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Flowers

Suniland Magazine

1925

In the realm of floriculture, too, Florida has large potentialities. Florida is truly a land of flowers, and it seems remarkable that the commercial aspect of flower raising has not been more largely explored. However, in the past year or two there have been some marked developments in this regard. Near Groveland, for instance, on the shores of Lake David, among the picturesque hills of Lake County, is to be found what is said to be the largest single flower garden on earth. Here, shaded and open to the sun, bloom, in glorious profusion, hundreds of varieties of flowers, native and exotic, including all manner of lilies, geraniums, roses, orchids, violets, and a myriad of other species, affording one a vision of how beautiful Florida can be made, through the bounty of Nature and the handiwork of man. The primary purpose of this wonderful garden is for the production of essential oils, for which heretofore this country has had to depend very largely on foreign sources, but it is the intention of the owners to sell cut flowers also, and it is anticipated that next season more than 400,000 Easter Lilies will be sent to the markets of the East.

Another province in which Florida appears destined to occupy a leading role is in the production of bulbs, for which the United States has always had to rely largely on Europe, particularly Holland. It has been demonstrated that Florida is adapted to the raising of some of the commercial varieties of bulbs, particularly the so-called water species. Recently, stringent restrictions have been promulgated by the National Government placing an inhibition on the importation of many classes of bulbs, and it seems reasonable to suppose that this embargo will result in the promotion of bulb growing in Florida on an extensive scale.

It is customary to associate bees with flowers; thus it is in order here to state that the possibilities of bee raising in Florida have no horizon. According to the State Plant Board of Florida. The average colony of Florida bees produces about 80 pounds of honey a year, which is approximately twice the general average for the United States. Apiaries are to be found intermittently throughout the state, which last year produced honey and beeswax to the value of more than a quarter of a million dollars. The need of the industry today is experienced and intelligent apiarists.

Source:
Excerpt from: Agassiz, Garnault. "Florida in Tomorrow's Sun."
Suniland, Nov. 1925, Vol.3, No.2., Pgs. 37-45; 88-94; 113-133

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