Winter Garden Attractions and Activities
Winter Garden Attractions
Historical Buildings: The Garden Theatre originally built in 1935 as a 300 seat movie house. After closing in 1963 the building was gutted and and used as a warehouse. In February of 2008 it reopened as a community performing arts venue.
The Edgewater Hotel, located on Plant Street, was built in 1926 and still houses its original Otis elevator, which itself was an attraction in 1926. Today the recently restored building is operating as a bed and breakfast. Also located on the building's first floor are the Heritage Center and two restaurants.
Museums: The Winter Garden Heritage Foundation oversees the operation of the Heritage Museum, the History Center and the Railroad Museum. The History Center focuses on opportunities for education and research and the museums include collections of memorabilia dating from the early pioneer settlement to the present, with special emphasis on the citrus and railroad industries.
All American Karate Academy: All American Karate Academy - winner of our 2009 Parents' Picks award for best local martial arts class - provides instruction in Karate and the martial arts for kids ages five and up, with a focus on afterschool programs for local students.
SouthWest Aquatics: SouthWest Aquatics - winner of our 2009 Parents' Picks award for best local swim class - features year-round aquatic programs designed for swimmers of all ages.
The complex offers two heated pools, including an outdoor, heated 25-yard, four lane pool used for teaching, exercise, competition, and recreation swims. The teaching pool is also heated and enclosed in the winter months.
Footworks Dance Studio: Founded on the fun and love of dance, the Footworks Dance Studio environment is a place where students learn poise, confidence, and the discipline needed for dance.
The highly-trained staff leads dance and sports classes for all ages in ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, creative movement, sports movement, yoga, and musical theater.
Winter Garden Fencing Academy: Located in downtown Winter Garden, the Winter Garden Fencing Academy provides recreational and competitive training for students age six and older. WGFA offers a free introductory class and a special trial month for those who want to investigate fencing as a sport. Weekly group lessons are available, and free open fencing is available for those who are eligible to participate.
Winter Garden Activities
Gardening: It is a good time to clean and repair your garden tools. Check the rototiller, lawn mower and sharpen tools. Transplant and maintain your houseplants.
Divide some of your plants to start as gifts for upcoming holidays such as Easter and Mother’s Day.
Starting African violets from leaf cuttings is an easy skill to learn. Select a leaf of medium size, slide your finger down the leaf stem and push down at the base. The stem should break away from the parent plant. Leave the stem on the leaf, and dip the stem in rooting powder. Insert the stem at an angle into the soil mix. Place the leaf and pot in a plastic bag, blow in some air and tie it shut. Keep the bag in bright light but not direct sun. If you see mold or moisture in the bag, open it for a few hours to let the excess water evaporate. The stem will root in about a month. When the leaves are an inch long open the bag. In 6 to 8 weeks small leaves will form at the base of the leaf. When they get to be half the size of the mother leaf, carefully separate them from the mother leaf and repot the plants individually. The plants should blossom in six months, if given bright light, warm temperatures and fertilizer.
Build a bird feeder or purchase one. Watching birds in the winter is a great activity for the whole family. Buy an inexpensive bird identification book, which will make this activity even more fun. Try putting out different birdseed mixes to see whether different birds come to feed.
Sprout seeds for eating. They do not require light for germination and are very nutritious. You can buy alfalfa seeds at a health food store and they will sprout in a short period of time.
Now is the time to get a bargain on Amaryllis and Paper Whites. Buy a couple and start them at different times to have a continual bloom during the winter.
One can consider purchasing or even building an "Indoor Grow Lab" that will allow you to start plants from seeds, propagate root cuttings, raise flowering foliage and vegetable plants, force plants to flower and experiment with how plants respond to light. Instructions for building a lab are available at the Extension Office or library, if you are handy with woodworking tools.
Visit a local nursery and drink in the beauty of what is growing and blooming.
Attend a flower show in your local area – they usually begin to be scheduled in February and March.
Another important winter gardening activity is to start planning your spring planting. How about re-designing the layout of your garden and plotting which plants will go where. And check out local and online nurseries for end of season sales on bulbs, seeds, equipment and more.
Winter Garden Festivals and Events
Winter Garden Music Fest 2009 (Oct 02-04, 2009).Downtown Art Festival (Nov 21 -Nov 22, 2009).Christchurch Arts Festival (July 23 - Aug 09, 2009). |
