Naples Botanical Garden - a tourists review

I've just returned from a one week vacation to sunny Florida and I thought I'd share some of the trips highlights with you. This will be the first in a series of blogs describing the trip.This was to be a low cost trip beginning with the airfare on Spirit airline. We grabbed a red light special price of $7.00 each way. With taxes and surcharges that made a grand total of $34.60 per person round trip! You must be flexible in your travel dates as these rates are for a limited number of seats on specific dates.
We were lucky enough to have friends put us up for the week so that saved a bundle on the hotel rates in the high season.
The first sight that we saw was the Naples Botanical Garden located at 4820 Bayshore Drive in Naples, just 2 miles from downtown Naples. The $7.00 entrance fee was very reasonable. It was a real treat for any plant lover. The Tropical Mosaic Garden contained winding paths lined with Palm trees, flowers and a soothing fountain. A grotto surrounded by a wall covered with a large mosaic comprised of broken pottery pieces provided a picturesque back drop to the lush assortment of botanics all of which were labeled for the curious gardener. From a distance, the mosaic appeared to be a wave. Upon closer inspection you could see all the different elements of various dish patterns even a few tea cups. A very creative recycling program. There was a separate smaller garden that featured spice plants from around the world. Far different to see them this way than in the little McCormick's bottle!

The paths lead to a series of screened in exhibits. The first was a butterfly house. There visitors watched butterflies emerge from a chrysalis. They could not fly until their wings were dried.This was a big hit with the younger children. The assortment of brightly colored butterflies were all around us and even landed on my camera as I tried to take pictures. It was a photographers dream. Next came a tropical bird house.Brightly colored, squawking birds called to us from every direction. Up close and personal they were a sight to behold.

Next came the Windstar Garden Room which was housing a show called Beauty and the Beasts. There were Madagascar hissing cockroaches, Scorpions, and beautiful cobalt blue frogs about an inch long. These were used by ancient natives of South America to provide poison for their famous lethal blow darts. So pretty but so deadly. Although this room was perfect if you were a 12 year old boy, I did not find watching the giant chameleon munching on a live cricket to be that appealing. I was more interested in the beautiful orchids surrounding the room.

Leaving this building you could pick up a path that weaved through a one mile Uplands Preserve
show casing six different Florida habitats. It was interesting to see how different the foliage, plants and birds were compared to those in our neck of the country. Allow 30- 45 minutes for the trail and at least 30 to 45 minutes for the rest of the exhibits.

Tomorrow... the Everglades.