Discover Naples Botanical Garden

It Gets Better All the Time

by Maureen C. Bruschi

Naples, Florida has all the glitz and glamour with its 5th Avenue South shops and restaurants, water sports adventures, and excursions through the Everglades. Don’t get me wrong. These are great ways to spend your time in Naples. However, when you need a break from airboat rides, shopping, and sightseeing, head to the Naples Botanical Garden’s plush tropical and sub-tropical plants and gardens. This world-class paradise represents countries and regions including Asia, Brazil, the Caribbean and Florida. Tucked away only five minutes from downtown Naples, you’ll discover Southwest Florida’s most exquisite outdoor museum.

How It All Began

In 1994, a small group of Naples’ residents envisioned creating a botanical garden. Six years later that vision became a reality thanks to generous donations by Harvey Kapnick, the Kapnick Family Foundation and the cooperation of Collier Enterprises.  Their support resulted in the purchase of 170-acres of undeveloped land and lakes, home to seven diverse Florida habitants. 

The Garden first opened to guests in 2003 with a one-acre garden (which eventually became the Tropical Mosaic Garden) and soon after added a 5,000 square-foot Butterfly House and aviary, and a 33-acre Uplands Preserve. The Garden is continually changing as it opens new habitats, and renovates and expands existing sanctuaries, lakes, lagoons and preserves each year. Today visitors can explore a number of exotic, cultivated gardens with brilliantly restored natural habitats; view hawks, eagles and other wildlife from the Birding Tower in the South Wetlands Preserve; and hike along the trails in the Uplands Preserve.

Before you begin your journey through the Garden’s diverse habitats and fascinating plant and animal life, change into your favorite walking shoes and grab a Garden Map at the Visitor Center. Here are some Garden sights you won’t want to miss.

Kids Rule!

Pass through the visitor center and you’ll come to the Children’s Garden on your right. The Children’s Garden is definitely not for kids only. Stroll under a tunnel of saw palmetto and you’ll enter a pavilion complete with flowing streams, spraying fountains, vegetables, flowers, groves, a waterfall, tree houses with climbing platforms and rope bridges, and a capricious cottage. Carefully tiptoe into the Butterfly House and observe multi-colored butterflies shimmering around magnificent plant growth. You’ll find a new way to appreciate beauty at the Hidden Garden where you’ll discover flowers springing up out of sinks, purses and yes…a toilet.

Brazil’s Pride and Joy

Enjoy moments of reflection, inspiration and relaxation at the Brazilian Garden. This landscaped masterpiece, (a tribute to Roberto Burle Marx, the “father of modern landscape architecture”) shows off Brazil’s magnificent plant diversity while representing their seven terrestrial ecosystems. The Garden’s showpiece, the Roberto Burle Marx ceramic tile mural, stands out above the muti-tiered cascading waterfall. 

Experience the Caribbean

Follow the paths leading to the Caribbean Garden and you’ll discover the Pre-Columbian Garden.  Here you’ll find plants, flowers and citrus trees native to the region as well as plants carried by South and Central America inhabitants as they migrated to the Caribbean. Wander through the Explorers’ Garden, the Plantation Garden, the Citrus Garden, and the Coconut Grove and you’ll experience the Post-Columbian period with plants brought to the Caribbean by European, Asian and South Pacific explorers. Before you leave the Caribbean Garden, take a break in the turquoise Chattel House, occupied centuries ago by laborers.

Alongside the Caribbean Garden by the Chattel House you’ll find a familiar view if you’ve visited the Florida Everglades. Enjoy a picture-perfect view of the River of Grass where you’ll recognize a grassy marsh minus the alligators. 

Don’t Miss the Garden’s Most Recent Additions

Wander through the Asian Garden and you’ll witness the flora, landscapes and culture of Southeast Asia. Based on a 15th century Hindu temple, the Javanese Temple Ruin is the centerpiece of this Garden. You’ll also enjoy a wood-carved Thai Pavilion spanning a lotus pool, New Asia Pergola and the Balinese Shrine. 

Florida’s landscape comes alive in the Florida Garden. Here you’ll get to appreciate Florida’s beautiful grasses and wild flowers at the Palm Circle; pick up a few Southwest Florida gardening tips at the Idea Garden; observe gardening methods for everyone no matter what their abilities or physical challenges at the Enabling Garden; meditate and relax at the Labyrinth; and look out over the Deep Lake and the wetlands at the Solstice Landing.

Overlooking the River of Grass, the Water Garden features an assortment of tropical water lilies, lotuses and papyrus. A boardwalk that crosses over the Water Garden and widens in the middle provides a stage for live performances.  

The Preserves Persevere

In the Florida Uplands Preserve take a hike through a pristine landscape of oak scrub and pine flatwoods on either the Uplands Trail (.41 miles) or the Lake Trail (1.07 miles). The Florida Uplands is home to over fifty-plus endangered gopher tortoises and racerunner lizards. Pay attention to the alligator signs!  I spotted a small alligator lounging along the banks of the West Lake as I walked along the Uplands Trail.

Giant pines and ancient cypress make up the vast South Wetlands Preserve.  Here you’ll get a chance to observe egrets, herons and turtles in the midst of unspoiled marshes and twisted mangroves. If you’re lucky, you might also catch sight of northern harrier hawks, migrating ducks and white pelicans.  At the Birding Tower a Garden horticulturalist described how the removal of thousands of invasive melaleuca and Brazilian pepper trees made room for native grasses, sedges, rushes and ferns, a necessary move to protect and nurture wetlands species. 

Wait, That’s Not All…

There’s more to the Naples Botanical Garden than subtropical gardens, unique nature sanctuaries and fascinating cultures.  Make sure you check out the Garden Calendar of Events on the Naples Botanical Garden website before your visit. My favorite event was Dog in the Garden Walk where visitors get a chance to stroll the grounds with their favorite four-legged friends on designated days. The Garden’s schedule of educational and entertainment activities also includes cooking demos, family activity days, tours, Artists in the Garden, Story Time in the Children’s Garden, Yoga in the Garden, Jazz in the Garden, wine and beer tasting events, egg hunts, movie night, Lifelong Learning seminars and more.

If You Go:

By Air:  Accessible from Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers.

Naples Botanical Gardens (239-643-7275) is located at 4820 Bayshore Drive, Naples, Florida  34112. From the center of Naples, take US 41 east, to Bayshore Drive south. Travel 1.5 miles to stop sign at Thomasson Drive. Keep straight, staying on Bayshore and enter Garden on right.

Where to stay:
www.naples-florida.com/stay.htm

Where to eat:
The Dock at Crayton Cove, 845 12th Avenue South, Naples (239) 263-9940; www.dockcraytoncove.com

Bistro 821, 821 5th Avenue South, Naples (941) 261-5821; (Check for early seating to enjoy discounts) www.bistro821.com

Café Luna, 467 5th Avenue South, Naples (239) 213-2212 www.cafelunanaples.com

Stoney’s Steakhouse, 403 Bayfront Place, Naples (239) 435-9353.  (Check for early seating to enjoy half price) www.stoneyssteakhouse.com

Entrance Fee:

Adults - $12.95; Children (4-14) $7.95; children under 3 and members free. 

For more information:   www.naplesgarden.org