CFPACS - 10/19/2019 - Part I - Naples Botanical Gardens - Naples, FL

[kinzyjr]

The CFPACS 2019 fall meeting and field trip took us to three locations in Southwest Florida.  The first stop was Naples Botanical Gardens.  The rainy weather from Nestor didn't stop those of us in attendance from having a great experience.  Plenty of umbrellas and rain gear were present as well as members from as far away as Jacksonville.

Upon entering, you're greeted by a few Florida natives:

Progressing further up the sidewalk gets you to this mixed planting:

There were plenty of Thrinax radiata around dropping their white fruit.  A very positive sign for one of our native palms.

A few Copernicia baileyana in the median against a background of Roystonea regia.

The entrance to the Visitor Center with more Thrinax radiata standing guard.

A rock garden inside the entrance:

The next two photos show the types of gardens and plants present in the gardens.  Gardens with Latitude!

You have this view after entering the metal building:

No jungle is complete without a torrential downpour:

Cannonballs!

Water features add calm to the garden:

Greeted by silk floss on the way to the cafe:

Circle of Friends - perfect for our meeting:

[kinzyjr]

We passed the exit just after starting the tour:

Even the exit is better with water:

Water, lights, coconuts...

The waterfall:

Looking back at the winding path:

About half way up the hill to the top of the waterfall:

Everything grows fast near the water:

Cannonball flowers:

A Mule palm at the top:

Looking back down the hill from the Mule Palm:

Headed down the other side of the hill:

[kinzyjr]

Coconuts and Pumpkins... a South Florida fall.

Carnivorous plants:

Cyrtostachys renda for @palmsOrl:

No rituals were performed...

If it had been hot and sunny, this would have been the stopping point:

Blue bamboo:

River of grass... patterned after the Everglades.

Hard to beat hay bales and palms:

The Florida Garden... in Florida...

A Tiki Hut awaits at the top of the hill:

[HtownPalms]

That place was amazing. I love the water features and the idols! 

[piping plovers]

I just visited there 3 weeks ago.  What I enjoyed the most was the entrance and exit jungle garden; there is an elevated boardwalk through this area.  The garden is so richly planted and luxuriant.  The variety, view/vantage points and presentation of the plants is impeccable, like a super-condensed rainforest in a small area.  I think if you visited this entrance /exit garden and then visited an actual rainforest trail (with typical ground level views) you might be disappointed in the rainforest.  I did not find any Joey palms but I did see a few potted Hydriastele beguinii's near the restaurant patio area.  The orchid area was also beautiful to visit.  

Edited December 28, 2019 by piping plovers

[bubba]

Great garden! C. renda is worth the price of admission! Thank you.