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Naples’ Eden
Take a morning out of your activity-filled vacation and meet up with Mother Nature. By Jeffrey Laign
J. Kevin Foltz
With 170 acres of cultivated gardens and restored preserve, Naples Botanical Garden features more than 1,000 native plant species and collections from tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Journey to a Javanese temple ruin and admire collections of bamboo, lotus flowers and fruit trees in the Lea Asian Garden. The Kapnick Brazilian Garden showcases rare palms, aroids and bromeliads; and the LaGrippe Orchid Garden boasts colorful, fragrant species and cultivars from around the globe. Environmentalists at Naples Botanical Garden are collaborating with Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
to protect populations of the native thatch palm, under threat from saltwater intrusion, a result of rising sea levels. New in 2021 is STICKWORK in the Kapnick Caribbean Garden by renowned sculptor and environmental architect Patrick Dougherty. This structure is composed of 30,000 pounds of entwined willow! There’s something for the whole family to enjoy, with in-person programming while exploring the garden and online resources to view before or after your visit. For more information and to plan your visit, go to www.naplesgarden.org. W W W. N A P L E S G R A N D E .CO M
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