- April 25, 2026
Michael and Kimberly Inglis, live in both Palm Coast and Connecticut. Photo by Brian McMillan
Eric Brown and his dog Sky, with Diane Wasney and Carrie Clark. Photo by Brian McMillan
Renee Scarnechia, with Delaney Jones and Joe Jones. Photo by Brian McMillan
Delaney Jones. Photo by Brian McMillan
Ken and Diane Slesser, of Palm Coast. Photo by Brian McMillan
Ken and Diane Slesser, of Palm Coast. Photo by Brian McMillan
Washington Oaks Gardens State Park. Photo by Brian McMillan
Washington Oaks Gardens State Park. Photo by Brian McMillan
Yanni Bouzas, Lily Filmeck, Kathleen Furmanek, Angela Rando, of Palm Coast. Photo by Brian McMillan
Kathleen Furmanek takes a photo in the rose garden at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, on April 25, 2026. Photo by Brian McMillan
Washington Oaks Gardens State Park. Photo by Brian McMillan
Washington Oaks Gardens State Park. Photo by Brian McMillan
Elayne Byrd, vice president of the Friends of Washington Oaks Gardens State Park. Photo by Brian McMillan
Kelle Klevorn, Karen Leader and Susan Kelly, volunteers with the Friends of Washington Oaks Gardens State Park. Photo by Brian. McMillan
The gift shop at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park was built in the 1940s from a pre-fabricated kit, as an office for Owen D. Young. Photo by Brian McMillan
Alex Burnette, Matthew Burnette, Emmalee Burnette, Kristi Burnette, Abigail Ford, Anna Burnette, of Palm Coast. Photo by Brian McMillan
After retiring early, Elayne Byrd feels lucky to have quickly found a cause to put her heart into. She lives in Sea Colony, in The Hammock, which happens to be right across the street from a historic state park. She began volunteering 25 years ago and is currently the vice president of the Friends of Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, at 6400 N. Oceanshore Blvd., also known as State Road A1A.
The park started as the winter home of Owen D. Young, who was once the chairman of General Electric and was founder of RCA. He also was a diplomat and was 1929’s Time magazine Man of the Year. He bought the property for $6,000 as a wedding gift for his wife, Louise P. Clark, whom he married in 1937. Owen Young died 25 years later, and Clark donated the grounds to the state in 1965, establishing it as a state park.
Byrd and 25 volunteers help put on two major events every year at the park, Holiday at the Gardens, and Earth Day, which draw thousands of people from surrounding counties.
This year’s Earth Day event, April 25, was busy, especially at the plant sale, Byrd said.
“Everyone has suffered through this cold weather, and they all want plants,” she said. “... One thing we’re interested in is staghorn ferns.”
Some large specimens of staghorn ferns that hang from oak trees at the gardens have been alive for as many as 45 years, Byrd said. “We want to carry on that tradition.”
Among the local attendees of the event were Michael and Kimberly Inglis, who live in Connecticut part of the year, and also Palm Coast.
“I lost my staghorn in the cold weather,” Kimberly Inglis said, so she bought another one.
“What better way to spend Earth Day than among these beautiful trees?” she said. “It brings me pain to see them being cut down in Palm Coast,” she added.
Palm Coast resident Eric Brown visited with his dog, Sky, and said he wanted to care for the earth “for the generations ahead of us.”
Carrie Clark, who was visiting with Diane Wasney (owner of The Chocolate Biz) said Earth Day is all about “taking care of the earth — taking care of where we live.”
Joe Jones and Renee Scarnechia visited the event so that Delaney Jones could get her face painted — and to shop for plants. Joe Jones is the director of operations for nine Longhorn Steakhouse restaurants, including the new one in Palm Coast.
Ken and Diane Slesser were taking photos of native flowers in the gardens, to find ideas for what to plant in their own yard.
“It’s peaceful,” Diane Slesser said. “It’s quiet.”
Ken said he uses his phone to identify the species of the plants, “I’m not an expert,” he said, “but Google is.”
Kathleen Furmanek visited the rose garden, which was in full bloom. She was taking photos of the flower and butterflies, she said, “Just for myself.”
The park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. A pamphlet created by the Friends of Washington Oaks Gardens State Park states that Louise P. Clark “specified the gardens be maintained for the enjoyment of the public. Her generosity is greatly appreciated time again by those who visit this beautiful park.”
Visit www.washingtonoaks.org or call 386-446-6783.
