Orange Blossom, Our State Flower
Here’s a fun springtime fact for you: the name Florida comes from Ponce de León landing on Easter Sunday, the spanish “Feast of Flowers,” or Pascua Florida. So, long before we became the Sunshine State, we were named after flowers!
And Florida’s famous blooms are still flourishing today, as evidenced by our dozens of botanical gardens and arboretums. Before you plan your visit, scroll through my list of gardens you must see!
If You’re Going to Orlando, Visit Harry P. Leu Gardens
Orlando isn’t all theme parks—there’s plenty of natural beauty to surround yourself with that goes unappreciated far too often. Spread across fifty acres of land, Leu Gardens is home to forty plant collections from bamboo and bananas to vegetables and vine displays. You’ll also walk under 200-year-old oak trees to find a butterfly garden and the Leu House, a museum showcasing turn-of-the century Florida living. Click here for admission prices, operating hours, and visitor guidelines.
I also can’t mention Orlando without giving a quick shout-out to UCF’s Arboretum!
If You’re Going to Jacksonville, Visit Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
Animal lovers, this will be your favorite spot on the list! Jax Zoo has two thousand animals waiting to see you, and the botanical gardens are integrated among the animal exhibits. Unlike other places on this list that are a celebration of local flora, Jax Zoo’s gardens take inspiration from the natural habitats of their animals from all across Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. You’ll also be glad to know that Jax Zoo supports conservation initiatives around the world and here at home in Florida. Click here to plan your visit!
If You’re Going to Tampa, Visit Sunken Gardens in St. Petersburg
Courtesy: Sunken Gardens
It might sound like a strange name, but this botanical garden has quite an interesting history—it used to be a sinkhole. But over the course of a hundred years and with support from a community bound and determined to keep it alive, it became a world-renowned attraction. You’ll find beautiful blossoms here, of course, but you must check out the 150-year-old southern live oak, the rainbow eucalyptus tree, and the flamingos if you go! Click here for everything you need to know before you go. Be sure to check out their events list, too—there are regular yoga and meditation classes held on the grounds, and I can’t think of a better way to unwind than attending one of those sessions, can you?
If You’re Going to Miami, Visit Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables
Located south of Miami, Fairchild Gardens stands out from other gardens with its numerous aquatic exhibits, fun weekend festivals, and plant shows—so much so that it was named Best Botanical Garden in North America by USA Today in 2021! If the butterfly garden at Leu Gardens sounded intriguing, get this: Fairchild Gardens has The Glasshouse Café, where you can eat organic and locally grown food as you watch butterflies flutter all around you. Click here to learn about hours and pricing.
If You’re Going to Key West, Visit Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden
Though it’s the smallest park by far on this list at only 15.2 acres, it has a lot of heart—and a lot of endangered and threatened species, including several from Cuba and the Caribbean. As the only frost-free botanical garden in the continental United States, it’s the perfect place for them to thrive. And in addition to the yoga classes and plant shows previously mentioned as taking place in other gardens, Key West’s is also a very popular site for bird watching! Click here to learn about hours and pricing for the park.
If You’re Going to Tallahassee, Visit Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park
Maclay Gardens cannot boast the most biodiversity on this list (though if you love azaleas and camellias, you’re in for a treat). If you’re a nature lover, that might bum you out, but they’ve made sure to pack this state park with plenty of things to do: bicycling, fishing, geocaching, hiking, horseback riding, paddling, picnicking, and swimming! After a full day at Maclay Gardens and a visit to its museum, you can relax by taking a stroll on the brick walkways to the secret garden or the reflection pool. Click here to plan your visit!
Or, If You Want to Escape the Cities, Visit One of Our Off-the-beaten-path State Parks
Dudley Farm Historic State Park - Newberry - “Garden” would be a misnomer. This is an authentic working Florida farm that just so happens to have a garden full of heirloom roses, amaryllis, larkspur and coreopsis!
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park - Cross Creek - Does that name ring a bell? That’s because it’s the name of the Pulitzer prize-winning author of The Yearling. Take a tour of her restored home, then walk through the nearby nature trail that once led to Marjorie’s massive orange grove.
Ravine Gardens State Park - Palatka - These ravines make for more challenging hikes, but you’ll be rewarded by the man-made and natural gardens lending vibrancy to the trails.
Have you been to one of Florida’s botanical gardens yet? What did you think? And if you haven’t had the chance yet, tell me what your favorite flower is in the comments!
Love & Sunshine,
Frances