Absolute must for all US gardeners!!

Now this is an absolute must for all you US readers who like visiting gardens because it makes them affordable; works nationwide; and will save you a fortune, if you love visiting gardens. I discovered it here in Florida and know that it works all over the US. I've already used it to visit most of the gardens I've reviewed so far (with entry fees running anywhere between $5 and S20, I couldn't afford to "Gallop" here at the rate I do!!).

Many public gardens here in America run a "Friends" or "Member" Programme which means that you sign up for an annual membership. If like me, you have a fabulous garden nearby (and in my case it's the Marie Selby Botanical Garden), you can visit that garden whenever you want during the year, but you also get reciprocal arrangements to other gardens through the American Horticultural Society (AHS) all over the United States.

Alternatively, you can just join the AHS and then you'll get their magazine, plus news of events and free entry to all their member gardens.

I've only been here for 10 days, but so far I've been to see the Edison and Ford Winter Estates, Sunken Gardens, Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens, and next week I'm off to Fairchild Tropical Gardens and many others on the East coast of Florida .... so watch this space!

I will be adding a US Garden directory to my side bar when I've visited more gardens here, but in the meantime, here's a list of the Florida properties I've seen, with links:

Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales
Joan M. Durante Park, Longboat Key
Jungle Gardens, Sarasota
Sunken Gardens, St Petersburg

Thank you all for visiting - I'm having a wonderful time here looking at gardens - and hope you'll continue to visit with me.


Comments

  1. So happy to read about your fun in Florida. I'm using your English lists for much of the planning of our Autumn trip to England! I do hope it warms up a little for you....this weather is ridiculous this year!

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  2. Really glad that GG is proving useful for your autumn planning Tim - don't know which month you will be there or where, but the autumn colours are just stunning!! Did a whole section on autumn gardens last Sept/October, so hope it comes in useful.

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  3. Dear Charlotte, This is a marvellous tip for people living in the USA or those visiting for an extended period.

    I am very much looking forward to hearing about the next garden you visit. I have now joined you as a 'Follower' so hope that that will keep me up to date.

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  4. What a wonderful resource. Thank you for letting us know about it...I will be check to see if our gardens are taking part.

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  5. Thanks for this info, it is really appreciated.

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  6. Tiggerlot---you are the most fun person!!

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  7. I have read about the Marie Selby Botanical Garden, but have not yet been to it. We did visit Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary on that coast a few years back with a dear aunt and uncle down from upstate NY. The sanctuary is old world FL. You've been visiting some really wonderful gardens. I look forward to hearing about each of them.

    Thanks for the AHS tip.

    FlowerLady

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  8. Thank you so much for posting this valuable resource. I look forward to checking out these links and future posts of US gardens visited. I hope you are enjoying your stay in Florida. :)

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  9. I have seen gardens that have a "friend of" program, but I didn't realize that it also allowed you to visit other participating gardens. What a great idea.

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  10. Thanks for the great tip! I am exhausted reading your list!! I look forward to checking out the links. Glad you are enjoying your galloping around! Whew! ;>))

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  11. I really enjoy reading your blog. I'm an amatuer photographer and I hope to find a Botanical Garden that's not too far from where I live here in NW Massachusetts that I can take photos of flowers in the winter! Let me know if you hear of any, or I guess I could look it up on the internet! I love gardening and I do have some flowers blooming indoors if you have seen or been following my blog you will see the photos. Take care and have a wonderful week!

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