Visit and support Flamingo Gardens, the most natural Florida experience, 60-acres of lush gardens and fascinating wildlife.
EXPERIENCE
The Rare & Exotic!
Established in 1927, Flamingo Gardens is one of the oldest botanical gardens and attractions in South Florida. Flamingo Gardens is the premier Everglades Learning Center and South Florida Wildlife and Botanical Sanctuary. Flamingo Gardens mission is to depict, preserve, and provide education about the natural and cultural heritage of South Florida and the Everglades in our botanical gardens and wildlife sanctuary.
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Blog Post
Eco-teers Tree Tops Park Invasive Plant Removal
Melissa Auld
On Sunday, October 23, 2022, the Eco-teers volunteered at Tree Tops Park in Davie. The project focused on removing invasive plant species such as the air potato and the snake plant These plant species spread ferociously and can displace and prevent native plant growth. A healthy plant community has a variety of shrubs and trees, but invasive...
Blog Post
The Climate Crisis 2022: Part 1- The Greenhouse Gas Effect
Tiffany Engel
Hello, my name is Tiffany. I am a member of the Flamingo Garden’s Eco-teers, a volunteer outreach group that focus on environmental projects in Broward County promoting habitat protection, coastal resilience, and climate education. Today we have teamed up with the CLEO Institute to help connect the dots between climate science, impacts and solutions. The...
Blog Post
The Climate Crisis 2022: Part 2- Climate Change Impacts
Ines Rosales
Last month, Flamingo Garden’s Eco-teer Tiffany Engel discussed The Greenhouse Gas Effect in Part 1 of the “Climate Change 101” as presented by the Eco-teers as part of their November 2022 Climate Fair. This month Eco-teer Ines Rosales discusses Climate Change Impacts affecting the world and Florida specifically. Earth’s global average surface temperature in 2020...
Blog Post
The Climate Crisis 2022: Part 3 – Climate Change Impacts to Marginalized Communities
Karen Hendriks
Last month, Flamingo Garden’s Eco-teer Ines Rosales discussed Climate Change Impacts affecting the world and Florida specifically in Part 2 of the “Climate Change 101” as presented by the Eco-teers as part of their November 2022 Climate Fair. This month Eco-teer Karen Hendriks discusses how climate change impacts underserved communities disproportionately. The climate crisis impacts...
Blog Post
Eco-teers Dune Restoration
Melissa Auld
On February 4th, the Eco-teers visited Charnow Park in Hollywood Beach, Florida. The focus of their work on dune restorations was a huge success! 3000 sea oats were planted in partnership with the Youth Environmental Alliance. The morning brought in tremendous amount of rain, but that did not stop the amazing volunteers from serving their...
Blog Post
March of Museums
Melissa Auld
Florida Secretary of State Announces Sixth Annual “March of Museums” Flamingo Gardens has partnered with Florida Department of State on statewide initiative. TALLAHASSEE – Florida Secretary of State Laurel M. Lee and the Florida Department of State announced the fifth annual “March of Museums” celebrating the variety and versatility of museums in Florida and the...
Blog Post
The Need For Pollinators
Keith Clark
Butterflies have long been admired for their beauty and grace, but often fail to receive the appreciation they so earnestly deserve for their role in plant pollination. Pollinators, such as bees, bats, hummingbirds, and butterflies, are responsible for one out of every three bites of food you eat! Unfortunately, many pollinator populations are at risk....
Blog Post
Volunteer Spotlight: James Harmon
Keith Clark
Our Volunteer of the Month for February is James Harmon. James has already volunteered for over 100 hours this year. February in particular James was a key contributor in our Food and Wine Benefit. He has been helping our Special Events department set up and breakdown our various events. Many mornings James can also be...
Blog Post
Eco-Teers In Action!
Glennys Navarrete
With only a few days into the month of March, the Eco-teers have already dedicated much of their time in restoring our coastal habitats and spreading climate change awareness. 1000 sea oats were planted at Fort Lauderdale Beach in partnership with the Youth Environmental Alliance (YEA) in an effort to restore coastal sand dunes in...
Special Event
Opening Weekend Sean Kenney’s Nature POP!
