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Florida Gardening

Your favorite gardens in Florida south of Tampa

16 years ago

We coming to Florida in October and plan to travel Tampa and south. I would like to see some of the better gardens/landscaping in Florida. What would you recommend?

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Comments (13)

linchat
16 years ago
Kanapaha Botanical Gardens in Gainseville, great! Ugh, I do not remember if it is South of Tampa, maybe due east?
http://www.kanapaha.org/all_about.htm

Are you coming to south Florida? Then visit The Morikami Museum, WOW! Japanese gardening.
http://www.morikami.org

"Vizcaya Museum and Gardens" is world famous. Has gotten pretty beat up since the hurricanes, but from what I understand, they have done a great job restoring the premises.
http://www.vizcayamuseum.org/
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naplesgardener
16 years ago
Marie Selby Gardens in Sarasota is a must visit.

There is also a Florida Botanical garden in the St Pete area but I have not been there to say if it is worth visiting.
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fawnridge (Ricky)
16 years ago
Don't know how far south you are traveling, but Fairchild Tropical Gardens in Miami is not to be missed.
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junkyardgirl
16 years ago
I second Marie Selby. Absolutely a must see. The greenhouse alone is worth the admission price.
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goldenpond
16 years ago
I hope to visit these someday,did get to the one in Tampa right before closing RATS!
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florida_ed
16 years ago
Has anyone tried creating a user map on google maps about gardening info like this? I'm currently trying it out...

Could something like this work?

Here is a link that might be useful: custom Google map
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SaintPFLA
16 years ago
Sunken Gardens downtown St. Petersburg; $8 to get in and absolutely a fantastic day. Loads of nearby restaurants for when you are done viewing the plants. It's a small garden, but old, unique and interesting.

http://www.floridasbeach.com/cms/index.php?id=3092

The 4-acre attraction in downtown St. Petersburg is a century-old celebration of serenity, a botanical and biological feast for the senses that features more than 50,000 tropical plants (representing more than 500 species), plus butterflies, flamingos and other exotic birds.

Paved pathways make it easy to traverse the Gardens, yet the marvels within make it hard to leave.
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imatallun
16 years ago
Dear Gardener 972,

If you're going to hit Tampa first, you must go to USF Gardens. I ditto the recommendations listed above for Selby, Vizcaya, Fairchild. (Haven't been to Sunken Gardens, sounds delightful.) If you're hitting the east coast as well, please advise. I have some recommendations for the Treasure Coast and WPB. Have fun on your trip, how wise of you to request info from us local yocals.
m
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Gardener972
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks all for your recommendations. We are driving all the way to Key West--down the west coast and back up the east and back over to Tampa. What would be the top 2 or three... the most recognized in the state? Personally, I'd see them all but I'm the gardener, not my husband, so I'm not sure he'd want to do that.
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naplesgardener
16 years ago
I forgot to mention the Ringling Museum and Gardens in Sarasota. Gorgeous location even for the non-gardener.

My top 3 for your trip:
Sunken Gardens, St. Pete
Selby Gardens, Sarasota
Ringling Museum/Gardens, Sarasota
Vizcaya, Miami

so I can't count :-)

There's also a Japanese Garden in West Palm Beach I've heard a lot about, Morikami?
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ladywingr
16 years ago
My opinion:

Selby in Sarasota
Bok Tower & Gardens near Lake Wales
Vizcaya in the Miami area

Fairchild is on my wish list
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imatallun
16 years ago
I think you've received expert recommendations. The question is whether to hit Villa Viscaya or Fairchild Tropical Gradens. Villa is in the heart of Miami, Fairchild on the south end of the city. Tough choice!

Bok Tower will be on your way back to Tampa from the East Coast. If you're hungry before or after Bok Gardens, Junior's Seafood (on the N. side of Rt. 60 just after you hit beautiful Lake Wales) is the best place to eat, unless you're looking for ambience.

Have a great trip!
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Gardener972
Original Author
16 years ago
We don't care about ambience AT ALL... just good food. Don't you know those little hole-in-the-wall places are the best! Any other recommendations for food y'all? We'll be in Tampa, Sarasota, Naples, Miami, Key West and back.
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