We arrived at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens when they opened at 9 am to take a morning walk through 68 acres of beautifully landscaped botanical gardens. Kanapaha Botanical Gardens is one of Gainesville’s most popular attractions and it has eluded me all these years, so I am glad I finally got a chance to visit. Kanapaha (pronounced Ka-nap-ah-ha) takes its name from the nearby Lake Kanapaha. The word Kanapaha is taken from two Timucua Indian words “palmetto leaf” and “house.”
As you enter the Summer House, the gardens are split into two sections. The East Gardens is on the right and consists of a 1-mile circular trail, and the Water Gardens is on the left which takes visitors around a small lake and waterway and includes a few waterfalls. That is where we started.
The warmer summer months are the season for Kanapaha’s famous giant Victorian Water Lilies, the biggest variety in the world. A few were still lingering around during our October visit. Their leaves are 6 feet or more in diameter. Because their round leaves have upturned margins, they are sometimes called water platters. Although I am not sure if I would try it, these water lilies are strong enough to support the weight of a small child. Kanapaha holds a new world record for the size of these saucers.
Oriental Garden
We wandered the shores of the water garden, in the hopes that if we followed the soothing sounds of water, we would see where the water fell over the rocks in the Oriental Gardens. As we crossed the small footbridge over the stream, we found not one but two waterfalls in the area.
Azalea Camilia Garden
In the cooler months, the camellias light up the garden with color. As spring arrives it’s the azaleas that take over.
Butterfly Garden
The colorful Butterfly Garden was an opportunity to capture photos of these fleeting creatures. Most of the plants in this garden produce flowers that attract butterflies. They are especially attracted to plants with clusters of large tube flowers, like Lantana and Pentas.
Children’s Garden
By now, the youngsters may be getting restless, and you are going to need to find someplace pretty quick for them to blow off some steam. The Children’s Garden is the place to go for the young, and the young at heart. They have a giant chess set that is popular with both children and adults.
Don’t get lost when you wander through the winding pathways of the plant maze. At the magical water garden, you can feed the giant Koi fish.
The East Garden
The one-mile paved pathway passage will lead you through trellises covered with thriving greenery.
Beautiful sculptures surprise you in different areas of the gardens.
The Ginger Garden
The Ginger Garden is where you will see the brilliant red pine cone ginger. The clear, fragrant liquid from the cone can be used as a hair-cleansing shampoo and as an ingredient in lotions, shampoos, and cosmetics.
Kanapaha has 24 major plant collections situated along two loops of well-marked walkways. The gardens offer the most color during the summer months. As you walk through the paved pathway, you will enter into different lands which include the largest public display of bamboo in Florida, and the largest Herb Garden in the Southeastern United States.
The Bamboo Garden
As you walk through the towering grasses, you might think you were in the Orient instead of Gainesville, Florida. Listen to the whistling wind create an amazingly peaceful sound. Kanapaha has several varieties of bamboo along the pathways that can grow to 50 feet tall.
What to take home some bamboo? Every winter, Kanapaha holds an Annual Winter Bamboo Sale.
Hiding on the shaded forest floor among the bamboo lies a moss-covered Buddha. In Japan, Buddhas are often situated near bamboo groves, which are viewed as a clever means of warding off evil, while bamboo is seen as a symbol of strength. It’s said that you will receive good luck if you put coins on the Buddha’s feet.
Gazebos along the trail in the gardens give visitors a chance to rest their feet and relax from Florida’s unannounced rain storms and extreme sunshine. This is also a good place to spread out a picnic and stay awhile.
We came back to reality as we took the last turn through the Palm Hammock. Yes, the palms reminded us that we were still in Florida. Kanapaha Botanical Gardens was a great way to spend the morning.
The gardens have special events and sales throughout the year. Check the Kanapaha website at the link below for dates and times.
Kanapaha Botanical Gardens: 4700 SW 58th Dr, Gainesville, FL
Florida Botanical Gardens
As I walk the paths at Kanapaha, I am starting to realize that I am finding myself more and more surrounded by flowers and waterfalls and writing about a botanical garden somewhere in Florida. It must be because some of the most beautiful gardens in the world are located right here in the Sunshine State. Each one I have visited has unique features that make it special. I feel a sense of relaxation when I visit and want to photograph all the spectacular scenery. Here are a few of my favorites.