May 27th, 28th & 29th, 2023
Flamingo Gardens is proud to present this award-winning exhibit from Artist Sean Kenney featuring 44 sculptures made from more than 800,000 LEGO® bricks. Consider the interconnectedness of nature as you explore its beauty through highly stylized and colorful displays.
Exhibit
Sean Kenney’s Nature POP!
May 27th - Sept 4th, 2023
Flamingo Gardens is proud to present this award-winning exhibit from Artist Sean Kenney featuring 44 sculptures made from more than 800,000 LEGO® bricks. Consider the interconnectedness of nature as you explore its beauty through highly stylized and colorful displays.
Blog Post
Chris’ Curiosities
Chris Maler
Welcome to the inaugural edition of Chris’ Curiosities Hello, and welcome to the inaugural edition of Chris’ Curiosities, a semi-regular column where I discuss some of the more interesting and unique plants which can be found in Flamingo Gardens. In today’s edition, we dive into the weird world of Arums (Araceae), by looking at one...
Blog Post
Eye-witness Account of the Great Hurricane of 1926
Elizabeth Kostecki
The Great Hurricane of 1926 with a riveting eye-witness account and photos from the Flamingo Gardens Archives Hurricanes are always in the news this time of year, reminding us of Hurricane Andrew’s anniversary and the need to be prepared. There is a long history of hurricanes in South Florida, but the Great Hurricane of 1926...
Blog Post
Beneficial Insects for the Garden
Keith Clark
There are approximately 1 million described species of insects in the world and it is believed that there are at least 4 million more species that have yet to be named. Insects represent three-fourths of all described animal species on the planet. Even more than that, there are believed to be an estimated 10...
Blog Post
90th Anniversary Celebration
Keith Clark
2017 is the 90th Anniversary of Flamingo Groves, the forerunner of Flamingo Gardens. The founders, Floyd L. and Jane Wray, moved to Florida in 1925. They were thrilled with their new home and the beauty of South Florida. He had a good job selling property in Hollywood-by-the-Sea. Then came 1926. It was not a good...
Blog Post
Top 12 Orchids in Bloom at Flamingo Gardens
Keith Clark
In honor of the upcoming International Orchid and Bromeliad Show at Flamingo Gardens, we thought we’d highlight 12 of our favorite orchids now in bloom. You can take a self-guided walking tour to see these beauties up-close and in person. Ask for the Orchid Tour map at the ticket counter. 12. Phalaenopsis DeLeon’s White is...
Blog Post
Top 12 Exotic Blooms at Flamingo Gardens
Keith Clark
March is an exciting month at Flamingo Gardens as the plants start to emerge from their winter dormancy and some of the most interesting blooms appear on our tropical plants. Flamingo Gardens is known for our giant trees, live oaks, and Everglades’ plant species, but here are some unusual exotic blooms from plants around the...
Blog Post
Floyd L Wray: A Man for Port Everglades
Elizabeth Kostecki
Floyd L. Wray: A Man for Port Everglades A Story of the Beginnings of Port Everglades from the Flamingo Gardens Archives Floyd Wray is known for growing citrus and founding Flamingo Groves, but few people know that Wray was elected one of the first commissioners of Port Everglades in 1931. He was an unwavering force in...
Blog Post
From the desk of MC Flamingo… My Aunt Phyllis is a talker.
Keith Clark
From the desk of MC Flamingo… My Aunt Phyllis is a talker. She’s the talkingest Flamingo in our entire flamboyance , to use the proper jargon. How talking is she? They say if you crossed Aunt Phyllis the flamingo with a centipede, you’d get a Walkie-Talkie. They also say if you crossed Aunt...
Blog Post
August Musings of MC Flamingo…
Keith Clark
Back when I was still in Flamingo chick school, my 3 favorite months were June, July, and August. Summer vacation is something everyone loves, right? When it comes to travel, the birds at Flamingo Gardens spend our summers right here at home, but I hear a lot of birds visit the Canary Islands. Sharks, of...
Blog Post
July Musings from M.C. Flamingo
Keith Clark
Some people call it July Fourth, others the Fourth of July. Some fancy folks call it Independence Day, while most British people don’t call it anything special at all. But whatever you call it, the day between July 3rd and July 5th is always a lot of fun here at Flamingo Gardens—and we like to...
