Marie Selby Botanical Garden, Sarasota, is probably best known for its living collection of more than 6,000 orchids. The nine-and-a-half acre bayfront property is an open-air and under-glass museum of more than 20,000 colorful plants, many collected in the wild on more than 150 scientific expeditions to tropical rain forests by Selby Gardens research staff. Seven greenhouses are the heart of botanical research and plant identification, for which Selby Gardens is internationally recognized.

Throughout the grounds of the historic Selby estate are many distinct garden areas, including the Tropical Display House with its lush rain forest atmosphere, the towering Bamboo Pavilion, Banyan Grove, Cactus, and Succulent Garden, and Cycad Collection. Also on the grounds is the former Christy Payne Mansion, a unique example of eclectic Southern Colonial architecture. The Mansion, on the National Register of Historic Places, is the home to ever-changing botanical art and photography exhibits.
941-366-5731 | www.selby.org

The Florida Botanical Gardens, Largo, are home to a wide variety of plants from throughout the world, on display in a spacious and tropical 90-acre setting.

One of the longest-established collections of plants at the gardens are the native plants. The gardens mature specimens that include some of Florida's best, yet least-known trees and perennials, which can always be found with their attendant butterflies, birds, and other critters.

For a unique experience, the Tropical Fruit Garden showcases a fascinating collection of edible plants from around the world. Here visitors will discover mango, papaya, and passion fruit, learn just how a pineapple grows, and stand amongst the towering stems of more than a dozen different varieties of banana.
727-582-2100 | www.flbg.org

Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, Naples is much more than an award-winning zoo! In addition to its subtropical surroundings, this historical botanical collection, which began in 1919, is highlighted with native and exotic flora.
Visitors to the gardens will experience first hand a giant bunya bunya tree from Australia which towers over alligators. And, a saw palmetto big enough to have been growing before Europeans even knew Florida existed.
Twenty to 30 minute tours of select trees and plants is available seven days a week at no additional cost. In addition to tours given by the Collier County Extension's Master Gardeners, guests are sometimes treated to a personal tour by the zoo's botanist, Dr. Jan Abernathie who first cultivated plants on the site nearly 50 years ago.
239-262-5409 | www.napleszoo.org

McKee Botanical Gardens, Vero Beach, is highlighted with a brilliant historical past. Perhaps most popular for its 18-acre subtropical jungle hammock, the gardens are a delightful break from the hustle and bustle of larger cities found nearby.

Recently, dinosaurs have invaded the gardens! Thirty life-sized dinosaurs were brought to the garden by artist Guy Darrough and scattered throughout. The exhibit, which has been a huge success, brought more people to the garden than ever before. With events and activities to coincide with the exhibit, the dinosaurs add a wonderful addition to the garden.
772-794-0601 | www.mckeegarden.org

Mounts Botanical Garden, West Palm Beach, is Palm Beach County's oldest and largest public garden. Representing six continents throughout this majestic 14-acre garden, visitors can experience temperate North American trees to the rarest of tropical fruits, Florida natives to edible landscapes, and aquatics to arid-land plants.

As a component of the Palm Beach County Cooperative Extension Service, and through its affiliation with the University of Florida, Mounts is the place to connect with Extension Horticulturists, Master Gardeners, the Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Program, and professional horticultural advisors. Through Mounts classes and workshops, visitors may access the best available talent to help them appreciate and enjoy South Florida.
561-233-1749 | www.mounts.org

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Coral Gables, is one of the world's preeminent botanic gardens, with extensive collections of rare tropical plants.

Established in 1938, the gardens are home to many exotic plants, palms, cycads, flowering trees, vines, and fruit trees and with the exception of certain cultivated plants and critically endangered species, most of the plants are collected from the wild.

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden houses the National Palm Collection as recognized by the American Public Gardens Association (APGA), has the world's greatest living collection of palms; hosts popular events like the International Mango and Orchid Festivals, the Ramble, concerts, affiliated plant society shows, and local sales.
In addition to the garden's extensive plant collection, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is renowned for its artist series. On display through May 31, 2008, one of the world's most iconic Pop artists, Roy Lichtenstein, will display his sculptures, ranging from eight to 30 feet high, throughout the park.
305-667-1651 | www.fairchildgarden.org

Harry P. Leu Botanical Gardens, Orlando, provides visitors with a refreshing break from the hectic pace found in other Central Florida attractions. As guests stroll through the various garden areas including a butterfly, rose and shade garden, they are awakened with sights, sounds, and scents that are only found here.
A highlight of the walk is Leu Garden's Camellia Collection, one of the largest outdoor collections of its kind in the United States.

For those with a passion for roses, more than 1,000 varieties are on display and bloom year round.
407-246-2620 | www.leugardens.org

Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, Gainesville, is a 62-acre facility developed and operated by the North Florida Botanical Society, a non-profit educational organization. The gardens are comprised of 14 major collections visually accessible from a one-and-a-half mile paved walkway. These include the state's largest public display of bamboo and the largest herb garden in the Southeast. Some of Kanapaha's gardens are organized taxonomically; others demonstrate principles of ecology or natural selection. Kanapaha's signature plants include a premier stand of Chinese royal bamboo (Wong Chuk), and during the warm months giant Victoria water lilies and Asian snake arums. The months offering the most color are June through September.
352-372-4981 | www.kanapaha.org