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Proceed along “Steve's Walk” to “General’s Island” and meet our permanent visitor from Xian, China. Continue to walk west toward the sound of Tibetan chimes, passing "Evelyn's Cat Tree" and continue on to the “Kitchen Garden,” located on the shore of the Indian River Lagoon. Wander the paths through the “Kitchen Garden” and proceed directly south along “River Walk”, crossing the southern lawn to a path which leads you to “Panther’s Lair” walkway and island. View the large lagoon - home to crabs, fish, shrimp, turtles, and other creatures indigenous to our area. And – if you are very quiet – you will have an opportunity to watch wading birds, e.g. herons, egrets, and wood storks quietly feeding in the shallows of the lagoon. Perhaps you’ll even witness osprey, cormorants and/or pelicans diving from high above you in search of their dinners. Return to the southern lawn and proceed along the east side of the lawn to “Topiary Point” and the lake terrace with its herb garden pots. The drive court where the tour started is a short walk away via a paver path through the potting/growing area used for propagation of some of the plants just seen. As you wander through our gardens avail yourselves of the many opportunities to sit for a moment. Listen to the soft sounds of the stream – enjoy the flowers, butterflies, birds, fish and animals that inhabit the mangroves. For it is our hope that our gardens will demonstrate to all who come that mankind and mangroves are not mutually exclusive but can co-exist and flourish. In this area the mangrove fringes and their tidal lakes provide a place for all marine life to begin – a nursery for the oceans’ bounty. Their dense growth provides nesting places for a vast assortment of wildlife – herons, egrets, wood storks, cormorants, osprey, bald eagles, swamp mice and rabbits, bobcats and, yes, even the endangered Florida Panther. Take away with you the thought that with careful planning this precious ecosystem, so important to our rivers and oceans, can and should be preserved not for just the present, not for our children, nor for our grandchildren, but for all time. If each of us does something now to preserve the mangrove fringe and their tidal lakes, we will leave behind the gift of life – life in, on and around the rivers and oceans of our world. -Carolyn L. Stutt |
Located on the Indian River Lagoon, our garden encompasses mangroves,
wetlands, lagoons, spoil islands, and upland grounds accessible
by a series of walkways, bridges and paths. Enter the mangroves
from the drive court and be greeted by the soft gurgling of the
freshwater stream as it trips on its way through a mini-rainforest.
Follow the forest paths north to “Serenity Island” and
stop for a visit in the “Thai Orchid House."
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