Blog Post
Establishing A Wildflower Garden in South Florida
Keith Clark
A wildflower garden can be gratifying endeavor for gardeners that prefer an informal or “cottage garden” look, but growing one can be challenging in South Florida. Wildflowers commonly purchased at the big-box retailers act more like annuals here and often die out quickly in our hot and humid summers; that’s usually because they’re not suited...
Blog Post
The First Tree Was Planted in 1927
Keith Clark
On February 22, 1927, Floyd L. Wray proudly planted the first tree at Flamingo Groves. When Wray first came to Florida, he sold real estate for Homeseekers, one of Joseph W. Young’s companies. He noticed the shortage of oranges during the summer and the high prices. He saw the late summer-maturing Lue Gim Gong Valencia...
Blog Post
Flamingo Groves/Flamingo Gardens: Always a great place to party!
Keith Clark
Floyd L. and Jane Wray, the founders of Flamingo Gardens, were very social people. They often hosted parties for friends, business associates, civic and church groups at Flamingo Groves. Food was prepared in the outside kitchen with its huge fireplace. Guests dressed up for the occasion. Most men wore suits and ties but removed their...
Blog Post
Flamingo Gardens a Spectacular Setting with an Eventful Past
Keith Clark
Flamingo Gardens is certainly a beautiful place to visit, but do you know how it came to be? The short answer is that Floyd L. and Jane Wray bought 320 acres in the Everglades for just under $5 an acre in 1927, incorporated as Flamingo Groves, and planted 40 acres of citrus orchard. In 1969, upon Jane...
Blog Post
Better Butterfly Basking
Keith Clark
Photo by: Pat Birdsong On a family trip to Flamingo Gardens, my toddler was absolutely delighted by their butterflies. They have a spectacular array of species fluttering around. Pat Birdsong, Volunteer Coordinator, beautifully captured this malachite on the Seminole dombeya, also referred to as the Florida hydrangea or tropical rose hydrangea. Gardening has been a long time hobby...
Blog Post
William Rolle – Volunteer Of The Month
Keith Clark
Our Volunteer of the Month for September is William Rolle, nominated by our Maintenance Dept. William started out as a guide in our Aviary in March, where he was much loved by our guests. He enjoys giving tours to our visitors and educating them on the Everglades and the birds that call it home. William...
Blog Post
Flamingo Gardens’ Aviary Celebrates 30 Years!
Keith Clark
Flamingo Gardens is celebrating the 30th Anniversary of our Free-flight Aviary which is home to permanently injured and non-releasable native wading birds and features the five unique ecosystems of Florida. When Flamingo Gardens’ Free-flight Aviary opened in September of 1991, it was one of the first displays of its kind, giving a home to permanently...
Experience
Wildlife Encounters
DAILY
Experience this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be up close and personal with one of our favorite animals! Well, you can. Book a date with Josh the Bear or our Flamingos, Animal Encounters happen daily but need to be booked 7 days in advance, see checkout for details.
Experience
Group Tours
DAILY
You and your group can explore and discover on their own or be guided around Flamingo Gardens for a fun day, an interesting day, a day you’ll never forget. The best part about it all: you get to share the experience with your friends and family. Groups start at 15 or more people with lunch options.
Blog Post
A Simple Guide To Climate Change
Keith Clark
Ten Ways You Can Make A Difference Climate Change is the shift in the average weather conditions – such as temperature and rainfall – in a place over many years. Earth’s climate is always changing; however, scientists have recorded unusual and accelerating temperature increases over the past 150 years. The world is now about 1.2°C...
Blog Post
10 Everglades Animals Threatened By Climate Change
Keith Clark
Biologists are becoming more and more concerned that global climate change will drastically reduce biodiversity. Some biologists estimate that up to 35% of animals and plants could become extinct in the wild by 2050 due to global climate change- less than 30 years! A 2020 World Wildlife Federation report claims that the population sizes of mammals, birds,...
Blog Post
The Illusive Ghost Orchid And Other Endangered Florida Orchids
Keith Clark
Environmental groups are calling on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to place the rare ghost orchid under the protection of the Endangered Species Act and officially designate its habitat in southern Florida as critical to its recovery. The illusive ghost orchid, Dendrophylax Lindenii, faces mounting threats in Florida from poaching, loss of habitat, and climate change,...
