Heathcote Botanical Gardens
Heathcote Botanical Gardens is a five-acre subtropical botanical garden located at 210 Savannah Road, Fort Pierce, Florida, United States. Heathcote is a non-profit, 501 (C)3 educational foundation dedicated to inspiring a lasting connection with nature. Its vision is to ensure that every visitor leaves connected to the inspiring beauty of nature and its generational value. Heathcote fulfills this vision through dynamic educational programs and strategic partnerships with local garden clubs, nurseries, organizations, and the USDA, which conducts research on-site.
It began in 1960 as the commercial nursery of landscape architect Molly Crimmons and her husband, Jim.
Heathcote Botanical Gardens was established in 1986 when the site was purchased by local citizens with contributions from the City of Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, the State of Florida and Friends of Heaththcote Botanical Gardens.[1] It's current director is Vicki Hoyos of Ft. Pierce.
About
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It currently includes a Japanese garden with teahouse, Reflection Garden, Herb Garden, Rainforest Display, Native Plants Garden, Children's Garden, and a Palm and Cycad Walk.
Other garden plants include: bamboo, a banyan tree, bromeliads, Clerodendrums, Clusia rosea, Coccoloba uvifera, Codiaeum sp., crotons, Encephalartos gratus, orchids, Pandanus utilis, Petrea volubilis, philodendrons, pineapple, Podocarpus gracilior, Tillandsias, and Zamia pumila.
The Garden of Lights is a major fundraiser that sees the entire garden decorated with hundreds of thousands of tiny Christmas lights. It draws more than 10,000 people each year during weekend evenings leading up to Christmas.[2]
The Adams/Peterson Pioneer house is a replica of an 1870 "Cracker"- style home that shows what it was like to live in Old Florida.[3]
James J. Smith Bonsai Gallery
[edit]Heathcote is most well known for being the home of the James J. Smith Bonsai Collection, the largest public display of bonsai in the country.[4] The collection has more bonsai on year-round display than any other public exhibit in the United States. Although there are 26 species represented in the collection, almost half the trees are species of ficus. The more than 100 specimen bonsai range from a huge buttonwood, estimated to be 200 years old, to a magnificent, twin-trunk Jaboticaba, originally styled by John Naka in 1973.
James J. Smith was an internationally recognized authority on bonsai who operated a wholesale bonsai nursery in Vero Beach, FL.[5] He learned from some of the most famous bonsai masters in the world including John Naka and Toshio Saburomaru. For decades, Smith conducted a free monthly workshop at his Durastone Nursery on Old Dixie Highway. He was mentor to several generations of Florida bonsai artists. His bonsai are in numerous important collections around the world, and numerous books picture his trees and discuss his work.
When he was in his 80s, he agreed to give most of his private collection to Heathcote if it could develop a suitable display area. Heathcote conducted a major fundraising campaign and developed a plan for a 10,000-square-foot garden complete with stone stands and a Japanese-influenced pavilion that is a favorite scene for weddings and garden parties.[6] Smith died in 2016.[7] The current curator is Tom Kehoe of Palm Bay, FL, who studied with Smith for 25 years.
Explore & More
[edit]Heathcote Botanical Gardens offers a variety of educational programs for children ages 5–12, designed to foster curiosity and connect young learners with the natural world. Explore & More is available for school field trips, homeschool groups, and other educational excursions. During the summer months, the program is open to families on Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with a new theme and activity packet provided each week. Topics can include Garden Guru, Mind Your Surroundings, Let’s Keep Bee-sy with the Orchid Bee, Pioneer Days, Oh My Bonsai!, Sticks & Stones, Insects, Butterflies & Critters, and Nature Journaling.
Garden Workshops
[edit]In addition to children’s programming and bonsai education, the Gardens also hosts a variety of horticultural workshops for adults. Topics include orchid care, home gardening, pest management, and other practical and seasonal subjects, offering opportunities for gardeners of all experience levels to learn and grow.
Rooted in Nature
[edit]Rooted in Nature is a wellness-focused series that connects participants with the therapeutic benefits of time spent outdoors. These programs are designed to support mental health and well-being through guided experiences that deepen one’s connection to nature and self.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Our History". Heathcote Botanical Gardens. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
- ^ "Garden of Lights 2019". Heathcote Botanical Gardens. October 16, 2018. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
- ^ "Heathcote Botanical Gardens | American Public Gardens Association". www.publicgardens.org. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
- ^ "The Largest, Public, Tropical Bonsai Collection in North America, part one". Adam's Art and Bonsai Blog. May 12, 2016. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
- ^ "The Art of Bonsai Project - Feature Gallery: The Bonsai of Jim Smith". www.artofbonsai.org. Archived from the original on December 16, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
- ^ "Bonsai Garden's Grand Opening \" (PDF). Bonsai Societies of Florida. March 2011.
- ^ "In Memory of a Special Bonsai Artist". www.bonsaimary.com. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
External links
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- Official website
- Virtual tour of Heathcote Botanical Gardens Archived 2022-10-02 at the Wayback Machine
27°25′5.8″N 80°19′26.4″W / 27.418278°N 80.324000°W
Bonsai Around The World: The James J. Smith Bonsai Gallery in Ft. Pierce, Florida