Did you know there is a secret garden in St. Pete Florida? Hidden among the hustle and bustle of 4th Street North if you blink you may miss it. Florida is filled with so much scenic greenery everywhere you look that you might mistake the lush gates as simply another entrance to a condo or a business. But no, my friends, what we have waiting for us behind that fence is the brilliant and magical world of the Sunken Gardens. There’s nothing better than finding a peaceful garden in Florida to relax in the middle of a busy city. Sunken Gardens is a hidden gem in St. Petersburg with a lot of history. Check out all this gorgeous botanical paradise has to offer:
This beautiful oasis hiding in the middle of St. Petersburg is more than 100 years old.
Be prepared to immediately be blown away as you step into this enchanting garden. The lush green and exotic variety of plants makes this a must-see attraction in St. Pete. It is almost hard to believe something like this exists because it is tucked away on a busy street that you might not notice if you were not intentionally looking for it. However, those who seek out to find this hidden spot are certainly in for quite a treat.
Here you can wander paths through lush landscapes, full of exotic plants and water features.
Around every corner, flowery life can be found thriving in this garden. Make sure to bring a camera and capture the beauty from the overhanging palm trees to the fluttering butterflies. The whole garden is certainly a feast for your eyes.
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The gardens began in 1911 and became a tourist attraction in the early years of the 1930s, making this one of the oldest roadside stops in the country.
The founder was a plumber and gardener named George Turner, who actually drained a lake to plant the garden on the fertile lake bottom, which is why they're called the Sunken Gardens. Mr. Turner loved gardening so much that he just started making these beautiful arrangements of clay tiles and his neighbors loved walking through the garden so much that he decided to make it a tourist attraction and open it up to the public in the 30s.
Here you'll find over 50,000 plants, including exotic species from around the globe. Features include a koi pond, a Meditation patio, and even a waterfall just to name a few.
Fauna in the gardens includes Chilean flamingos, a tortoise, macaws, and koi. The 4-acre gardens are the perfect size for a short visit or a leisurely stay as you casually stroll through the gardens. We particularly love the flamingos and could sit and watch these majestic birds for hours.
This hidden gem tucked away right off of a busy road is one attraction you won’t want to miss. Walking among the beauty and relaxing in a stunning garden can be a great way to get away from it all while still being close to everything in St. Pete. For a list of upcoming events and more please visit the Sunken Garden website. Have you ever visited this Florida secret garden before? What’s your favorite garden in Florida? let us know in the comments below.
Looking for an epic St.Petersburg getaway? Book a stay at the Don CeSar, which is the iconic pink hotel right on the beach. Here is a little local secret if you follow the St. Pete Beach to the left of the hotel you will end up at Pass-A-Grille. It is the same beach but typically has way fewer people.
Sunken Gardens is located at 1825 4th St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33704.
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