Larissa G.
Yelp
While passing through the area my family and I figured this would be a nice spot to explore - and we were right. While I wouldn't have minded an additional label or two to help distinguish which plant was which in their little greenhouses, overall this place can be described as a small oasis for nature lovers.
As a garden and nature center, this place more or less met the definition of "a little bit of everything." A room down the hall from the entrance housed reptiles, for example - small snakes, cute turtles, etc. Outside alongside the different gardens and greenhouses, we found a variety of parrots, small birds, tortoises, and even a group of large, active iguanas. (You can also buy small bags of peanuts or popcorn to feed some of the adorable birds, which of course our party opted for.)
Inside the greenhouses were blooming orchids for the most part, although there were other flowers making appearances as well - presumably this lineup of greenery changes slightly throughout the year. In the gardens we found rose patch after rose patch, a small children's area, and even a fruit tree or two that staff allowed us to sample from (obviously I do NOT condone eating anything here unless the fruit is offered to you, as it was to us). Sadly we visited in February - too early for areas like the butterfly and hummingbird garden to welcome the animals they're named after - but we still enjoyed what we saw (and tasted!).
My only complaint, as I alluded to earlier, is that there weren't enough signs telling visitors which plants were which. Maybe it was just because things were in a transition period, which I know can happen, but it would have been nice to be able to identify more of the plants here. Roses and orchids are easy to recognize, but as a non-local you always want to know if you're seeing something unique to the area you're visiting or not. But nothing stopped me from enjoying the beautiful sights and smells and sounds during my visit, so the lack of consistent labeling was hardly a deal breaker during my visit. I'd consider stopping by again if I was in the area, particularly if it was a different time of the year - I'm sure there'd be much more in bloom for us to appreciate!
A recommendation to other visitors - wear appropriate footwear so that you can walk along the trails behind the gardens without any trouble. There are indeed trails and walkways that oversee a marshland, which is likely team with wildlife later in the year. Good shoes will go a long way if you want to do more than walk among the flowers during your visit!