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Flamingo Gardens - a Trip Back To Early Florida
Nancy Hopkins, March 16, 2000
My sister Laurie came down from the cold north needing sun and warm. Cyndi's art class was going
out to the West Broward park of Flamingo Gardens and we decided to tag along.
We were greeted by Peacocks, not Flamingos, as we waited for the class to arrive. There is a courtyard where we sat under covering at tables, protected from the threatening rain. We spent some time in the very nice and reasonable gift shop, where we bought some gifts for Laurie's boys and some candy for our outing. You buy the tickets to the park, inside the gift shop. The white peacocks were hanging out with us.
As we started along the walkway, into the park, we began seeing the male peacocks, just hanging around looking at the people.
This park is 60 acres of what
had originally been an estate
owned by the Wray family.
This family is one of the early pioneers of West Broward.
The family home was built on the highest point of land,
that was often an island when early natives built their
homes in the Everglades swamp. The Wray home is one of
the attractions in the gardens. The building houses an
earlier time. The original furnishings are still there, pieces
of the early 20th Century.
We saw the largest tree
of its kind
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We finally found the Flamingo Pond, which is next to the Tram Station. The little trains take you on a 30 minute tour of the place that has retained some of the early trees and vegetation.
There is a covered area to sit and learn about the wild, permanently injured
birds cared for at the park. There is also a snake show... 
The number 1 killer of Birds of Prey are road-kill. We throw food out of the car where small creatures find it. The eagle, hawk, and owl are killed by cars and trucks as they hunt these small creatures. DO NOT THROW FOOD OUT ON THE SIDE OF ROADS. YOU WILL BE KILLING BIRDS.
There are peacocks showing off, alligators, Bald Eagles, Golden Eagles, and much
more. To see more about the park, go to their Website at the following links:
Hours and Directions Website Wildlife Adoption Citrus Shipping
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