Wonder Gardens

Last week we went with neighbor-friends to visit the Everglades Wonder Gardens. 

It's a combination Zoological Park/Botanical Gardens in the center of the town of Bonita Springs, less than an hour from us.  A local attraction, but one we'd never visited. 

 

We had a lovely day out.  But sadly I somehow managed to delete all but the first few pictures I took while we were there.   I wonder how I did that?

 The Wonder Gardens began in 1936 as a Florida roadside attraction and it featured the requisite local reptiles and some exotics.   Over the years, it fell into disrepair and  the City was poised to purchase the property and turn it into a parking lot.   Citizens raised an alarm and in 2013 the property was purchased by a local photographer/conservationist with an eye to saving and improving the historical attraction.   It is now run in combination with the City as a non-profit. 

 

 

We spent quite a while  watching the flamingos — and those were almost the only pictures not to disappear into outer space.  They were my favorites, but I am sorry not to have photo memories of the other birds and the beautiful landscaping.   We saw many beautiful places before we even owned a digital camera and we haven't forgotten those.  So I am trying to remember that these memories will also be enough.  (I'm still mad at myself though.)

 

 

 One of the volunteer guides told us that the flamingos are "geriatric birds" which seems appropriate for Florida.  There are a lot of us geriatrics here.  They may be traced back to the original iteration of the Wonder Gardens.

 

 

All of the birds and animals at this park are here because for one reason or another they are not able to be released back into the wild.  There were tortoises like the ones I showed a couple of weeks ago at that other old Florida roadside attraction and many parrots and lorikeets — pets that could no longer be cared for.  There was a sign suggesting it might be best not to buy these  but to visit them here or at similar facilities. 

Here are some sky scenes from even closer to home:

Mornings on the Canal

Thankful for the memories we are creating.  With or without pictures.

One more thing to mention about the Wonder Gardens.    Bonita Springs was heavily damaged by Hurricane Ian back in September.  A volunteer told us how the animals and birds were taken care of  during the storm (some at the homes of staff and volunteers).    Also notable is what a wonderful job they have done in restoring the gardens and plantings.   Having seen some of the aftermath of the storm, it is easy for us to imagine the state that this park  was in.

 

LINKING this week to the following sharing opportunities.  Thank you to the hosts: 

MOSAIC MONDAY;   NATURE NOTES; THROUGH MY LENS; MY CORNER OF THE WORLD;   THANKFUL THURSDAY;  SKYWATCH FRIDAY;  and  SATURDAY CRITTERS