Go Where Things Grow for National Garden Month
Between pollen alerts and calendar pings, it’s easy to forget April is National Garden Month. Which is wild, considering half the state looks like a living screensaver right now. Bougainvillea’s popping, jasmine’s flirting with your senses, and your neighbor just installed a koi pond like it’s no big deal.
But don’t just rest on Florida’s wildlife laurels, because this email is your sign to go full bloom mode. Our state’s got some jaw-dropping gardens—equal parts peaceful retreat and social media bait. We’re diving (or frolicking?) into two stunners: one perched on a hilltop in Lake Wales, the other thriving in tropical Naples.
Florida’s in Bloom—Here’s Where to See It
Bok Tower Gardens | Lake Wales
Built in 1929 by Dutch immigrant and professional overachiever Edward Bok, this hilltop hideaway was Florida’s original “elevated” experience—literally. Sitting atop the state’s highest point (a lofty 298 feet above sea level), the 205-foot Singing Tower is a marble masterpiece with 57 bells that serenade 157 acres of gardens designed by landscape royalty Frederick Law Olmsted Jr.
What’s Blooming at Bok Tower this April:
- Free daily carillon concerts (yes, the bells actually sing)! at 1 and 3 pm
- Spring Plant Sale – April 12, 9am–4pm
- Earth Day Celebration & Remedy Tree concert – April 26, 10am–8pm
- Tours of El Retiro, a dreamy 1930s Mediterranean-style estate
- Pine Ridge Preserve hikes + pond peeping at Window by the Pond
Pro tip: Dogs are welcome, but must be well-mannered and on a short leash—just like your aunt’s boyfriend. Pup admission is $10.
Naples Botanical Garden | Naples
Not quite as old, but just as extra. Opened in 2009, this 170-acre tropical playground blends global garden flair with Florida conservation. We’re talking orchids, rainforests, coastal scrub, and even gopher tortoises minding their business in the swamp.
Naples Botanical Is Budding With Fun:
- Blooms & Brews – April 19, 6–9pm. Beer. Music. Sunset. Vibes.
- Frame & Flora – Now through May 26. Living art installations throughout the garden.
- Nature Play zones + W.O.N.D.E.R. educates and entertains the kids (and the kid in you)!
- 2,000+ orchids in the LaGrippe Orchid Garden. Not a typo.
Don’t skip the Burle Marx–designed Kapnick Brazilian Garden, home to the only permanent Burle Marx mosaic in the U.S. And if you’re hungry or just feel like buying a succulent-themed tea towel, the Fogg Café and Berger Shop have you covered.
Bring the Bloom Home
April’s your cue to dig in! Plant something, trim something, or finally admit that dead fern’s not coming back. A few native blooms and a little mulch can go a long way for your mood (and curb appeal).
Find local garden centers and landscaping pros at www.guidetoflorida.com/home-garden, or explore even more gardens and floral events at www.guidetoflorida.com/botanical-gardens.
