cover throughout the grounds of Maclay Gardens, a collection of formal gardens sweeping all the way down to Lake Corridor.
But it surely was camellias that drove the creation of Killearn Gardens, a 28-acre ardour mission of collector Alfred B. Maclay and his spouse Louise.
Blooms alongside the brick drivewayThey bought an antebellum quail-hunting lodge as a retirement house in 1923. He turned his panorama design expertise to the encompassing hillsides.
At this time’s Maclay Gardens is the central function of Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park, which extends throughout an expanse of steephead ravines between two lakes.
The Maclay’s retirement houseSources
Overview
Location: TallahasseeLength: 1 mile backyard loopMain entrance: 30.51420, -84.24801Address: 3540 Thomasville Rd, TallahasseeFees: $4-6 per car plus $3-6 per particular person backyard entry payment Jan-AprRestroom: On the parking space and close to the historic homeLand supervisor: Florida State ParksPhone: 850-487-4556
Open 8 AM till sundown every day, gardens 9-5 every day.
Instructions
In regards to the Park
Alfred was recognized for his love of camellias. Guests from around the globe would convey him specimens of distinctive varieties. There are greater than 150 varieties on web site.
After his dying, Louise opened the gardens to the general public for a number of years after World Battle II. She deeded them to the care of the Florida Park Service in 1953.
Camellia exterior the Maclay HomeNow a centerpiece to greater than a thousand forested acres, they’ve a refined circulation in direction of Lake Corridor and the house.
From woodlands dressed with azaleas and camellias they yield to to formal backyard rooms with burbling fountains, ponds, and sculptures.
Walled BackyardThere are dozens of hidden niches and swimming pools in addition to a Noah’s Ark of Florida native species in a Native Plant Arboretum.
Prime blooming months run from December to early summer season, however the gardens are pleasure to discover any time of yr.
Florida anise bloom within the ArboretumRecreation at Maclay Gardens
Lake Corridor Day Use Space is on the finish of a steeply sloping street, the primary proper past the doorway station.
It’s the park’s vacation spot for water play. Launch a ship or a kayak or a rental paddleboard, or take within the solar on a sandy seashore.
Seaside on Lake CorridorIt additionally has a big picnic space with pavilions and tables, in addition to a playground.
The picnic space is flanked by nature trails at every finish, plus an accessible stroll that loops a peninsula beneath the parking space.
On the Magnolia Loop PathA trailhead down a dust street turnoff on the left previous the parking for the gardens is your gateway to the Lake Overstreet Addition.
It delights with in depth mountain bike trails via steep ravines plus two multi-use loops for hikers, cyclists, and equestrians.
Path junctionThe 4 mile Lake Path circles Lake Overstreet, partially utilizing what really feel like well-worn previous wagon roads from Tallahassee’s previous.
It’s a superb birding vacation spot and has historic websites alongside it, however the route is considerably strenuous in a number of spots.
Lake OverstreetThe 1.8 mile Ravine Path loop lies west through a 0.3 mile round-trip connector and offers a a lot flatter stroll above a large steephead ravine.
This simpler circuit might be accessed as a separate 2.2 mile hike from a trailhead alongside Meridian Highway with parking throughout the road at Forest Meadows trailhead.
Trillium on the slope above the ravineStrolling the Gardens
Ranging from the customer middle adjoining the parking space, use the entry gate to affix the brick drive resulting in the Maclay Home.
Descending in direction of Lake Corridor, it’s a spine to backyard paths that meander into thematic areas.
Entry gateOn the counterclockwise circuit proven on our path map, go away the drive to stroll the woodlands of the Native Plant Arboretum, filled with uncommon Florida beauties.
Among the extra unusual vegetation embrace mountain laurel, Florida anise, and torreya tree, a yew that not matures previous a sure dimension because of a blight.
Native Plant ArboretumThe pathway descends in direction of Lake Corridor for a pleasant stroll near its shore, reaching a coated pavilion on the lake’s edge.
Past it are camellia gardens underneath grand dwell oaks, extending in direction of the brick street and in direction of one large oak, the Heritage Oak, on a grand garden.
Lakeside PavilionStroll up the garden to the Maclay Home, open throughout prime blooming season with a docent readily available.
One room is an interpretive gallery giving context to the Maclay household and their retirement mission on this land.
Historical oak and Maclay HomeMany rooms stay precisely as they had been when the Maclays lived right here, full with their furnishings and books.
A number of of the bigger, older camellias adjoin the home. Behind the house is a smaller cottage and a thematic backyard.
The parlor and its botanical artworkThe Pollinator Backyard accommodates beds of flowering vegetation inside an out of doors room outlined by trimmed hedges.
Leaving the manor house, amble in direction of the Camellia Stroll on the other aspect of the brick driveway.
Pollinator BackyardFrom it, an archway results in the Walled Backyard, an out of doors room in brick centered on a fountain with a burbling sculpture in its middle.
On this Italianate backyard, artwork decorates niches with benches. Azaleas mound within the corners.
Walled BackyardThe archway going through Lake Corridor reveals a grand garden stairstepping to an oblong reflecting pool, the lake within the distance.
Step into it and observe the signal to the Pond. A pathway via woodland gardens results in the entry to this subsequent backyard house.
Reflecting PoolLoop round it to take pleasure in a symphony of textures from coontie and irises grazing the water’s edge to redbud and dogwood overhead.
Look ahead to wildlife, because it’s not unusual to see turtles sunning alongside the banks, and typically even an alligator.
Black PondThe ultimate part of the backyard has a pleasant uphill sweep of azaleas and camellias underneath the native cover of pines and oaks.
There are lots of methods to traverse the Woodland Gardens as much as the doorway gate, with pathways that allow you to linger or take a extra direct route.
The circuit proven on our map all the way down to Lake Corridor, out to the manor home, and again via the formal gardens is a mile lengthy.
Pathway in direction of the doorway gatePath Map
Discover Extra!
Discover extra at Maclay Gardens State Park
Video
Strolling the gardens in late winter
Slideshow
See our images of Maclay Gardens
Close by Adventures
Path Map (PDF) Official Web site
Creator of 45 books, Sandra Good friend established FloridaHikes.com in 2006 to develop on the sphere analysis she’d accomplished for her first six mountain climbing guides. She has been honored with lifetime achievement awards from the Florida Path Affiliation and the Florida Outside Writers Affiliation.
