Mounts Botanical Garden In West Palm Beach

One of our favorite weekday getaways is Mounts Botanical Garden in West Palm Beach, Florida. When our schedules are frenzied and we are in need of some quiet reflection, we head over to this picturesque fourteen acre garden setting. Each time we go, the place changes in flowers, plants and pathways; it seems like a whole new experience.

Mounts has a variety of arbors leading to gardens such as the butterfly, vegetable and herb. Each section has unique foliage and trees not often seen in other parts of the nation. The Florida climate is conducive to tropical and subtropical plants friendly only to the soil and sun of this area. The garden also displays fruit trees, herbs and palms of a unique nature and easily grown in the sandy soil of Florida.

My favorite section of Mounts is the Tropical Forest which gives one the feeling they have entered into another time and era. I find myself thinking of the shire from the Lord Of The Rings. The tall trees have vines wrapped around them, which cascade downwards interrupting your walk as you brush by them in the breezy shade. I can almost sense these tall sentries watching me as I find my way along the winding path. There are a wooden benches set into small nooks beside the way which are perfect for sitting to gaze upwards into the trees, or perhaps to catch a glimpse of a small wood elf scurrying along the ground layers of heavy foilage.

This garden attracts over a dozen types of butterflies at any given time. While we strolled, a monarch floated in and out among the flowers as we walked the path. I mentioned to my husband how I felt as if I were walking in a fairy garden. The delicate flowers, the lacy leaves, the graveled pathway and foot bridge give one the feeling of being in a magical world.

The wooden bridge leading into the butterfly section is surrounded by lily pads and rock gardens making your adventure across interesting. The bubbling stream sings cheerfully as you view the floral arrangements tucked in and around the edge of the water. This is truly a place for children to enjoy and to imagine the dance of fairies among the flowers.

Coming back to reality, the garden is composed of plants which supply nectar to butterflies and others that act as hosts to the larvae. The water supply is ample for these beautiful creatures and they have plenty of area to roost at night without distraction.

Many Floridians enjoy gardening and the beauty of it is that they can do this almost all year round. The climate offers suitable weather for growing and harvesting vegetables during the winter through spring months. With the turn in economic growth, gardening provides families with much needed organic food and nutrition at a low cost. Mounts offers their expertise to the community on the specifics of planting vegetable, fruit and citrus trees in this tropical region.

The vegetable garden in this section of the layout demonstrates what will grow in south Florida and contains various herbs, fruits and edible flowers. In the video above you can catch a small glimpse of the garden and you can see that is well maintained and the plants are quite healthy.

One of the most fascinating stops on this tour is the garden maze. It is reminiscent of the English garden maze design. The tall hedges give one the feeling of being wrapped in lanes of greenery open to the exploration and imagination of your mind.

Wikipedia defines a maze as a tour puzzle in the form of a complex branching passage through which the solver must find a route. This would indeed describe the maze created here in this garden. Due to the tropical climate, the maze is available all year long.

It is used as a game activity during the Fall season holiday events. Visitors may find some interesting creatures within the corners and branches of the pathway. If you decide to enter this puzzle, don't worry about getting lost. It is easy to navigate while walking within the green walls because all paths lead inward but they also have gaps where you can see the outer walls and entrance. At the center of the maze is an open area where one can relax before finding their way out. Watch my video to see how easy you can get turned around in the maze!

Mounts Botanical Garden is open all year around, except on Palm Beach County holidays. Hours are from 8 am to 4 pm, Monday through Saturday; and Sundays from noon to 4 pm. There is a suggested donation of $5 at the entrance. This funds are used to maintain the gardens and to help provide classes, lectures and workshops to the public on gardening.

They do have a website that provides information on events, gardening tips, and general questions a visitor may have about the garden. A great feature is the "Ask a Master Gardener" which provides information on how to grow a garden, and answers questions a person may have on flowers and gardening, and problems they encounter regarding the cultivation of plants and vegetation.