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The Story


It all began in the late 1990’s when a small group of dedicated garden lovers dreamt of creating a verdant oasis in the heart of Pinellas County. It is through their efforts the Florida Botanical Gardens opened in December 2000, converting 100 acres in the middle of the most densely populated county in Florida into a diverse garden paradise.

Garden areas are devoted to unique botanical specimens, showcasing outstanding tropical and subtropical flora and fauna, as well as incorporating water and art features. You will see themed formal gardens, featuring roses, topiaries, palms, vines, succulents and azaleas, as well as gardens dedicated to native plants, tropical fruit, herbs and butterflies. The Children’s Trail delights younger visitors as they walk from station to station learning about fruit, trees, wildlife and butterflies. Musical instruments and educational games make for an enjoyable learning experience.

The Foundation has been a major supporter of the gardens since its inception. Foundation events help promote community awareness and generate resources to support growth and enhancements. Holiday Lights in the Gardens provides an enchanting evening where the Gardens are decorated with more than one million sparkling, eco-friendly LED lights.

Visit often, bring a friend, a picnic and discover seasonal delights. Admission is always free. Please help preserve and support this remarkable Pinellas County gem --
Become an FBGF member today!


About the Foundation


The Florida Botanical Gardens Foundation (FBGF) is a fund raising entity (501c3) created to provide leadership and financial support for the Florida Botanical Gardens.  The FBGF began as the Friends of the Gardens in 1993 for the purposes of encouraging interest in and support for a botanical garden in Pinellas County.


The Friends became the FBGF in 2003 as a cooperative public private partnership with the intent to enrich the cultural and educational opportunities of the community at a significantly reduced cost to the taxpayers. The FBGF has successfully partnered with Pinellas County to maintain, expand and improve the Gardens since then.   


Our Mission: To create, sustain and grow a world-class botanical garden.

Our Vision Statement: To be a premier destination that provides nourishment for the spirit.

Our Values: 

  • Protect the environment and instill an appreciation for future generations.
  • Allow easy public accessibility to the gardens and its activities, preferably at no extra cost.
  • Maintain effective partnerships with Pinellas County Parks Department, Pinellas County Extension and all stakeholders.
  • Provide a peaceful oasis.

FBGF is managed by an all-volunteer Board of Directors who strive to make the Gardens a place for everyone to enjoy. 

We sponsor events during the year that bring in both local residents and international visitors.  Our "Holiday Lights in the Garden" and “Gift and Plant Sale” are two of our most important events.  These events are both our gift to the community and a fund raiser for the Gardens.

The FBGF raises funds to support the gardens through a number of ways.

  • Memberships
  • Sponsorship
  • Monetary  donations
  • Planned giving bequeaths
  • Memorials and Tributes
  • Gift Shop
 

Accomplishments

Children’s Trail:

Follow our mascot, Flora, through an exciting education walk through the Gardens searching for butterflies to wildlife. Each stop provides information on a range of flora and fauna.

Expansions and Renovations:

  • The Vinery, a new addition to the Gardens that highlights multiple vines which grow in our part of Florida.  
  • Expansion of the Tropical Fruit Garden. This 4,000 sq foot addition has allowed us to display many more different fruit trees that will grow well in our area.
  • Expansion of the Butterfly Garden. Increased to over 7,000 sq feet, this garden is now one of the largest outdoor butterfly gardens in Florida.  
  • Renovation of the west side gardens. Renovation of gardens is essential in any garden. Over grown and lacking proper walkways, this renovation restored a large portion of the west side gardens to include the entrance making it easier to walk through the area on ADA compliant walkways and new plantings.
  • Creation of the Wetlands Walkway & Wildlife Overlook - this boardwalk and associated path traverse a part of our protected wetland area and opens out into an overlook where you can hopefully observe our native wildlife. This includes numerous bird species as well a variety of mammals & reptiles that live here.

Maintenance and Repairs:

  • Restoration of painted benches and chairs
  • Replacing aging wooden arbors with aluminum arbors.
  • Cleaning and painting of buildings and walls throughout the East Side gardens.
  • Replacement of numerous walkways allowing for a safer ADA compliant access to the Gardens
  • Removal of shell pathways and replaced with concrete ADA compliant walkways throughout the Gardens.
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