Take the SunRail to Winter Park!

What began as a long-awaited ride on the Greater Orlando area's commuter train attraction, a subtle recommendation, just over a year, the seed was planted that we consider riding the SunRail, currently servicing twelve stops from Volusia County, Orange County and ending through Downtown Orlando. Representatives from Gardens at Bayonne embarked on an adventure that began with the impressive train ride from Debary, Florida.

We toured the bi-level car, the upper level, which was richly equipped with tables and warm, plush seating was pleasant to look at and comfortable for a longer journey.  We used the free WiFi and had no difficulty hearing the other party on our phone calls with the train in full throttle.  The sleek, high-tech MPIMP32PH-Q diesel locomotive moved smoothly and swiftly (averaging more than forty-five miles per hour) from the Debary station, our starting point, through Sanford, Lake Mary, and then to the Longwood station. The discussion between our party easily settled on the topic of gardening as we approached the Altamonte Springs station. We visited several residential gardens in the Central Florida region in the past two decades and recalled many spectacular gardens in Altamonte Springs.  We were still discussing the beauty of the gardens we had visited and noticed we had just departed from Maitland and was rapidly approaching Winter Park.

Although our dinner plans had been orchestrated to commence at the award-winning Bosphorus (Turkish Cuisine) on Park Avenue in Winter Park, a surprising unscheduled stop at the Winter Park Central Park became the most visually stimulating part of the adventure! Our gracious hostess, Mrs. Rebecca Nedd Francis, with the loving support of her husband, Bennie Francis ushered us through a beautiful park, lined with generous concrete and brick pathways, allowing for a small family of four to walk side-by-side.  At every few meters, the most intriguing and inspiring views kept us eager to see the next exhibit, such as the fall trees segmented panels, with vibrant sky-blue and rich autumn golds and browns spread across six, ample and solidly-anchored screens, several fountains and a most impressive rose garden.

The peacock, the city's mascot, dons various conspicuous locations, including the rose garden's center piece fountain as well as at the top of the SunRail Winter Park Station.






This crown jewel of parks in Winter Park, Florida is a must see, particularly if you have the opportunity to tour this remarkable place while being with people you love and admire, share some common interests and can stand being tantalized with the anticipation of "breaking bread"at the end of the day at Bosphorous Turkish Cusine, complete with baklava for desert!

Well,  I won't boast to you (not too much) about the mouth-watering details of that tremendous experience, after all, this site is dedicated to the subject of gardening, so instead, you'll have to settle for a sampling of some fantastic roses, courtesy Winter Park Central Park!





Check back soon, Bayonne Gardens will share more of the tours from around the world!



Stunning!





For more information on Winter Park, Florida, please visit: https://cityofwinterpark.org/

For more information on the SunRail, see:http://sunrail.com/

For information about Bosphorous Turkish Cuisine, see:  http://bosphorousrestaurant.com/