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| Posing with the turtle from the Circle of Friends sculpture |
On Tuesday, Jan. 5th we visited the Naples Botanical Garden. We were ready to spend some time enjoying the temperate Florida weather, a day with no agenda other than to enjoy the beauty and each other's company. The gardens did not disappoint. The admission price was a little steep at $20/person, but since we have such limited recreation options these days, we decided "what the hell". Tickets needed to be purchased in advance and a reservation time selected to stager visitors arriving at the gardens. We were very pleased to see the vast majority of people wearing masks.  |
| Bromeliad Christmas tree |
We took so many pictures because it was a veritable feast for the eyes. Everywhere you looked was something glorious and one of the most dramatic was the orchids. Oh the orchids... and these were just the here and there orchids. The actual orchid garden was closed for maintenance. (A big disappointment but as you can see, there were still ample opportunities to enjoy orchids.)
There was an art installation in the gardens titled
Nature Underground, by Steve Tobin. These large-scale sculptures that celebrate roots are intended to encourage the viewer to think deeper about life under our feet. There were a total of 12 pieces in the collection. These are the ones that I captured.
There were water gardens featuring exquisite water lilies and lily pads that looked like serving trays. The staff told us those lily pads can grow quite large in their natural habitat and can hold the weight of a person.
There was a virtual rainbow of colors surrounding us as we walked through the various gardens. In addition to the Water Garden, the Botanical Garden is comprised of various sub-sections: the Brazilian Garden, the Caribbean Garden, the Florida Garden , the Succulent Garden, the Asian Garden, and the Orchid Garden.
In addition to the roots art installation, there were several other sculptures and mosaics throughout the gardens.
It was such a delightful place to wander around. The map provided gave very limited information about all the various paths, so one really did have to wander to find their way around. But that was part of the adventure. One cool feature was a trellis tunnel covered with gorgeous purple and blue flowers. It was so romantic and felt like the perfect place for a wedding.
A labyrinth feature provided a quiet moment of walking meditation and excitement on reaching the center.
It was, in short, the perfect afternoon. We needed this nature filled afternoon to reset our energy levels and reconnect.
And for anyone who knows us, you could predict that we ended our perfect day with a couple brewery visits. Fortunately in FL, outside seating is usually plentiful. We have a
Southwest Florida Ale Trail Passport; collect stamps from the breweries you visit and earn merch and BOGO beers. Since we are only here part-time, we have to "work hard" to get in enough visits to earn our freebies. So we earned stamps from
Ankrolab,
South Cypress Brewing (located in Naples Brewhouse), and
Momentum Brewhouse. Favorite beer was NE IPA Experiment #12 and 32 from South Cypress.
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| Ankrolab water wall featuring 27 beer taps |
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Ankrolab outdoor seating area
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| Pint of NE IPA Experiment #32 😀 |
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| Flight from South Cypress Brewing |
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| Some of the artwork inside Momentum |
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| Momentum logo |
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| Artwork from Momentum Brewhouse 💪 |
As we settle in to 2021, let me share this thought for the new year - do more of what feeds your soul. That is something you can never regret. We will endeavor to see more of the beauty of the world and people who surround us. May peace prevail in our mind. May peace prevail in our hearts. May peace prevail in our nation. May peace prevail for all people everywhere. Peace to you in this new year!
