Zen Gardens To Visit This Summer In Palm Beach County
Palm Beach County's rich sub-tropical climate allows for nearly anything to grow. From orchids to poincianas to banyan trees, beautiful flowers bloom all over the area. Get to see all the possibilities at our local gardens, where a variety of diverse South Florida plant species grow.Â
Morikami Museum
The Morikami Museum has 6 tranquil gardens spread across 16 acres. Visitors can spend time discovering the Japanese culture at the museum and then take a walk through the serene gardens. Also at the museum and garden, Cornell Café serves up sushi and light fare and their gift shop sells items like tea sets, tea, kimonos and other Japanese decorations. The Morikami is a legacy of the Yamato Colony, an early 1900s settlement of Japanese farmers in Boca Raton (hence Yamato Road). While most settlers returned to Japan, a man named George Morikami stayed in town and eventually donated the area of land to the county which was developed into the museum and garden.Â
4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach. Open Tuesday - Sunday 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Admission $15.
Mounts Botanical Garden
Mounts has 18 gardens expand over 14 acres of hills, exhibiting the exotic plants of the semi-tropics. It has a selection of huge palm trees, flowering trees, and tropical fruit trees, and beautifully designed beds full of almost everything that grows in this part of South Florida. The garden was started in 1950 to teach locals about tropical fruit. Today, Mounts often hosts workshops and lectures for local gardeners, plant sales, and they also have a great selection of gardening books.
531 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach. Open every day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Donation for entry.Â
The Four Arts Botanical Garden
The Four Arts Botanical Garden was started in 1938 as a demonstration garden, showing nearby residents the plentiful tropical plants that can grow in the area. It has been maintained ever since by the Garden Club of Palm Beach who, after hurricanes Jeanne and Frances, reconstructed the garden adding new plants, expanded seating areas, and created designated spots for quiet thinking and relaxation.
2 Four Arts Plaza, Palm Beach. Open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free entry.
Pan's Garden
Pan's Garden is a small park near Worth Avenue. It was established in the 90s by the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach, located next door to the garden, which holds more than 300 native plants. Most of the plants are considered endangered and remind us of the history of Palm Beach. A tile wall from the 1918 ocean-to-lake Casa Apava estate forms one of the garden’s boundaries. It is a good place to reflect and enjoy nature.Â
386 Hibiscus Ave., Palm Beach. Open Monday - Friday 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. and on weekends November - May. Free entry.
Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens
Art lovers and gardeners adore this spectacular place. Sculptor Ann Norton was a widow to Ralph Norton, who founded the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm. After his death in 1951, Ann spent nearly 2 decades building 9 colossal granite sculptures through her estate garden- one even in her former swimming pool. The garden is one of Florida’s largest public collections of rare palms and cycads. The massive sculptures are displayed among native plants, which put this garden on the National Register of Historic Places, so it is kept in a natural state.
2051 S. Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach. Open Wednesday - Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The historic Norton home and art studio are also open. Admission $10.
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