- May 9, 2024
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By far, the most popular attraction at the park on Saturday, was the hands-on area for the children. Photo by Jacque Estes
Old Kings Elementary School dancers practice on the lawn, by the greenhouse, at Earth Day at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park. Photo by Jacque Estes
Sam Pacetti was one of the performers at Earth Day at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park. Photo by Jacque Estes
Gina Holt presented "Wild About Birds" with a Kessler Hawk. Photo by Jacque Estes
A steady flow of families were in and out of Washington Oaks Gardens State Park for Earth Day on Saturday. Photo by Jacque Estes
Ashley Torres models her outfit at the 27th annual Earth Day at Washington Oaks. Photo by Jacque Estes
A Kessler Hawk was a favorite with those at Earth Day. Photo by Jacque Estes
Lauren Coffey, 4, takes a break to hug Reba, a miniature Corgi. Photo by Jacque Estes
Suzanne Hunter worked at the park 25 years ago. She came to watch her granddaughter dance with the Old Kings Elementary dancers, and was amazed by the changes at the park. Photo by Jacque Estes
Alex Korogodsky enjoys super large bubbles in the childrens area at Earth Day at Washington Oaks Gardesn State Park on Saturday, April 23. Photo by Jacque Estes
Katie Korogodsky enjoyed painting at Washington Oaks' Earth Day celebration. Photo by Jacque Estes
Jenni and Kris Smith, of St. Augustine, enjoy the day with their son, Merrick. Photo by Jacque Estes
Fiona Arnold, 20 mos, looks through a huge bubble her dad, Robin Arnold held for her. Photo by Jacque Estes
Merrick Smith took Earth Day literally, picking up a shell off the path. Photo by Jacque Estes
The Friends of Washington Oaks sponsored the event, had a dessert booth, plant sale and had the gift shop open, for Earth Day on Saturday. Photo by Jacque Estes
Catherine Eastman, Sea Turtle Hospital program coordinator at Whitney Lab, spoke about sea turtles and gopher tortoises like the one she is holding. Photo by Jacque Estes
Cannon Soto, of St. Augustine, liked digging in the sand in the childrens section at Earth Day. Photo by Jacque Estes st aug beachside
Catherine Eastman, Sea Turtle Hospital program coordinator at Whitney Lab, holds a live gopher tortoise up for the crowd to see his injuries. Photo by Jacque Estes
Merrick Smith had the most energy-efficient mode of transportation for Earth Day at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park. The 13-month-old was “driving” a car fueld by his dad, Kris Smith.
Families seemed to make up most of the estimated 2,400 people who came to the annual event, sponsored by the Friends of Washington Oaks, so it wasn't surprising that the childrens, hands-on area by the water, was the most popular place to be.
Lidiya Korogodsky picked the perfect time to visit her family in Florida. The grandmother from Brooklyn was having fun watching her grandchlidren Alex and Katie blow supersized bubbles, and paint.
“We are visiting here for 10 days from Brooklyn and we got to do this,” she said.
Along with fun and games, there were vendors, lots of food, live music and special presentations by Whitney Lab Sea Turtle Hospital and Wild About Birds. There were also guided Audubon walks and Butterflies in the Gardens with Ranger Joe (Woodbury).
The 27th annual Earth Day was the first for the Arnold family of St. Augustine.
“I came down here to buy an annual State Park Pass yesterday and saw the flier,” Robin Arnold said.
“We had our first family portrait taken here,” Misha Arnold said. “We come here occasionally.”
Fiona Arnold, 20-months, had nothing to say, she was mesmerized by the soap bubbles floating in the air.
