Who Said That?

"Fifty-four was a real sweetie. He would always preen my moustache and eyebrows."

A postcard picturing Sunken Gardens flamingos sent "Greetings from St. Petersburg Florida." A snow globe encasing two flamingos in a swirl of white particles served as one visitor's permanent reminder of the botanical garden and its exotic pink residents. Vintage plates, mugs, statues and pennants featuring flamingos have been Sunken Gardens' calling card for decades.

Though the gardens, at 1825 Fourth St. N, opened to the public in the 1920s, its flock of 17 flamingos didn't arrive until the mid 1950s. The elegant pink creatures have been synonymous with the city's oldest tourist attraction, and St. Petersburg, itself ever since.

But whereas flamingo snow globes are still available on eBay for $21.99, the actual birds don't last forever. Sunken Gardens is down to its last two flamingos.

Read more at the Tampa Bay Times.