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Florida Gardening

what else is near Butterfly World?

14 years ago

Any other gardeners places of interest near or on the way there?

What is your experience with BW and how much time to enjoy it?

Any other words of wisdom?

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Comments (9)

linchat
14 years ago
mmm.... It is neat, if you love butterflies, you will love BW. It is cool for anyone, a tad bit high on entrance fee. Not much in that area really. You could go to Morikami, which is an incredible japanese (very large) garden. Since, you are close to BW from 95, just head N on 95 to Yamato and head west.

There is also Mounts botanical garden in West Palm which is donation of $3 I think to get in. It is worth stopping, part of the Extension system and UF. Mounts is off of Southern and Military Trail.

You could do all three of these in a day, well, unless you stop and smell every rose you might be able to. :) Mounts is 2-3 hour, same with Morkami. If you start off in the morning, they are all doable without the rush.

http://www.mounts.org/

Hope it helps.
cjc45
14 years ago
Morikami is about 15 miles north of Butterfly World. While there, visit the American Orchid Society headquarters next door. I haven't seen their garden since it was rebuilt following hurricane damage but I hear that it's lovely.

The park where Butterfly World is used to have a very nice boardwalk. Don't know if it's still there.
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Hi Susan! I absolutely agree with your approach! Too often you will see many people panic and run for the pesticide/insecticide/miticide or insecticidal soap/neem/etc. with little thought for the overall consequence of their actions. I know that God created every single creature for a reason, and this is true in the garden just as it is in the rest of the world. When a gardener tries to wipe out any given pest, they disrupt the food chain and throw everything off balance. Once your bug populations are out of balance, it is very easy for any given pest to overpopulate and become an actual problem (instead of being perceived as a problem just by their presence in the garden). Your example of the milkweeds, aphids and green lacewings is an excellent example. Suppose a butterfly lover were able to wipe out ALL the aphids. With no food to support their population, the green lacewings will either move on to an area with a good supply of food, or they will die. That butterfly gardener's entire garden is then more vulnerable to any bug infestation because the lacewings aren't around any more to keep other bug populations in check. So, obviously you have done the correct thing by letting the natural system work in your landscape. If I have learned anything at all from a lifetime of gardening, it is that the various insects will pretty much take care of each other. That's one reason I prefer to release beneficial insects...it is working within the natural system instead of outside of it. Could you and I ever convince some of those butterfly gardeners to let the aphids stay on the milkweed and then let the green lacewings take care of the aphids themselves?I doubt it. I think the whole 'working within the realm of nature and its cycles' thing is a unique wisdom a gardener acquires over time. Some people catch on to it sooner, some later, and some never. Does this mean that I don't panic when a specific bug population appears to be out of control? No. Of course I still get concerned. But I try to figure out first if there is an actual problem. I try to wait it out and see if nature will correct the situation (it usually does). I try to determine if the damage...like holes in leaves, for example,...is just something that is "visually unpleasant" or is actually damaging to the plant. And I have learned, through the years, that often the best action to take is "no action". So, I guess our approach is best thought of as working with nature, instead of against it, and how can that be wrong? Dawn (who is tired and will now climb down off her soapbox and stop ranting)
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gusolie
14 years ago
Mounts is NOT worth the visit. repeat NOT worth the visit.

The American ORchid SOciety has pulled funding for its botanical garden, so I'm not sure it's still open (or being maintained--although it's much more presentable than anythinga t Mounts). There is a friends group trying to rally to support the AOS gardens though.
linchat
14 years ago
In response to gusolie
----------------------

Mounts is not the greatest botanical garden in the world by any means. It IS NOT sloppy, un-manicured or anything like that. It is a decent small botanical garden.

I was just there for a flower / plant sale a few weeks ago, it is in VERY GOOD condition. It is a donation to get in, knowing that, you kinda of know what you are getting. But I think you are getting way more for you donation, believe me. it is 5-10 minute drive off of i95, you can't go wrong. Spend an hour, nothing lost only gained.

Go see it and you be the judge. That is the only way to ever know.
wanna_run_faster
14 years ago
I have to agree with Linchat. I like Mounts, a very pleasant and do-able garden, especially when it's so hot outside. As a matter of fact, I enjoy it as much as Fairchilds. Which by the way...is probably an hour south of BW if you're so inclined.
regine_Z 10 Fl gw
14 years ago
Society of Four Arts in Palm Beach has a lovely garden that's well worth the trip.Anytime I need inspiration I persuade DH to go there with me. They had to do a lot of relandscaping after the Hurricanes Jeanne and Frances went through but it is beautiful. Make sure to call before visiting because it is off season so their hours are shorter. Also, a few blocks away near Worth Avenue is Pan's Garden, which is very small but quite nice because it's primarily native plants.

Regina
JerryatTreeZoo
14 years ago
The Deerfield Beach Arboretum is 3 or 4 miles northeast of Butterfly World. Treezoo.com

No entrance fee and mostly volunteer managed.
shellfreak
14 years ago
I agree w/ Linchat. I just finished the MG class & was thankful that we had the garden to explore & work in. Mounts needs vounteers to help maintain the garden. So instead of putting it down maybe the poster that doesn't like it could volunteer & help make it better.
goldenpond
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks all who answered.
No arguments on my account please.
I don't try to start trouble but duck poop if it doesn't find me!
I know everyone has their own opinion and we are blessed to live in a land that allows us to speak freely.
I am one of these that doesnt need everything prim and proper anyhow
Sure hope we don't melt!

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