sanford Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Garden - Sanford, FL

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Anyone interested in visiting can check out their website here: https://www.centralfloridazoo.org/

The Entrance: The entrance features Triangle Palms (Chrysalidocarpus decaryi), Agaves, Royal poinciana (Delonix regia), Livistona saribus, Ponytail Palms (Beaucarnea recurvata), and Pygmy date palms (Phoenix roebelenii), mixed with plenty of foliage.

 

Natives Moving North: It's no surprise that one the south shore of Lake Monroe, epiphytic Ficus aurea are present in the boots of Sabal palmetto.  

Natural Florida: Some parts of the park seem almost untouched.

More Exotic Tastes: The zoo's location boasts a very solid microclimate due to Lake Monroe.  The plantings are primarily in the warm zone 9b range, keeping the risk of loss lower than going with coconuts and Adonidia merrillii as some growers further east on the shore.

Bromeliads, Silk Floss Trees, Cacti, Aloe, Liriope:

 

 

Caryota mitis and Dypsis decaryi: These species are found throughout the zoo.

 

Aroid Zoo Sign and a Potting Table: Wonderful use of plants to decorate the walkways.

Common Sense Compensators: Might as well label poison ivy so no one goes off the path to play with it.  It's hard to believe you'd have to warn someone not to jump in the water here, but...

Philodendrons, Bromeliads, Tree Ferns, etc.: Plants that really add some bang to the garden.

Rounding Out the Trip: More common plants like Queen Palms (Syagrus romanzoffiana) and Lady Palms (Rhapis excelsa), as well as more common companion plants.