Blog Post
Beauty Of Orchids
Keith Clark
You probably have been given or purchased an orchid- most likely a Phalaenopsis, Dendrobium, or Cattleya. These are just three of the most popular genera of the orchids in cultivation today. The size and diversity of the orchid family, Orchidaceae, is nothing short of astounding, with estimates of 800 genera, 30,000 naturally occurring species and...
Blog Post
Why You Should Be Concerned About Climate Change- Insurance!
Keith Clark
Some effects of climate change such as mass extinction of hundreds of plants and animals across the globe, and displacement of hundreds of thousands of refugees migrating to higher and dryer land seem like far away consequences. But there is a much more immediate threat to all of us: insurance affordability. Climate change is about...
Blog Post
Angelina Dawood and Liat Goren – Volunteers of the Month
Keith Clark
Angelina Dawood and Liat Goren Volunteers of the Month Our Co-Volunteers of the Month for April are Angelina Dawood and Liat Goren. They have volunteered at every event we had last month, whether large or small. Both Liat and Angelina are constantly ready for any task that is presented to them. Since becoming volunteers in...
Blog Post
The Plastics Pollution Problem – How You Can Help
Keith Clark
The Plastics Pollution Problem – How You Can Help It’s tough to say exactly how much plastic is in the ocean, but scientists believe at least 8 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean every year. That’s the weight of nearly 90 aircraft carriers annually, and the problem continues to grow. The amount of plastic trash...
Blog Post
2022 ‘SOUTH FLORIDA ADVENTURE PASS
Keith Clark
2022 ‘SOUTH FLORIDA ADVENTURE PASS ON SALE MAY 15, 2022 4 Broward attractions for one low price equals a summer full of savings and family fun! Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (April 22, 2022) — Four local attractions have joined together to offer the ‘South Florida Adventure Pass’ for the seventh year. For...
Blog Post
The Importance of Mangroves: Blue Carbon
Keith Clark
If you live in Florida or any coastal area for that matter, you probably know that mangroves are important to the local ecosystem and for coastline stabilization. But did you know that mangroves are important to combat climate change as a carbon sink too? Most scientists agree that carbon dioxide and atmospheric gases emitted by...
Blog Post
Nathian Quiles Volunteer of The Month
Keith Clark
The Volunteer of the Month for May is Nathian Quiles. He’s only been volunteering since February and has already completed more than 110 hours! Nathian has been particularly helpful in assisting us during our special events. He has also helped us with weddings and can very regularly be seen organizing our parking lots when we have...
Blog Post
Three Plants to Help Save Seven Butterflies
Keith Clark
Pollinators are one of the most impacted populations by climate change. Bees, hummingbirds, bats, and butterflies are all facing unprecedented threats as they struggle to adapt and survive the changing rhythms of weather and the seasons. You can help save seven species of Florida butterflies just by providing these three host plants in your yard!...
Blog Post
Taurin Ameigeiras Volunteer of the Month
Keith Clark
Our Volunteer of the Month for June is Taurin Ameigeiras. Taurin has been consistent and dedicated volunteer at Flamingo Gardens. Often seen as a guide in our Gallery for the current exhibit “Pollution Solutions,” Taurin has also assisted at the Trams and at Flamingo Cafe. Taurin started in January and has already accumulated over 120...
Blog Post
Eco-teers First Beach Cleanup
Keith Clark
Flamingo Gardens’ new volunteer group, the Eco-teers, spent Saturday morning, June 25, collecting trash from the beach at Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park with equipment donated by our 4Ocean partners. Over 60lbs of trash was gathered at Saturday morning’s cleanup by the eleven volunteers. There were many items collected during the beach cleanup,...
Blog Post
Eco-teers Milkweed Planting for Monarch Conservation
Keith Clark
The Eco-teers planted milkweed for Monarch butterfly conservation this past Saturday morning, July 23, at Flamingo Gardens. Twenty volunteers helped in the efforts to plant nectar and host plants in the garden and stratify milkweed seeds in growing cells for future planting. The Monarch butterfly has recently been added to the endangered species list by the...
