Elizabeth's Secret Garden

Fort Matanzas National Monument is situated on a coastal island south of St. Augustine, Florida. It was constructed by the Spanish in 1740 and completed in 1742.  The main material used in the fort’s construction was coquina which was a common shellstone building material at the time. The fort was used in the effort to ward of the British who wished to encroach on St. Augustine. The only battle that occurred off of Matanzas Inlet was in 1742 when Governor James Oglethorpe of Georgia arrived with 12 ships. The ships were soon detected by the Spanish who responded with a single cannon shot. The fleet left after the fire without causing further action for the Spanish. Fort Matanzas is only accessible by way of a guided tour boat. Matanzas Queen III was our ride to the inlet. Our tour guide was dressed in the apparel that would have been worn by the Spanish who guarded Fort Matanzas. He must of been relieved to remove the thick cloak after the tour. After the Unite...

Washington Oaks Gardens State Park is located in Palm Coast, Florida in Flagler County. The property was once owned by a relative of President George Washington. In later years it was purchased by Louise and Owen Young who built a winter retirement home on the land and named it Washington Oaks. Soon after Owen Young’s death in 1962, his wife Louise considered donating the property to the state of Florida. On January 1, 1965 the Washington Oaks Gardens State Park was officially opened. The park is now well known for the formal gardens which host a variety of ornamental and exotic plants. Included in the park is a rose garden, herb garden, and native plant garden which attract an array of butterfly species. The park is attractive to those interested in bird watching and nature photography. The gardens peaceful setting makes a morning stroll one of pleasure. Trails are available for hiking or bike riding. For an afternoon meal, picnic tables are available. The area is nicely shaded b...

Falling Waters State Park is located 3 miles south of Chipley, Florida. The park has campsite with available electricity, picnic tables, and grills. Nature lovers can take a walk through the trails and might spot a pileated woodpecker pecking at a pine tree. To cool off, you can take a dip in their two-acre lake or walk along the white sands beach. Fishing is permitted for those who have a freshwater fishing license. http://www.floridastateparks.org/fallingwaters/default.cfm   The main attraction at this state park is a 73-foot waterfall cascading over the edge of a steep rock. This is Florida’s highest waterfall and I was proud to witness its splendor. I wouldn’t suggest visiting in winter though! The wind and cold releases its fury and has no mercy. Among the waters, I saw a beautiful rainbow. Falling Waters has natural features such as various sinkholes. They actually served as a hideout for native American warriors during the Seminole Wars. At Falling...

As a special event at Northland Church to celebrate Earth Day, the founders of Blessed Earth were invited to speak. Blessed Earth is a nonprofit which was founded by the Sleeth family in response to the need for a healthier planet. They responded to God’s calling by starting the journey of a more simple life style and caring for God’s creation in the process. The Sleeths’ share their vision with colleges, churches, and media. In the last two years, they have spoken more than 850 times! The Sleeths’ share their vision to churches of the changes they can make to help the environment such as conducting energy audits on their buildings, installing rain barrels, using green cleaning products, using reusable dishes and instead of disposables, recycling, and creating community gardens. These changes help churches to save money and put towards other needs. Visit their website at http://www.blessedearth.org/   Booths at Northland gave brochures with eco friendly tips. Above, I a...