With regard to natural beauty, South Florida has much more to offer than beaches and palm trees. To many residents in the tri-county area, Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade it is a well know fact that some of the country's most stunning gardens exist here. These garden gems never cease to overwhelm and surprise many, that such flowering magnificence exists within our subtropical culture.
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, The gardens at Vizcaya are European-inspired model after 17th and 18th century gardens of France and Italy; the sprawling landscape design is set to give the appearance as a series of rooms. Located on Biscayne Bay in Coconut Grove. 3251 South Miami Avenue, Miami. Admission fees $6-$18
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens is said to be the world’s most unique botanical gardens with its rainforest, Madagascar Spiny Forest, Wings of the Tropics, a butterfly conservatory and the palmetum, a tropical world filled with palms of all shapes, textures and sizes. 10901 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables. Admission fees $12-$25
Kampong Gardens is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, located on Biscayne Bay in Coconut Grove. The Kampong is lush with tropical fruit cultivars and flowering trees. Kampong is the Malay word for a village or cluster of houses. Some of the first plantings at Kampong came from Indo-Malaysia, brought by the renowned explorer/horticulturist, Dr. David Fairchild who introduced these species to the United States. 4013 S Douglas Rd, Miami. Tour fees $20
Miami Beach Botanical Garden is a public/private partnership, owned by the City of Miami Beach and operated by the Conservancy. The Garden is a dynamic venue for arts and cultural programming, environmental education and cultural tourism. 2000 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach. Admission is free.
Bonnet House Museum & Gardens Bonnet House grounds encompass one of the last examples in South Florida of a native barrier island habitat. Five distinct ecosystems can be found on the property including the Atlantic Ocean. Bonnet House Museum
& Gardens is accredited by the American Association of Museums, is listed on the National Register of Historic and was declared a historic landmark by the City of Fort Lauderdale in 2002. 900 N Birch Rd, Fort Lauderdale. Tours and admission fees $10-$20
Flamingo Gardens is a 60-acre, wildlife sanctuary, aviary, and botanical garden; a showcase for over 3000 species of rare and exotic, tropical, subtropical, and native plants. The Arboretum contains some of the largest trees in the state of Florida; and is home to the largest collection of Florida native wildlife- including alligators, bear, bobcats, eagles, otters, panthers, peacocks and flamingos. 3750 S Flamingo Rd, Davie. Admission fees $10-$18
Morakami Gardens reflect major periods of Japanese garden design, from the eighth to the 20th century, and serve as an outdoor extension of the museum. The Morikami Gardens consist of shinden islands, paradise garden and contemporary gardens 4000 Morikami Park Rd, Delray Beach. Admission fees $9-$14
South Florida Gardens
Plant it, and it will grow
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