Barton Warnock Center

Today's garden spot is a little bit different from the lush, tropical gardens of Florida that I've been sharing.  Barton Warnock Center, in Lajitas, Texas, serves as the eastern gateway to the Big Bend Ranch State Park.  Set against a stark, southwestern backdrop, it covers two acres, and is filled with plants of the Chihauhaun Desert.  These include native cacti, desert shrubs, and trees.

On the self-guided tour, visitors will learn how geology shaped the cultural heritage of the area - how plants, animals, and humans adapted to the harsh conditions of the desert, and how the plants were used for food, shelter, and medicine by the early inhabitants.

The Center is open daily from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.  Admission for adults is $5.00.  Children under twelve are admitted free.

Antique Rose Emporium

The Antique Rose Emporium, located in Brenham, Texas, is a great place to visit if you like roses.  The Emporium is the display gardens of a retail nursery that specializes in old roses.  It features a Victorian home with plenty of rose gardens, a cottage garden, an herb garden, a cactus garden, lovely ponds, and a tribute to Queen Mary's garden in London.

The gardens are open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and on Sundays from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM.  Admission is free, and of course there are roses for sale that you can purchase and take home to create your own rose garden.

Naples Botanical Garden

Naples Botanical Garden is located in Naples, Florida.  Believe it or not, this 170 acre site once used to be a strip mall.  In 1993, eight Naples residents with a dream of creating a world class botanical garden, transformed it into seventy acres of beautiful tropical gardens.  These include a Children's Garden, Brazilian Garden, Caribbean Garden, Florida Garden, and Asian Garden.

There are also 90 acres of beautifully restored natural habitat.  Visitors will enjoy orchids, palm trees, and fruit trees, along with two lakes and a large wetland.

The gardens are open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.  Admission is $14.95 for adults and $9.95 for children.