Photo Friday – Nature’s colours at Delray Beach

Spending time in southern Florida during the hot summer months means frequent visits to the cooling ocean waters or swimming pools. It isn’t a good time to wander around parks or gardens, in fact in this part of Florida, there are very few botanical gardens to walk around in.

Last Sunday I did discover a couple of gardens in Delray Beach — Morikami’s Japanese Gardens which I’ll write about Monday 6th July, and a haven for orchids and their lovers at the American Orchid Society’s gardens. I remember as a child my mother would always take me along with my loud siblings to the local rose gardens. She adored roses and the hot-house begonias that grew there. There were never any orchids on show because in the deep cold south of New Zealand, the orchids never survived – I would like to say that I enjoyed these trips to the gardens, but after the fifth visits, they dulled.

Here in sunny tropical Florida, gardens are a novelty to me. Orchids are abundant, thriving in the heat and humidity, resplendent in vibrant hues.

by Cate

Large and small, all living together in a warm, controlled environment.

by Cate

There are other plants and flowers also worth seeing. Boardwalks, tiled and gravel paths, entice you to explore the plantings or just seek out some shade.

by Cate

My favourites tend to be plants with character – lines, textures, woody or striped.

by Cate

The American Orchid Society gardens is a quiet break from the noisy beaches. I couldn’t tell you if it’s a place for kids, not because of the lack of entertainment features, but if chidlren are like me when I was young, they could end up bored. For budding ecologists, botanists, naturalists and florists, this would be a perfect place.

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Caffeinated Traveller