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Know Before You Go

We appreciate your help in keeping Harry P. Leu Gardens beautiful and observing our visitor guidelines during your visit. The Gardens is a family-friendly environment, and we ask all guests to respect each other and the Harry P. Leu Gardens staff. The Gardens seeks to provide an inclusive environment for all people, and will not permit threatening behavior, abuse, or damage, and reserves the right to escort guests from the property at any time. For additional inquiries, please contact us at leugardens@orlando.gov.

Accessibility
Harry P. Leu Gardens is committed to making the visitor experience accessible to all who visit, and most pathways are paved. Complimentary wheelchairs are available in the Welcome Center on a first come, first-served basis. 

Service Dogs
Service dogs are welcome, however, therapy support animals and pets are not permitted. Do not leave animals in your car.

Attire
Dress comfortable for an outdoor experience in clothing that does not display profane or negative graphics. Shoes and shirts are required, and bathing suits are not permitted. The Gardens reserves the right to monitor visitor attire for appropriateness.

Buses
Visitors may be dropped off in the bus unloading zone, and then buses must park in the bus parking area and turn off its motor.

Children & Families
Bring your own stroller for children, as the gardens does not currently have strollers available for guests. Young visitors should be accompanied by an adult at all times. Climbing, walking or wading through water, garden displays, and on trees and structures is not permitted.

Commercial Photography
Photographs, video, or film for commercial or advertising purposes must be authorized by Harry P. Leu Gardens in advance. For commercial photography rentals, please contact our Marketing Department at 407.246.3622.

Cremation Ashes
Cremation ashes are not permitted to be scattered on the grounds or in the lake. If you encounter this happening, please let us know.

Drones
Harry P. Leu Gardens is a no drone zone. Due to FAA regulations and our proximity to local healthcare facilities, drone flight, photography, or other unmanned aircraft are not permitted.

Electronic & Personal Devices
Silence or use headphones for mobile devices.

Environmental Awareness
Carry out or dispose of all waste in designated containers.

Food & Drinks
Guests are welcome to bring in your own food, beverages, and reusable water bottles to fully enjoy your visit. Picnicking in the gardens is welcome. There are designated picnic areas around the gardens. Carry out or dispose of all waste in designated containers. Water fountains are available throughout the gardens, and vending machines are available in the Welcome Center.

Foxtail Marketplace & Café
Foxtail Marketplace & Café offers fresh food, beverages, ice cream, and shopping for gifts and souvenirs.

Inclement Weather
Harry P. Leu Gardens is located in beautiful central Florida and visiting is an outdoor experience. In the event of inclement weather or thunderstorms, rain shelters are located throughout the gardens. General admission to the gardens is non-refundable, and we’re open rain or shine.

Lost and Found
If you need lost & found assistance, please visit the Welcome Center or contact us at 407.246.2620 or leugardens@orlando.gov.

Mobility Carts, Wheelchairs, and Strollers
The Gardens has wheelchairs for use by visitors for free on a first come, first served basis. Mobility carts and strollers are welcome. The Gardens does not have any of these items available for rent.

Mother’s Lounge
The Gardens has a free designated, private room for mothers to nurse, change, and provide a quiet space for babies while visiting, which is located in the Welcome Center next to the vending area.

Noise
The Gardens aims to maintain a pleasant atmosphere for all visitors, and personal devices or radios should be silenced or used with headphones. Occasionally, the Gardens staff may be working in garden areas and using equipment with some noise during your visit.

Personal Photography
Personal, portrait, artistic, and non-commercial photography is permitted in the Gardens during regular hours of operation with general paid admission. Please do not block, disrupt, or hinder visitor accessibility, pathways, restroom areas, or garden displays. The Gardens reserves the right to limit access for wagons, carts, and large equipment.

Photography Consent
As part of the consideration for entrance to Harry P. Leu Gardens, visitors give consent to the City of Orlando and its contractors to photograph or videotape them and any minor children who accompany them to the Gardens and use images for informational, educational, promotional or publicity purposes concerning the City and its services. The photos or videos may be used on the City’s websites, in City publications or displays, newspapers, magazines, reports or other public documents; or electronic or digital recordings. Any photos or video taken in the Gardens may be used without any further consent or authorization from its visitors and visitors will not be entitled to any compensation for use of the photos and video. By accepting admission to Harry P. Leu Gardens, visitors voluntarily accept and agree to these terms.

