Gardens of the World — Florida

Florida’s semi-tropical climate allows for the cultivation and growth of a huge and diverse group of plants, including many exotics from the tropics. As a result, this state has a number of noteworthy gardens which celebrate the beauty and diversity of plant life around the world. Below are a few examples of Florida’s excellent gardens.

Fairchild Gardens are found just west of Miami and are probably the state’s most extensive gardens. The Cycads below represent some of the most primitive seed plants on Earth. They were quite common during the Jurassic Period, the time that we typically associate with dinosaurs.

Cycads

Cycads

Some extremely unusual plants are displayed throughout the grounds of the attraction. Among these “wierdos” are the spiny barked tree (Kapok) pictured below.

Spiny Barked Tree

Spiny Barked Tree

Flowering plants are among the showiest specimens in the Fairchild Gardens. Orchids, especially, are extremely popular with plant-lovers.

Orchids

Orchids

The city of Naples, Florida, on the opposite side of the state from Miami, has its own Botanical Gardens, which are celebrated for their variety and creativity. The water lilies are particularly beautiful.

Water Lily

Water Lily

Naples also displays a huge number of orchids.

Orchids

Orchids

The last of the gardens that I will feature from Florida is a classic Japanese Garden, Morikami Gardens, built to commemorate a colony of Japanese immigrants who settled in Delray Beach, Florida. The colony was called the Yamato Colony and is immortalized by a major thoroughfare that runs from east to west.

Bridge at Morikami Gardens

Bridge at Morikami Gardens

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