Sunday, December 21, 2014

McKee Botanical Gardens


Located in Vero Beach, Florida, the McKee Botanical Gardens are 18 acres of tropical gardens along the Indian River.  They were begun in 1929, when landscape architect, William Lyman Phillips, designed the basic infrastructure of streams, ponds, and trails. Native vegetation and ornamental plants were added with the goal of establishing an impressive collection of water lilies and orchids.



It flourished throughout the 1940s, but by the 1970s, competition from other Florida attractions caused it to close its doors.  Sixty of the original acres were sold.  The remaining acres sat vacant for twenty years. Then in 1994, the Indian River Land Trust purchased the property and restored the garden.  It was reopened in 2001.  There are now several buildings on the property, including a gift shop, education center, and restaurant.


The gardens are open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Sunday noon to 5:00 PM.  Admission for adults is $10.00, and for children, $8.00.

15 comments:

  1. That's nice someone purchased it and reopened the gardens.

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    1. It would have been a shame if this had all gone to waste.

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  2. always appreciate a visit from you. merry christmas.

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  3. glad it was restored. Merry Christmas and Happy Gardening for 2015

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  4. Hi Sherry - I'm so glad some of the land was rescued and restored .. and now helps learning ... looks beautiful too .. cheers Hilary

    PS!! Happy Christmas and New Year ..

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  5. Hi human, Sherry,

    It's heartening to know that the land was restored to such beauty. A balance of nature within the beautiful gardens.

    Have a peaceful Christmas, dear human.

    Pawsitive wishes,

    Penny :)

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  6. Competition caused it to close its doors... Money, money, money... Good thing it's reopened. It would've been such a waste.

    Merry X-mas :)

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    Replies
    1. I agree. Beautiful places like this shouldn't have to close because of money issues.

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