Naples Botanical Garden ~ Wednesday

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park beach? Miniature golf at Coral Cay Adventure Golf in Naples, 10a-11p (30-60 min)?   Lunch at Mel’s Diner OR La Oaxaqueña Taqueria vs Flo’s Clam Shack                   Naples Botanical Garden, 9am-8pm, $27, and dinner at Fogg Café

Let's just say that the day we had was a LOT less ambitious than the day I had planned. After another quiet morning, we ate leftovers for lunch and then drove back down to Naples to wander through their botanical garden. Here's something neat we learned from a sign: they use a black dye in the water gardens to prevent algal blooms, hide unsightly pots and pipes, and create a monochromatic backdrop against which the colorful aquatic plants stand out. It was very effective, as you can see:

It was a right warm afternoon, so we appreciated shade where we could find it. Here's a covered bench  along an inland trail that loops off from the path that encircles the lake into a wild area compared to the more cultivated gardens closer to the visitor center.

We also learned that "littoral zones" are the spaces between terrestrial landscapes and aquatic habitats that stabilize soil, filter pollutants, and house diverse wildlife. We spotted multiple kinds of birds and fish, a crab, and turtles. No alligators, though. After a nice respite on a swing, this lookout tower provided a rich opportunity for more birding.

We walked the labyrinth (above) and then looked for somewhere to read our books for an hour before dinner, which we ate at the garden's cafe. The first place we stopped, in a pavilion surrounded by a pool, a woman actually announced, "Good thing there aren't any mosquitos here!" Except there were--or maybe I had attracted them away from her! So we moved to a bench on a bridge over a river of grass where a brisk breeze kept the bugs away.

So many orchids!

Day 4: 90% inspiration and 10% perspiration