Eureka Springs Park

​I love long boardwalks – especially when they run through heavily wooded swamps. In April 2017, everything was green. The water was covered in green. The trunks of trees were covered in green. It was green as far as I could see, which wasn’t too far considering the density of the growth. I heard several birds, but couldn’t find them. Maybe they were green too. Green!

​In addition to the boardwalk, pond, and picnic area, Eureka Park has a large garden with meandering paths cutting through it. The plants come in all sorts of shapes and designs. There are benches to sit on and watch the flowers and bees. I saw at least three different varieties of butterfly on one bush alone. I tried valiantly to capture a photograph but they wouldn’t hold still and the bees scared me off. One of the paths runs right through a covered area adjacent to the greenhouse. There are hanging plants there. There was even what looked like a floating island from a typical fantasy novel covered in what I suspect were spider plants. Other sections of path run underneath large tree limbs bedecked with smaller plants (epiphytes). As along the boardwalk, the trunks in the garden are wrapped in vines with big leaves. Green! Some of these leaves develop artistic splits and holes. Green! The place is like a miniature version of Sunken Gardens. Green! Green! Green!

​As at Starkey Park, I found this mystical stone, possibly left behind by an ancient race of sorcerers. What nefarious plot might they be up to? How long have they been there? Are they beacons to pave the way for an invasion? Some means of sabotage? Could they be bombs full of germs or evil spirits? Are they spy devices? What do the mysterious markings mean? I must inform the king of this at once!

​6400 Eureka Springs Road, Tampa, Florida