Factoid Florida

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW FLORIDA'S 67 COUNTIES?


I'd imagine this has never crossed your mind, but humor me with this question: how many of Florida's 67 counties were named after people associated with the Confederacy?

Yeah, I know. This is Florida, a southern state that threw itself into the Civil War, er, War of Northern Aggression, with reckless abandon. And the word reckless really resonates among some historians. But, I digress. Florida joined the war, contributed soldiers and saw some warfare in a losing cause.

If you haven't come up with the correct answer, let me help. It's four. Baker, Bradford, Hendry and Lee counties were all named for men who worked to secede from the U.S., and for their efforts their names are now part of Florida lore, or at least on the names of four rural counties.

Judge James McNair Baker was one of Florida's two Confederate senators. Captain Richard Bradford was the first Florida soldier to lose his life for the Confederate cause. Captain Francis Hendry had better luck. He survived the war and became a successful cattle rancher and everyone knows the role Robert E. Lee had in the war. Lee never fought in Florida, but being the top dog has its benefits.

                                                                                                                     By Doug Lyons

Chillin' in a Different Part of Florida

There's nothing like a trip to Nature to rev up romance. Think I'm kidding? Take your spouse, significant other or that one-time date you like to know better to McKee Botanical  Gardens and watch what happens. It's a day trip worth doing.

Seriously.

A quiet conversation away from the daily rat-race can do wonders. A little effort into a road trip  and a romantic stroll past a pool of waterlines, elephant ear plants and under the shade of a Sausage Tree -- no joke -- and who knows?

The botanical gardens is located in Vero Beach, Florida. For those of you in South Florida, it's about a two-hour drive, so some planning is clearly necessary. It would help if you had a good working car, money for breakfast and lunch. A sense of direction and adventure also help. And, remember, you will be doing some walking. Comfortable shoes are a must. This is no place for heels, ladies.

The Garden features 10,000 native and tropical plants and  countless number of waterlines. The 18-acre tract began operations back in 1932 as an 80-acre site. Over the years, development and the growth of other tourist attractions put the gardens in a bit of tailspin. Fortunately, what usually happens in Florida didn't wipe the Gardens out of existence.

My suggestion. Go. Weekdays, except Mondays when the place is closed,  are always good as you'll probably have a lot of the park to yourself. Avoid the dog days of summer, even with the shade it can get hot out there. Other than that, make the drive, take the stroll and enjoy your evening.
                                                                                                                        By Doug Lyons