Field Trips

The Garden Club organizes field trips in October, November, January, February, March and April. In the past few years club members have visited Leu Gardens in Orlando, Discovery Gardens in Lake County and Hollis Gardens in Lakeland. Each field trip is followed by a group lunch for everyone who wishes to partake.

Visit the Photos Page for photos from all our Field Trips.

2025 – 2026 Field Trip Schedule
Click each trip for information and to sign up.
A synopsis is added after each trip is completed.
Check back for the December – April dates.

All Field Trips leave from the Heritage Hall parking lot at 9:00 a.m. unless otherwise noted. Members will carpool whenever possible so that no one has to drive alone – and carpooling helps the environment.

2025 – 2026 Field Trips

Tuesday September 30, 2025 – AdventHealth Freight Farm Tour

What!! Farming in Celebration?  Yes, right out our back door! Members of the Garden Club of Celebration had the opportunity to tour the AdventHealth Celebration Freight Farm with Sean, the operations manager. Members peppered Sean with questions, and he enthusiastically answered them all.  

AdventHealth Celebration Campus boasts an innovative hydroponic farm nestled within its parking lot. This self-contained growing system, housed entirely inside a freight-shipping container, measures 40 feet long and 8 feet wide. Utilizing water, light, and technology, the Freight Farm enables the cultivation of crops without the need for soil.  

The entire operation is managed through an app that controls temperature, humidity, watering schedules, lighting and more. Once seeds are planted in plugs of peat moss, they are misted with water and nutrients. When seedlings grow to about two inches, they are transferred to vertical towers under LED lights that mimic natural sunlight for 18 to 20 hours per day. Supplemental CO2 helps promote strong, healthy growth. A closed-loop water recycling system ensures efficient resource utilization. From seed to harvest, the process takes approximately six to eight weeks.   

With just 960 square feet, this Freight Farm produces the equivalent of four acres of traditional farmland. It produces 180 pounds of fresh lettuce each week, and with 22 vertical growing panels and no soil pests to manage, the system is efficient and clean. The harvested crops are then utilized in various settings, including the hospital kitchen for patient meals, the staff cafeterias and salad bars, and community schools.

Wednesday October 29, 2025 – 4Roots Hydroponic Farm

We visited 4Roots Hydroponic Farm, located at 1101 N. John Young Parkway in Orlando. We met in a classroom in a brand new, self-sustaining, green building for an introduction to the farm and its mission. After the talk we toured the green houses and learned how the organic farming and how they planted seeds, harvested crops, composted and conserve water. John Rivers, the Founder/CEO of 4Roots Hydroponic Farm, also owns 4Rivers BBQ. The campus is only in its first stage of development, and within a few years will house many more buildings and host a myriad of activies.

November 21, 2025 – No Trip

December 18, 2025 – Orlando Wetland

Oh, what a wonderful day in the Orlando Wetlands. The tranquility, scenery and wildlife were worth the visit. We were met by Bob M and James W, escorted to our reserved carts for a narrated tour of the property. Our guides were a wealth of knowledge and patient with all our questions. The one-hour tour covered only a portion of the 18 miles of berm roads. There are wooded trails that take visitors through the hydric and mesic hammocks; evergreen hardwood trees/palm forests. While the fauna is in decline during December, birds are abundant. Bird sightings included Great Blue Heron – the T Rex of the wetlands as it is carnivorous, Purple Gallinule – the show stopper for a colorful plume, Limpkin, Spoonbills – can’t miss the pink, Snowy Egrets – soft flowing plume, American Coot – the Jesus bird as they appear to walk on water, Turkey and Black Buzzards, an Eagle, Ibis, Heron, Kestrel, Sand Crane, Red Shoulder Hawk and many more. Alligator alley, properly name revealed an abundance of the Florida State Reptile. One had a nice toothy grin for us and several congregations (a group) of alligators were spotted. At the front of the property housing for bats was available; the Orlando Wetland Preserve – Bat House. 

It is a changing landscape each day in the Orlando wetlands. Each day brings a new adventure and sightings. A warning from the guide – beware of the Florida Hemlock. The Florida Hemlock is the third most poisonous plant in the area. Avoid the Florida Hemlock, a touch of the plant or contact with spores is deadly! 

The Orlando wetland area is man-made, an innovative and ground-breaking solution to meet the Florida Department of Environment Protection requirements for water released into streams. Reclaimed water from Iron Bridge Regional Water (Ovideo) is pumped 17 miles to the Orlando Wetlands for filtration of nitrate, phosphates and then released to the St. Johns River. Submerged aquatic vegetation and other wetland plants, like Spatterdock, Arrowhead, Bulrush and Cattail removed the excess nitrogen and phosphorus. Water leaving the wetlands is cleaner than water that is already in the St. John’s River. From the St. Johns River, the water flows through the slow meandering river with broad marshes, shallow lakes and springs along its river. The St. Johns river drops about 1 inch per mile, or 27 feet, as it flows north 310 miles from Blue Cypress Lake to its mouth east of Jacksonville, where it empties into the Atlantic Ocean.

More photos in in the Photos page.

Friday January 16, 2026 – Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour

This trip was postponed due to weather. Check back for updates.

Located on Lake Osceola in Winter Park, less than 10 minutes from downtown Orlando, the boat tour offers hour-long, guided cruises through three of the seven lakes and two, narrow manmade cannals on the tranquil Winter Park chain.

Carpooling will leave promplty at 8:45 from Heritage Hall to allow for parking, travel time and ticket purchase, prior to the 10:00 a.m. tour. The tour cost is $20 per person.

Lunch will follow at Briarpatch Restaurant ,252 Park Ave. North, Winter Park. The restaurant is withing walking distance of the Boat Tour.

Sign Up for Scenic Boat Tour

Friday February 13, 2026 – Hollis Gardens and Parksdale
Farm Market

Friday the 13th found Garden Club members spending a delightful hour strolling through Hollis Garden, in downtown Lakeland. Hollis Garden is a botanical display garden set in a neo-classical architectural environment complete with patterned flower beds, public art, and ornamental fountains. As with most of Central Florida, the gardens were hit by the January frosts, but they are well kept, and still beautiful this time of year.

From Lakeland we took a short drive to the historic Parkesdale Farm Market in Plant City for their World Famous Strawberry Shortcake and Strawberry Milkshake, which were sinful and delicious. We also took advantage of the marketplace, and purchased fruits and vegetables – especially strawberries, nursery plants and jarred jams, dips and sauces.

Friday March 13, 2026 – Eden of Wings

This trip was postponed. The garden is not in good shape due to the January freeze.
We will plan a trip to Eden of Wings next season when they have recovered.

Located in Enterprise, just north of Sanford, Eden of Wings is a pollinator plant nursery. A visit to the nursery includes exploring vibrant native and pollinator plants, strolling through a stunning demonstration garden buzzing with life, and meeting charming Highland Scottish mini cattle on the farm. Admission is free to the garden, with an fee of $15.00 for anyone interested in a Meet & Greet with the Highland cattle and their babies.

Friday April 11, 2026 – Spring Fever in the Garden

The 24th annual Spring Fever in the Garden Festival, hosted by the Bloom & Grow Garden Society, will take place in Downtown Winter Garden in April. We will have an early start from Heritage Hall to assure parking. The event begins at 9:00 a.m. Plant Street will be transformed into a delightful celebration of spring, and all things gardening.  We will experience the festival firsthand by strolling along Plant Street and indulging in all it has to offer. 

Lunch wil follow at The MoonCricket Grill, 14 W. Plant St. in Winter Garden.

Sign Up for Spring Fever