Blog Post
Climate Change is Heating Up and Here’s How You Can Help!
Keith Clark
Climate change is really heating up! Communities around the world are experiencing extreme heat, intense wildfires, scorched crops, water shortages, strained power grids, buckling infrastructure, and even loss of life. It’s only July and already extreme temperatures are reaching new heights and setting records. In Texas, temperatures have exceeded 110 F° in parts of the state, causing a...
Blog Post
Volunteer of the Month: Ariana-Marie Lorenzo
Keith Clark
Our Volunteer of the Month for July 2022 is Ariana-Marie Lorenzo. Ariana has been one of the most enthusiastic and pro-active volunteers we’ve ever had. In July alone Ariana has complete 90 hours. She has been a part of every department including the Orchidteers, Animal Care, Flamingo Café, and events. Most recently she was a...
Blog Post
A New Butterfly Pavilion
Keith Clark
Flamingo Gardens is raising $225,000 to construct and maintain a Butterfly Pavilion, or Lepidopterarium, specifically intended for the breeding, display, and release of Broward County native butterflies with an emphasis on education. The 1,600-square-foot pavilion will be accessible to the public for self-guided tours, guided tours, and class field trips. SUPPORT THE BUTTERFLIES THE NEED...
Blog Post
10 Things to Know About the Wrays and the Wray Home Museum
Joleen Koehly
Flamingo Gardens was originally founded as Flamingo Groves, a citrus orchard, by Floyd L. and Jane Wray. The Wrays came to Florida in 1925 and were deeply intrigued with the horticultural possibilities of the subtropical locale. They purchased land around and including Long Key in the Everglades, beginning what was to become one of the...
Blog Post
Broward Attractions and Museums Month (BAMM) September 1-30, 2022
Keith Clark
September is Broward Attractions and Museums Month (BAMM), which encourages visitors to experience the diversity of cultural treasures throughout Broward County. During September, visitors may buy one admission and get a second admission of equal or lesser value for free to Flamingo Gardens and 12 other participating museums and attractions in Broward County. Five additional...
Blog Post
Eco-teers Mangrove Propagules Collection
Keith Clark
The Eco-teers have launched their mangrove restoration campaign in partnership with The Youth Environmental Alliance (YEA) on Saturday, August 27th. Volunteers spent their day collecting propagules and removing trash off the shores of Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park. Approximately 300 white, black and red mangroves propagules were collected which have been transported to...
Blog Post
Volunteer of the Month: Ines Rosales
Keith Clark
Our Volunteer of the Month for August 2022 is Ines Rosales. Ines has quickly made herself an important asset here at Flamingo Gardens. She started in June and has quickly amassed over 110 hours. She has really taken initiative and volunteered in major areas of need for us. Ines has been present at every Eco-teers...
Blog Post
Eco-teers Secret Woods Nature Center Clean Up
Keith Clark
On September 25th, the Eco-teers visited Secret Woods Nature Center for a waterway cleanup and invasive plant removal. Unfortunately, the park has experienced heavy flooding due to king tides and they were unable to remove invasive plants. Their focus shifted to solely removing incoming trash from South Fork New River and they collected 47.6 pounds...
Blog Post
How Climate Change Helped Intensify Hurricane Ian
Keith Clark
As Hurricane Ian roared across Florida, we were reminded once again that climate change is helping make tropical storms and hurricanes worse. While scientists and meteorologists collectively caution against blaming these intense storms on any one cause, they do agree that climate change is creating conditions which contribute to the rapid intensification, rainfall, and inland...
Blog Post
Volunteer of the Month: John Leon
Keith Clark
Our Volunteer of the Month for September 2022 is John Leon. John has been volunteering with us for almost 2 years and has taken part in every special event we’ve had. John has accumulated a total of 205 hours and in September volunteered every single weekend for the full day. John has been a guide,...
Blog Post
More Green, Less Screen
Keith Clark
The amount of time children spend outside in nature has decreased significantly over the years, while the amount of time spent in front of entertainment devices has increased. It is said that the average American child spends less than 30 minutes a day outside in unstructured play but spends more than seven hours a day...