Plants & Wildlife
The Gardens is a living ecosystem, and our staff may be working in garden areas and using equipment with some noise during your visit. Wildlife may also be present during your visit. Please enjoy the wildlife from a distance, do not feed the squirrels, and refrain from picking plants or eating anything.

Prohibited Items
Firearms and weapons of any kind, including items that look like weapons, balloons, confetti, glitter, illegal substances, sports equipment, sports games, bicycles, or other personal sports devices such as skateboards and rollerblades, personal golf carts, and portable music playing devices without headphones.

Substances & Smoking
Illegal substances, smoking, cigars, chewable tobacco, e-cigarettes, and vaping is not permitted anywhere at the Gardens, its grounds, or buildings.

Visitor Comfort
Restrooms are located in the Welcome Center, Cottage Gardens, and Idea Garden. Benches are located throughout the gardens for relaxing breaks. A Mother’s Lounge is located in the Welcome Center. Florida’s weather is very warm and sunny, so you may want to bring sunscreen, water, comfortable shoes, sunglasses, insect repellant, or a hat.

Weddings & Private Rental Events
Harry P. Leu Gardens is one of the preeminent wedding and rental destinations in the Orlando area. Weddings and private events, meetings, and classes are only permitted through our Rentals Sales Department. Harry P. Leu Gardens reserves the right to escort guests from the property at any time. For more about our wedding and private rental events, please contact our Rental Sales Department at 407.246.3681 or leugardens.rentals@orlando.gov.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a place to purchase lunch?

Foxtail Marketplace & Café
Foxtail Marketplace & Café offers fresh food, beverages, ice cream, and shopping for gifts and souvenirs.

Menu(PDF, 1MB)

Can we bring food?

You are welcome to bring in your own food, beverages, and reusable water bottles to fully enjoy your visit. Picnicking in the gardens is welcome. There are designated picnic areas around the gardens. Carry out or dispose of all waste in designated containers. Water fountains are available throughout the gardens, and vending machines are available in the Welcome Center.

Is the historic house open for tours?

The Historic Leu House Museum is open Tuesday – Sunday from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., with the last tour admission at 12:30 p.m. The Leu House Museum is closed in July.

Can we bring our dog?

Pets are not permitted in the gardens. Service dogs are welcome, however; therapy support animals and pets are not permitted. Do not leave animals in your car.

How many people work here?

We have a team of eight horticulturists maintaining the 50-acre gardens.

How long should we plan for our visit?

Depending on the time of year, we often recommend a two-hour visit with expected return visits again and again. Here are our recommendations for visiting.

One-Hour Visit

  • From the Garden House Welcome Center, walk out toward the Gardens crossing the Tropical Stream Bridge and continuing to the Idea Garden.
  • Enter the Idea Garden, pass through the Courtyard Gazebo and proceed out to the open lawn with the seven pieces of sculpture by Florida artist Peter Oftinoski.
  • As you leave this garden, continue out to the main path and at the large brick circle turn right down the road.  On your left, just after the white picket fence, is the Vegetable Garden and Butterfly Garden.
  • From this point, we would recommend checking to see the time for a tour of the Leu House Museum.  These tours last approximately 25 minutes and are offered on the hour and at 30 minutes after the hour.
  • After the Leu House Museum tour, enjoy a stroll through one of Florida’s largest formal rose gardens.
  • It is probably time for you to start making your way back now, but don’t forget to plan your next visit!

Two-Hour Visit

  • A two-hour time frame should give you time to visit all of the different gardens with a brief walk through the South woods.
  • During the winter months, November through March, you will want to spend considerable time viewing the historic camellia collection in the South Woods.  Stop to appreciate the different colors, shapes and sizes of the third largest camellia collection in the United States.
  • Make sure to visit the Leu House Museum on the hour and 30 minutes after the hour for a complimentary tour of the first floor only.  The last tour of the day is at 12:30 p.m.
  • As you explore further in the Gardens, we recommend visiting the Palm and Bamboo gardens near the Floral Clock.  These gardens feature a diverse collection of really interesting plants not usually seen in Central Florida.

For any additional inquires, please contact our Guest Services Team at407.246.2620orleugardens@orlando.gov.