Best Local Garden Centers for inspiration

What to do with that big, blank patio in back of your gorgeous new home in Port Orange, New Smyrna Beach or Daytona Beach? 

Create shade, privacy, or a more peaceful environment with an array of potted plants and palms! There are many sun tolerant flowering plants which do well in coastal Volusia County. Utilizing beautiful pottery or half barrels allows you the a portable option instead of standard landscaping, this is great for when the shade you had spring becomes a sunny, hot spot.

Or, maybe you'd like a water garden! There's nothing like it to create a peaceful sanctuary in your own back yard or patio.

If you've bought a beach side condo, you must keep in mind the toll of salt spray, so make sure you get salt tolerant plants. And be sure what ever you put on that balcony stays put in case a big wind develops during one of our famous summer thunder storms. You wouldn't want your pretty potted plant to blow off your balcony and damage someone else's property.


Certainly you may go to one of the ubiquitous big box stores to buy your annuals, if you like, but we at Creative Florida Living like to support our unique local businesses. You will always get good advice from one of our local garden centers. 

My favorite is Lindley's Garden Center and Nursery on West Canal Street in New Smyrna Beach, which is fairly close to Venetian Bay or a lovely drive down US 1 from Port Orange and Daytona Beach Shores. Another plus is that Lindley's is open on Sundays. You can also visit Big Value Garden Center  just south of the corner of Mason and Nova Road in Daytona Beach (I believe they offer a 15% discount to seniors on Mondays!).

Creative Florida Living

Janet's Real Estate Site

Daytona Beach Bandshell

Things to do in the summer

Even though we have been exploring inside activities to escape the heat, a series around things to do in the summer would not be complete without talking about the Daytona Beach Bandshell.

Every Saturday from now till the middle of September Friends of the Bandshell host a Summer Concert Series: FREE concerts at – well – the Bandshell! It’s a Daytona Beach summer thing to do, and even in the heat it is great fun. On July 4, there is a huge display of fireworks, as well. 

The Bandshell, with seating of 4,000, opened with a bang on July 4, 1937 sharing front page with headlines of Amelia Earhart’s disappearance and a picture of the Dionne quintuplets. A record crowd of 25,000 was on hand in the city for motorcycle races on the beach, a baseball game in the ballpark, a parade on Beach Street, and the Bandshell Concert. The 48 foot by 114 foot natural coquina rock bandshell amphitheater was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.

Whether you are visiting, here part or all of the year, the Daytona Beach Bandshell is a must see and experience. It is located on A1A, directly adjacent to the famous Daytona Beach Boardwalk, the clock tower, stores, restaurants, the Daytona Beach Pier, and of course the beach!

You can enter the Bandshell through Ocean Walk Village from A1A or the overpass from the Parking Garage. Seating is limited so be sure to bring a chair or blanket. It is against Florida Law to bring alcoholic beverages into the Bandshell. Chair rental is available.

 

Please click HERE to check out the schedule and other information about the Bandshell. 

 

Creative Florida Living 

Janet's Real Estate Site 

Southeast Museum of Photography

Things to do in the summer

The Southeast Museum of Photography (SMP) was opened in 1992. It is quite extraordinary in that it is one of only 13 facilities in the entire US dedicated exclusively to photography. SMP has an outstanding scope, reach, and depth of collection and activities in the field of photography and is the largest museum of photography in the southeastern US. Therefore, it is one of those true gems of our Greater Daytona Beach Area. 

 

SMP has hosted significant exhibitions of world-class photojournalism, fashion, and advertising images, and contemporary photographic art with thematic exhibitions by most major photographic artists. Since 1992, the Museum has presented nearly 300 exhibitions, symposia, lectures, and other programs and published more than 40 monographs or catalogues. Amazing!

Annually, the museum holds about 20 exhibitions, most of which are launched with an opening reception and artist talk, which is free to attend.

In addition, SMP offers Spring and Fall Film Series – you can enjoy movies (for free) several times a week to a certain theme. There are also workshops, lectures, and seminars.

Though the next film series begins in August, you can still visit the museum (for free), enjoy the current exhibitions, peruse the gift shop (which has outstanding books and posters), and get out of the heat. A great way to spend part of your day! 

June and July hours are Tuesday-Sunday 12-4pm. The museum is on the campus of Daytona State College at 1200 W International Speedway Boulevard in Daytona Beach.

Address: 1200 W International Speedway Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL 32114

Check out their website for info on current events and sign up for their newsletter. SMP Website

 

 Creative Florida Living

Janet's Real Estate Site 

 

The Casements in Ormond Beach

Things to do in the summer

In the spirit of finding fun, (mostly free) indoor events to escape the Florida heat!