Blog Post
Volunteer of the Month: Henry Roesslhumer
Keith Clark
Our Volunteer of the Month for October 2022 is Henry Roesslhumer. Henry started volunteering at Flamingo Gardens in September and has already accumulated close to 70 hours. With dreams of one day becoming a veterinarian, Henry has been volunteering in our Animal Care Department early in the morning preparing diets and cleaning enclosures. On top...
Blog Post
Your Guide To Unique Holiday Gift Giving
Donna Chen
As the holidays approach, we hear more and more about the experience-based and personalized gifts trends- the gifts that keep giving. Flamingo Gardens has these types of unique options of gift giving to thrill everyone on your list. The Gift that Keeps on Giving – A Gift of Membership is a gift of a year...
Blog Post
Eco-teers Climate Fair
Keith Clark
On Sunday, November 13, 2022, the Eco-teers presented their first Climate Fair in the courtyard of Flamingo Gardens from 10am to 4pm. The Eco-teers and other community partners presented the fair to educate the public on the impacts of climate change and ways they can make a difference. Guests could visit booths and have their “climate...
Blog Post
Volunteer Spotlight: Merville Dormeus
Keith Clark
Our Volunteer of the Month for November is Merville Dormeus. Merville has volunteered for us in the gallery as a docent for our Clyde Butcher exhibit. He has quickly gotten acquainted with the exhibit. He has also created a comfortable atmosphere for all of our guests. He can be seen giving guided tours 5 days...
Blog Post
Eco-teers Dune Restoration
Keith Clark
On December 17th, the Eco-teers worked on a dune restoration in Fort Lauderdale Beach alongside the Youth Environmental Alliance (YEA). 1004 sea oats were planted on the beach located just half a block North of Sunrise and A1A. Sand dunes provide natural coastal protection against storm surge, reducing coastal flooding and structural damage. Sand dunes...
Blog Post
Volunteer Spotlight: Nic Lagriola
Keith Clark
Our Volunteer of the Month for December is Nic Lagriola. Nic has consistently been volunteering with us since June and has already provided us with over 200 hours in that time span. He’s always willing to get his hands dirty and can often be seen assisting our Animal Care department with various tasks and projects....
Blog Post
Volunteer Spotlight: David Bauer
Keith Clark
Our Volunteer of the Month for January is David Bauer. David has done over 100 hours in a very short time span. His January productivity has been exceptional. David has assisted us at the café, helped out with the exhibits in our gallery, made Flamingo bags to be sold in our gift shop, and waste...
Blog Post
Eco-teers Tree Tops Park Invasive Plant Removal
Keith Clark
On Sunday, January 29, 2023, the Eco-teers volunteered at Tree Tops Park in Davie. The project focused on removing invasive plant species such as the snake plant. Snake plants are just one of the many exotic plants that become invasive when planted outdoors in Florida. These plant species spread ferociously and can displace and prevent native plant...
Blog Post
Access Program for Low-Income Families
Melissa Auld
Flamingo Gardens Announces Access Program for Low-Income Families Museums for All to increase accessibility of high-quality museum learning resources! Today Flamingo Gardens announced that it has joined Museums for All, a signature access program of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), administered by the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM), to encourage people of...
Blog Post
Eco-teers: BCPS Climate Youth Summit
Keith Clark
On February 10th, The Eco-teers participated in the fifth annual Broward County Public Schools Youth Climate Summit as a climate sponsor for the event. Hundreds of Broward County students gathered at Pompano Beach High School to discuss the solutions they can implement in their community. Karen Hendriks, Ines Rosales, and Giuliana Mudryj shared their experience...
Special Event
41st International Orchid & Bromeliad Show
April 8th & 9th, 2023
Experience the beauty and diversity of orchids and bromeliads at the 41st International Orchid and Bromeliad Show. Rare and exotic orchids and bromeliads will be on display and for sale, along with an American Orchid Society judged orchid show hosted by the Flamingo Gardens Orchid Society.
Flamingo Gardens is a proud member of
Flamingo Gardens is supported in part by the following
Major support for Flamingo Gardens provided by Broward County Cultural Division, the Cultural Council, and the Broward County Board of County Commissioners.
Sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts & Culture, and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.
Flamingo Gardens is grateful for the support received from our corporate sponsors.
