Need Florida information - pleeeze

In March, I'll be visiting my daughter and grandkids in Port St. Lucie, Fl. I've been searching in vain for botanical gardens or display gardens of ANY kind, and garden centers other than Home Depot or Loews type of places. Is there any place I can be assured of quality plants for my daughter's hurricane damaged gardens? I'm beginning to think there's nothing down there 8-(

I don't know about that area but there is a fantastic botanical garden in Miami, Fairchild Tropic Botanic Garden, http://www.fairchildgarden.org/index.html.

Maybe PatiSchell might know, she lives in Ft. Pierce. I sent her an email with this thread.

edited to say I just went to google, typed in "FL botanic gardens" and a lot came up. Try it.

This message was edited Jan 9, 2005 12:07 PM

Thanks for the e-mail, Darius, I'll try to help best I can.

Hi Barby34,
Heathcote Gardens, right near you in Fort Pierce, is fairly small, but has a lovely collection. They have made amazing progress since the hurricanes and just recently had a little festivale to announce their comback. The BEST nursery is in the same vacinity..Weatherbee Nursery has been there for years, has a great variety of plants and have people working there that really know their plants. We were holding our breaths until we were sure they were opening after the terrible two's blew through!

Just north of Ft Pierce is the largest and one of the most beautiful...McKee Botanical Gardens. It's buildings and vistas are so unique, and it has the most amazing collection of Bamboo. Also, it has a great little luncheon place where you can sit outside and enjoy a soup, sandwich, plants and birds! My daughter took me there for Mother's Day.

Yesterday, my daughter filled her I.O.U. Christmas present to me and took me to the Morikami Japanese Gardens and Museum. It is just south of you in Boca Raton. Whatever you do don't miss it! It is quite large, encompasses two large lakes, and the paths lead you through traditional Japanese landscaping. This is on my list of quick returns, really so much to explore. I have to use a wheelchair for long distance walking and the paths are gravel, so my daughter really had to work to push the chair. I felt bad for her, but she said she was working to develope "buns of steel" LOL

March is our BEST month! I can get addresses and if you use MAPQUEST these places are very easy to find. They are all along U.S. 1. Keep in touch and if I find more places I'll let you know.

Of course, Fairchild Gardens in Miami is the cream of the crop. It would make a nice day trip.
Pati



This message was edited Jan 10, 2005 3:41 PM

Thanks, Pati... I figured you'd know THE BEST spots for her visit.

Wow, I didn't know about that Japanese Garden, I'd love to see it! My sis lives in Boca, my Mom in Boynton Beach, now I know where to take them!
Thanks Patti!

By the way, this is another reason we need to keep the Public Gardens forum up,
http://davesgarden.com/forums/f/publicgardens/ If anyone has pictures, and info, please list the gardens!

Violabird, It really is a very special place. We didn't realize that they were having special events for Japanese New Year and there were huge crowds of people! Even the people who worked there were shocked at the turnout. They have a lovely outdoor Japanese resturant that serves authentic food, but the lines were just too long all day.

We only took a couple of pictures, but are going back very soon. The garden is about calmness, meditation and beautiful vistas and the Museum is outstanding. I'm looking forward to just sitting with a glass of Plum wine and enjoying the serenity.
Pati

Darius and Pattischell - Thank you so very much. I just KNEW someone at Dave's could help me. I hope to help my daughter with some beautiful plants that aren't the run-of-the-mill variety. Better still, my daughter works in Fort Pierce so that will be a great trip.
I can get very nasty if I go 10 days without some kind of garden experience
8-) and I just KNEW that the area couldn't be the wasteland it appeared to be. Now I'm really looking forward to my trip, thanks to you both.
Barb

You're welcome Barb. I lived 50 years in Miami where everything tropical just grew and grew and GREW! Moving up here was a big surprise. Florida is Florida right? WRONG! That's why I love Weatherbee Nursery so much. They really know so much about the plants that are truly native to this area. I just hope they didn't lose too much of their old stock.

I do container gardening and very few survived the long time they had to be stored for the two hurricanes. *sigh* Your daughter is VERY lucky to have you help restore her yard.
Pati

Two?, it seemed like 20, and I claim 6. We were so lucky here.
Wish Barby 34 was coming a few weeks earlier and could meet us at Okeechobee.
Sidney

That would be great! She could bring her daughter along too. Maybe her daughter would like to join DG? Then she could get help to take care of the plants Barby will be planting.

Sugar, you would laugh if you saw my pitiful survivors. The only Night Blooming Jasmine that survived is seven feet tall with poofs of leaves on the very top. It made a valient struggel to reach the sunlight from it's spot between two sheds! My Azaleas were buried under "stuff" in the shed and when we finally got them out they had started blooming!

They had to wait so long to get back out because my Daughter and Gchildren were in Bartow and had to dig out themselves before they could come dig me out. I had a really bad "non-walking" spell, but with the new med, I may take up ballet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pati

What tell is this new med? I may have to go boiler "Monkey" instead anyhow. I'm not canceling, just never know and now that Darius has to Graph-out that week-end I don't feel as obligated. I will find someone to send plants with if I don't get to come. I can still help organize.
I told Darius we might come to Ft Pierce to meet you anyhow if she comes to Jax to visit her brother.
Sidney

That's the best news I've had lately!!!! Would love to have a visit, but I still think you should come to the "Florida Festival!"

You'll have to let me know when the possible visit will take place. Give me time to have the rug cleaned, polish furniture, make curtains and prepare a sumptious tea. NOT! LOL You'll have to take me as you find me, a little dusty, but I'll make it up with real southern hospitality, bless your heart!
Pati

Shew, you had me worried for a minute, if you had to do all that. Just a smile and a hug is all I was comin for, maybe bring a cutting or two. LOL