The 2019 Holiday meet-up started at Heathcote Botanical Gardens in Ft. Pierce, Florida.  The gardens are roughly 5 acres and have a densely planted palm and cycad walk as well as a reflection garden full of Bonsai plants.  Our tour guide for the day was none other than @Dave-Vero.  Currently, the gardens are set up with Christmas lights and a train set under a tree as part of their Garden of Lights event.  For more information on the gardens, please visit: https://www.heathcotebotanicalgardens.org/

On with the show:

Next 3 photos: The parking lot has pretty standard views for coastal central Florida; with Livistona and Roystonea in fruit, and some yuccas to stop you from parking in the mulch.

Next 4 photos: The entrance has some more old favorites.  From there you can see some of the canopy palms in the gardens.

Once inside, a Satakentia liukiuensis all decked out with lights.

A look down the path shows that all of the palms are under canopy for protection.  A Dypsis decaryi is present on the right fork.

There are bromeliads and other plants mixed in with the palms as you would expect.  What's that on the left?

Next 2 photos: If you guessed Howea forsteriana, you are correct.  This palm seemed to attract most of the attention at the start of the tour.  There is a close-up in the second photo.

The famed 3-headed Sabal makes an appearance in an open spot off the main path.

Our tour guide probably felt like he was herding cats trying to keep everyone from scattering under the canopy.

Syagrus schizophylla

Adonidia merrillii

Hyophorbe lagenicaulis

Chamaedorea geonomiformis

Next 2 photos: Thrinax radiata

Next 2 photos: A clump of Dypsis lutescens tries to hid the giant Roystonea regia behind it.

Acoelorrhaphe wrightii in fruit

Caryota mitis

Sabal causiarum

Bismarckia nobilis

Wodyetia bifurcata

Next two photos: Coccothrinax crinita

What would Christmas be without a train set under the tree?

Next 2 photos: portions of the water features with small fish in them.

Next 3 photos: The stone paths leading toward the Bonasi garden.

Next 5 photos: The Bonsai Garden

Some bromeliads near the exit

Next 7 photos: A few others you might like

If you want to see some photos from the past at this garden, you can use the links below or search the site for: Heathcote

Other PalmTalk Links for Heathcote
2017
https://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/1129-palms-at-night/&do=findComment&comment=826887
https://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/1129-palms-at-night/&do=findComment&comment=826467

2016
https://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/52222-xmas-colourcolor/&do=findComment&comment=793026
https://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/52200-finally-a-baby-planted-out/&do=findComment&comment=793021
https://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/49472-old-dypsis-decaryi/&do=findComment&comment=757290
https://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/49444-dont-plant-these-plants-in-your-palm-garden/&do=findComment&comment=757191
https://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/47625-carpys-in-florida/&do=findComment&comment=752254

2015
https://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/47322-japanese-garden-plant-ideaslandscape-suggestions/&do=findComment&comment=726396
https://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/44969-renovating-wilson-botanical-garden-in-costa-rica/&do=findComment&comment=693397

2014
https://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/40912-three-headed-sabal-palm/&do=findComment&comment=633580

2012
https://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/34946-3-headed-branched-sabal-palmetto-with-history/

What a bunch of photos!  I think the pair of tall Wodyetia are among the oldest I've seen.  The Garden recently received a nice Coccothrinax barbadensis.  It may go in the Bonsai Gallery.   There's a spot for Borassus.   A thriving young Copernicia baileyana unfortunately had something land on it in a hurricane, became wobbly, and suddenly died.  Here's night views of the Bonsai Gallery (the tall Sabal palmetto were part of the design) and the Rain Forest, where most of the colors change.  

 

 

 

Wow! That place is amazing. 

Thank you again! That is a great spot that I have never been to yet.