Little paradises worth taking the time to discover
The first known Europeans to explore this part of the American continent were Spaniards led by Juan Ponce de León, who, on April 2, 1513, simply named it La Florida, marveling at the region’s abundant flora and in recognition of Easter (Pascua Florida).
A name that would most certainly predestine it to develop numerous tropical parks and botanical gardens open to the public, of which here are two of the most popular examples:
Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens – West Palm Beach
Ann Weaver Norton (1905–1982) is known both as a children’s book author and as a sculptor.
In her forties, still single and childless, she married Ralph Norton, who was 30 years her senior. He, a retired former president of Acme Steel and an art collector, was also the founder and owner of the Norton Gallery, where she taught. After becoming a widower, he proposed to Ann, promising to build her a studio in his garden, a 2.5-acre estate located in the beautiful historic residential neighborhood of El Cid, overlooking Lake Worth, at the corner of Flagler Drive and Barcelona Road.
Ann Norton is best known for her so-called “megaliths,” vertical structures made of brick or wood and handcrafted by the artist. More than a hundred of her works are on display not only in the gardens of West Palm Beach but also in other collections such as the Detroit Institute of Art, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the High Museum of Art, the Musée Rodin, and the Norton Museum of Art, which owns four of them.
Today, the gardens and the historic 1925 house are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The ground floor has been renovated to serve as a gallery for temporary art exhibitions. It also houses the ticket office and gift shop. Ticket prices: adults $15, seniors $10, children and students $7.
Over the years, Ann Norton (1905–1982) installed several of her creations in the gardens she designed, and visitors are always surprised to discover these monumental sculptures hidden among the few palm trees and numerous other trees. Visitors can see the “Seven Beings” carved from Norwegian pink granite, the monumental structure made of Mexican bricks, and “Gateway 5” crafted from North Carolina bricks—all handmade.
The gardens also feature another building housing an exhibition gallery and the artist’s studio. Earlier this year, the exhibition “Clay, Line, and Legacy” showcased Picasso’s ceramics.
Nature and plant lovers should know that the gardens surrounding the house—which feature several magnificent ponds and fountains—are home to 250 rare species of palm trees,
cycads, and unusual tropical plants, such as the Petticoat Palm, the Lipstick Palm, and the Old Man Palm, not to mention the orchid house filled with colorful flowers, and the butterfly and pollinator garden.
The Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens is located at 253 Barcelona Road – West Palm Beach
(561) 832-5328.
The site is open Wednesday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., October through June.
For more information about special events, concerts, and periodic lectures: www.ansg.org.
Everglades Wonder Gardens – Bonita Springs
The history of Everglades Wonder Gardens, which we look back on today with a certain nostalgia, dates back to the era of the old US Route 41, opened in 1926. Stretching over 3,200 km (2,000 miles), it was “THE” new route taken in winter by the snowbirds of the time, traveling from Michigan to the southern tip of Florida. As a result, numerous stops sprang up along this route, some featuring theme parks with specific themes based on the state they passed through. There were 31 such parks in 1946.
Only a few of these amusement parks survived, including the one owned by brothers Bill and Lester Piper. Founded in 1936, “The Reptile Gardens,” located along the brand-new “Tamiami Trail,” quickly took on the name “Everglades Wonder Gardens” to better reflect what was offered to visitors: both animal and botanical exhibits. Alligators, however, remained the main attraction, with slogans like “The Everglades in Captivity” or “The World’s Largest Collection of Florida Alligators,” which could be seen in a pit, piled one on top of the other.
Everglades Wonder Gardens remained in the Piper family’s ownership for three generations, until 2013, and subsequently underwent several phases of restructuring.
Today, it is operated by a nonprofit organization on city-owned land. In November 2025, the state awarded it a $1.3 million grant to rebuild an event space to replace the one damaged by the 2022 hurricane.
Still located on a stretch of “Old 41 Road,” this small 3.5-acre park is now designed to be more of a garden than a zoo.
Visitors will discover, as they follow paths lined with blooming orchids, a jungle of true, untamed beauty filled with colorful flowers, bromeliads, and numerous tree species where wild ibises and other birds live, as well as a large number of small animals. Visitors will also discover:
• Alligators, in a magnificent and healthy habitat, and a giant snake-necked turtle,
• Two magnificent flamingos, in a pond filled with water lilies and featuring a small waterfall,
• Caged parrots and macaws perched on roosts, and other exotic birds.
Not to mention the Old World-style wrought-iron and glass French verandas that usually house birds. One of them, however, is used to host special events.
Everglades Wonder Gardens is located at 27180 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs, FL.
Tel. 239-992-2591. Gift shop.
Tickets: $17 adults; $15 seniors; $12 children ages 3–12; free for children under 3.
Sources: www.floridarambler.com / www.wikipedia.org