To visit the Casements, we are venturing a little bit north to Ormond Beach. Whether you are relocating to coastal central Florida, already live here part of the year, all of the year, or are just visiting, Ormond offers fantastic options for dining and shopping, as well as miles of our famous beaches.  

The Casements, named for the large hand-cut casement windows that adorn the mansion, has been beautifully restored to function as the Cultural Center for the City of Ormond Beach. Set on the shore of the Halifax River, and just two blocks from the Atlantic Ocean, the late John D. Rockefeller's winter home is known as "The Jewel of Ormond Beach."

The Casements welcomes visitors Monday through Friday from 1-4 pm, and Saturday from 10:00am to 12pm. Tours are conducted on the hour. Come learn about the history of the mansion and grounds for free! Visit special displays including Boy Scouts of America historical memorabilia and a collection of Hungarian festival costumes and artifacts. The Casements also hosts numerous events throughout the year, including monthly movies under the stars, cooking classes, festivals, and more.

Monthly Gallery Exhibits:

Each month the Casements’ Gallery displays various local artists and photographers. The exhibits open with a free public reception on the First Friday of every month from 5:00pm to 8:00pm. Please call The Casements (386) 676-3216 for information.

25 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach, Florida 32176 – Visit their website.

 

Creative Florida Living 

Janet's Real Estate Site 

Angell & Phelps Chocolate Factory

Things to do in the summer
 In the spirit of finding fun, (mostly free) indoor events to escape the Florida heat!

 

Angell & Phelps is a fascinating little chocolate factory on Beach Street in Daytona Beach, which was founded in 1925. It is known for its high-quality, handmade chocolates, produced fresh every day. 

Particularly charming and unique are the chocolates shaped like objects. A dolphin, shells, gators, footprints, and even a hairdresser kit – all made from chocolate – are fun and delicious. Angell and Phelps also offers all sorts of fudge, nut brittles, caramels, and chocolate covered things – most famously, the chocolate covered bacon and chocolate covered potato chips.

You can take a FREE guided 20-minute tour through the chocolate-making process and learn what makes their chocolate creations so good! Free samples are offered afterwards.

Tours are Monday thru Saturday at 10am, 11am, 1:00pm, 2:00pm, 3:00pm and 4:00pm. Store hours are Mon - Sat 9:30 am - 6:00 pm. They are located at 154 South Beach Street, Daytona Beach, FL 32114. Visit their website for more info! Angell & Phelps

Angell & Phelps is on the list of TripAdvisor’s top 10 Sweetest Attractions in the U.S. as well as in the top 10 things to do in Daytona Beach!

 

Creative Florida Living 

Janet's Real Estate Site 

Mary Bethune House

Things to Do in the Summer
 In the spirit of finding fun, (mostly free) indoor events to escape the Florida heat!

Mary McLeod Bethune was born July 10th, 1875 in Mayesville, South Carolina. Born Mary Jane McLeod, she was the 15th of 17 children and the first in her family born free. Bethune’s childhood home was a small cabin built by her father and brothers on their cotton farm.

After the opening of the Trinity Presbyterian Mission School near Mayesville, little Mary Jane became the first in her family to receive a formal education. She excelled in her studies and quickly realized the value of her education. This early opportunity afforded Bethune a lifetime of successes. Bethune went on to become a noted educator and civil rights leader. This was not only a feat because of her color but also because she was a woman. 

 

Fondly referred to as the “Retreat,” this historic home was built in 1904.  During her years as president of the thriving Bethune-Cookman College, the home was where Mrs. Bethune raised her son and grandson, hosted various dignitaries and guests, and spent her last years after retirement. 

In 1953, two years before her passing, Mrs. Bethune willed the home to the Mary McLeod Bethune Foundation to serve as the organization’s headquarters and a place to “awaken people and have them realize there is something in the world they can do.”

Today the home is preserved as a museum on the campus of Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach. It was designated a United States National Historic Landmark in 1974, for its association with the life of Mary McLeod Bethune.

Filled with fascinating memorabilia and artifacts from Mrs. Bethune’s illustrious career, aswell as photos of famous visitors and U.S. presidents, the facility, which is situated on the scenic grounds of Bethune-Cookman University is operated as a museum. A brick structure added to the house serves as an archive of Mary McLeod Bethune papers. Highly informative guided tours are available Monday-Friday between 10am-3pm. 

The house is located at 640 Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard in Daytona Beach. Call (386) 481-2121 to make an appointment for a Saturday tour. Or email the Foundation.

Visit the Facebook page for more information

Creative Florida Living 

Janet's Real Estate Site