bug at gardens
In 1993, a group of eight Naples residents founded the Naples Botanical Gardens with nothing more than the dream of creating a world-class botanical garden. "Gardens with Latitude" now includes six cultivated gardens, 2.5 miles of walking trails, and 90-acres of restored native preserve.
Daily Tours are offered November through April at 11am (meet in front of the Brazilian Garden by the Garden Cafe Cart) for a quick tour or set out to explore on your own.
The Gardens offer a tranquil, beautiful place to wander. A good portion of the gardens are stroller-friendly and there are plenty of spots to sit and relax in the shade. The Children's Garden is a vibrant, exciting place for children of all ages and a water area is perfect for cooling off on hot days so be sure to pack bathing suits and towels.
Kids of all ages will find and learn something new each time they visit the whimsical Smith Children’s Garden. With weekly and monthly programs throughout season, you can guarantee that everyone in the family will be looking forward to their visit.
Family events in the Smith Children's Garden (included with regular garden admission) include Second Saturday Celebrations from 10:30am to 2:30pm. Each celebration has a special theme and activities.
To encourage participation in the drop-in W.O.N.D.E.R. program, kids can earn badges and other goodies when they complete activities and attend a W.O.N.D.E.R. program in the Garden. All participants will receive their very own W.O.N.D.E.R. kid membership card. W.O.N.D.E.R. activity packets can be downloaded ahead of time from the garden web site.
Wee W.O.N.D.E.R. classes for children between 3 and 5 meet once a month and offer a fun, hands-on way for young children and their caregivers to explore plants and the natural world while developing an understanding and appreciation for nature.
Be sure to bring your camera! There are many photo ops of the plants and flowers. In addition, the garden is the perfect backdrop for photos of your children and family.
The Naples Botanical Gardens is located at 4820 Bayshore Drive, Naples. 239-643-7275 / 877-433-1874.