Palms Archives - Cultivated and Wild

Gardens

Naples Botanical Garden Showcases Tropical Plants of the 26th Parallels

Gardens with Latitude. A catchy name but also the defining theme of the Naples Botanical Garden. Located on the 26th latitude north, the garden features plants that thrive between the two 26th parallels. This region includes some of the most diverse ecosystems on earth and is home to many unique plant communities. Themed gardens showcase the plants and culture of Brazil, Florida, the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia.

Like the city it resides in, and many of those found between the two 26th latitudes, water is a central theme at the Naples Botanical Garden. The designers use water to organize the space into distinct garden rooms. Crossing over a bridge transports you from one tropical paradise to the next. The diversity of gardens means that there is much to discover. If you move quickly, you’ll be able to see everything in a few hours. But if you’re like me, you’ll be able to spend many glorious hours exploring this tropical paradise.

Gardens

Exotic Escape to Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

A visit to the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is a visit to the far reaches of the world. As you walk through the 83-acre garden, you’re transported from tropical rainforests to pine rocklands to the forests of Madagascar. Located in Coral Gables, Florida, warm winters and wet summers allow palms, cycads, tropical trees, and flowering shrubs to thrive. The garden is home to one of the largest collections of subtropical and tropical plants within the continental United States.

Gardens

Jardins de Cap Roig Offers Stunning Views and Botanical Beauty

Costa Brava, or the wild coast, stretches from Blanes to the French border. Like a saw blade, hundreds of tiny coves and capes mark the rugged coast and each one holds a surprise. I went to the Costa Brava searching for pristine waters, fresh seafood, and coastal trails. But I also found an unexpected botanical treasure: the Jardins de Cap Roig. Perched on cliffs that tower above the Mediterranean Sea, the botanical gardens of Cap Roig will delight garden lovers with exotic plant collections and stunning views.

Gardens

The Exotic Gardens of La Roque de Gageac

Chicago’s Best Deep Dish Pizza. World Famous Cinnamon Rolls. Home of Maine’s Best Blueberry Pie. Outrageous claims like these are hard to believe and are usually the furthest thing from the truth. But when the French say this, you should listen. La Roque de Gageac is considered to be one of France’s most beautiful villages or “Les Plus Beaux Villages de France.” After visiting, I’d have to agree.

Perched on the banks of the Dordogne river, La Roque de Gageac is a picturesque medieval village with a surprise. Mediterranean and subtropical plants grow abundantly among the golden stone houses.

Gardens

Orlando Oasis at Leu Gardens

If you’ve outgrown Disney and roller coasters bring more fear than fun, you may be tempted to write off Orlando as a travel destination. But that’d be a mistake. A mistake that I almost made when my boyfriend asked me to join him on a business trip to Orlando. Instead, I found that Orlando offers much more than theme parks. A little-known garden oasis near downtown Orlando is a welcome retreat from the crowds at Disney and Universal Studios.

The Harry P. Leu Gardens reside on almost 50 acres and contain nearly 30 different plant collections, including camellia, rose, bamboo, azalea, bromeliad, palm, and cycad. If you’re a horticulture or garden enthusiast, Leu Gardens is worth a visit if you find yourself in Orlando.