Cultivated from a temperate and subtropical landscape of scrub, pines and palms, Florida’s gardens are sanctuaries of color and tranquility. Some are formal, others more natural. Several offer a historic peek into the past, while a number house botanical collections overseen by a staff of research scientists.
No matter the type, all have the power to calm and refresh—a quality planners might want to include somewhere among the seminars and sessions of an intensive meeting agenda.
“Gardens have that capability of being serene. They slow down the pace,” says Tracy Micciche, event manager at Harry P. Leu Gardens in Orlando, one of many such places in the Sunshine State offering space to not only tiptoe through the tulips, but to gather for breakout sessions and evening receptions as well.
Following are 12 garden options, north to south, for groups meeting in Florida.
Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park, Tallahassee
www.floridastateparks.org/maclaygardens
A brick walkway winds through hundreds of camellias and azaleas in this masterpiece of floral architecture, first planted in 1923, which also features a walled garden, a secret garden, a reflection pool and nearby Lake Hall.
Event facilities include a charming Gardener’s Cottage, which can host about 57, as well as outdoor covered pavilions and an outdoor reception area accommodating up to 250.
“We do a lot of meetings there during the week,” says Carolyn Langston, owner of Fairytales Weddings & Special Events Services, the park’s concessionaire. “It’s a nice area because they can have their meeting and go walk through the gardens. Companies also love to hold retreats here.”
Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, Gainesville
www.kanapaha.org
Botanically speaking, Kanapaha is flush with exotics, including the state’s largest public display of bamboos, giant Victoria water lilies and Asian snake arums. The 62-acre park also houses a variety of individual gardens, including the largest herb garden in the Southeast and gardens devoted to palms, roses, ferns and hummingbirds.
Kanapaha hosts corporate groups in its visitor center and the two-room Summer House, while outdoor venues include a gazebo, a bamboo garden and the Balenoff Lawn.
Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando
www.leugardens.org
Set minutes away from the downtown hub, this 50-acre oasis blooms year-round with tropical philodendrons, bromeliads, vines and azaleas as visitors stroll beneath towering camphor trees, elms and oak trees to view annual flowers and other colorful blooms.
Groups gather for breakout sessions or dinners in the Garden House, which can host up to 180 banquet style in its largest room. Attendees are given maps to explore on their own, while classes ranging from gardening and landscaping to cooking and art enhance events.
“It all depends on the size of the group,” says Tracy Micciche, the property’s event manager. “Last night we had a cooking class making soups out in the garden.”
Sunken Gardens, St. Petersburg
www.stpete.org/sunken
Nestled in a sinkhole right outside downtown St. Petersburg, Sunken Gardens started life as a tropical fruit garden in 1903 and today is a kind of botanical museum, housing some of the oldest tropical plants in the region.
“We have the oldest royal palms in Pinellas County,” says Sarah Carvalis, the garden’s marketing and public relations coordinator. “We’re a tropical garden in a subtropical climate.”
Garden views provide the backdrop to meetings of up to 175 in the 2,600-square-foot Garden Room while a smaller classroom can seat up to 35.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Sarasota
www.selby.org
Thousands of plants—many collected by research staff on rainforest exhibitions—are on display at Selby Gardens, featuring towering bamboo and banyan groves, a cactus and succulent garden, a bonsai garden, a tropical hardwood hammock, a collection of native Florida plants and the garden’s showpiece: 6,000 orchids.
“All who meet here have access to the gardens,” notes Barbara Kaminsky-Stern, executive assistant, pointing to the park’s range of rentable facilities, including the historic Christy Payne Mansion and a Great Room overlooking Sarasota Bay. “We have some beautiful areas that get people out of that office mindset,” she adds.
McKee Botanical Garden, Vero Beach
www.mckeegarden.org
Once an 80-acre tropical hammock along the Indian River in Vero Beach, the former McKee Jungle Gardens is now the 18-acre McKee Botanical Garden, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and still home to a subtropical jungle hammock filled with a dense and diverse collection of plants, including delicate lotus flowers.
“The setting itself is what makes us unique,” says Kelly Susino, marketing and events manager. “We have panoramic windows in our education center that offer an amazing view of the gardens. It’s such a beautiful and tranquil scene.”
In addition to the 1,074-square-foot education center, which can seat 75 theater style, McKee’s visually striking Hall of Giants can host 125 theater style or 100 banquet style.
Heathcote Botanical Gardens, Fort Pierce
www.heathcotebotanicalgardens.org
A variety of specialty areas—including a Japanese garden, a reflection garden, a rainforest display and a prized bonsai gallery—distinguish Heathcote Botanical Gardens, set near the Intracoastal Waterway in Fort Pierce, south of Vero Beach.
“It’s a very serene place,” says Cynthia Warren, the property’s director. “We also have a community garden that feeds local families.”
Group venues at Heathcote include a covered pavilion, an outdoor patio and garden space for up to 200.
Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, Delray Beach
www.morikami.org
Morikami’s 200 carefully cultivated acres lead visitors through six distinct gardens, each inspired by different historical periods and methods of Japanese gardening. The Shinden-style garden, for example, dates back to the ninth century, while the Modern Romantic Garden reflects influences from the early 20th century.
“We have one of the largest Japanese gardens outside of Japan,” says Kizzy Sanchez Sherven, director of marketing and events. “It’s a beautiful setting for corporate functions and a rare opportunity to get an authentic Japanese cultural experience in South Florida.”
Event space includes terraces, portions of the garden and the museum lobby and theater, while the onsite restaurant—serving a Pan-Asian menu—is available for catering.
Pinecrest Gardens, Miami
www.pinecrest-fl.gov
Miami’s Pinecrest Gardens features over 1,000 varieties of rare tropical plants and palm trees in a native hardwood and cypress setting. Definitely bring the camera, but bring the powerpoint as well because Pinecrest offers a number of meeting venues, including the 530-seat Banyan Bowl and the more intimate Hibiscus Room, as well as a large lawn area that can be tented.
“Our flexibility for corporate situations is terrific,” says Alana Perez, Pinecrest’s director.
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Coral Gables
www.fairchildgarden.org
A Greater Miami oasis, Fairchild showcases rare tropical plants, including palms, cycads, flowering trees and shrubs, vines and fruit trees, with rainforest and Caribbean-inspired environments also highlighted. Fairchild’s many events are legendary among local visitors, including the popular International Mango Festival and a variety of plant shows and sales.
Meanwhile, one of the park’s most popular event venues is the Bailey Palm Glade, featuring a coral rock grotto and lily pond. Events are also held at the Garden House and the visitor center ballroom.
Naples Botanical Garden
www.naplesgarden.org
Set on Florida’s southwest coast, this 170-acre sanctuary spotlights a specific band of tropical and subtropical flora between the latitudes of 26 degrees north and 26 degrees south, including Brazil, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia and Florida, all featured in their own garden areas. A 90-acre nature preserve, a children’s garden and a butterfly garden are also part of the experience here.
For groups, an outdoor event plaza can host up to 1,000 while individual gardens. many with enclosed structures, also are open for private functions.
Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden
www.kwbgs.org
Touted as the only “frost-free” botanical garden in the continental U.S., this 11-acre retreat is home to two of the last remaining freshwater ponds in the Keys and is also a stop for migrating birds from as far away as South America. In addition to its collection of trees, shrubs and palms, the garden includes a one-acre butterfly habitat, which is available for group events.
“We also have a courtyard with a stage and waterfall as well as a nature chapel with a patio that’s perfect for group receptions,” says Misha McRAE, the garden’s general manager.
