North Carolina Botanical Gardens

North Carolina Botanical Gardens are located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and are part of the University of North Carolina.  They were begun in 1903 and have grown over the years.  Today, they cover 700 acres.  The purpose of the garden is to research, catalog, and promote native plants of North Carolina.  There are 14 display gardens, including carnivorous plants, a fern collection, water garden, and mountain habitat.

  

The gardens are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Saturday from 9:00 - 5:00, and Sunday from 1:00 - 5:00.  Admission is free.

Tryon Palace Gardens

Located in New Bern, North Carolina, the Tryon Palace gardens surround the Governor's Palace and cover 14 acres.  They were designed by landscape architect, Morley Jeffers Williams in the 1950s, and are in the style of formal 18th century European gardens.

Formal box shrubs line red brick paths.  Seasonal flowers add color within the geometric shapes of the shrubs. In the spring, visitors will see daffodils and tulips, in the summer, marigolds and celosia, and in the fall, mums.

Tours of the Governor's Palace and the Dixon and Stanly houses which are on the property are also available.  Visitors can expect to see tour guides dressed in period clothing of the late 1700s as the history of the area is explained.

  
The gardens are open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Sunday from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM.  Admission is $12.00 for adults and $6.00 for children.

Caribbean Gardens

The Caribbean Gardens are located in Naples, Florida as part of the Naples Botanical Garden complex.  They are one of the oldest tropical gardens in the United States.  They cover 52 acres and features a mile-long path of tropical plants and trees.    The purpose of the garden is to recreate a Caribbean island paradise. 

The gardens are open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily.  Admission is $12.95 for adults and $7.95 for children.