点评:We drove about 2 hours from our home in Winter Haven to this botanical garden in Vero Beach and we were not disappointed. We decided to go on a Tuesday, when they have a hour long guided tour of the grounds. Nancy, our guide was very personable and knowledgeable of the gardens. It was interesting to learn that it started out as a jungle garden when it first opened in 1928. In the 1940’s it drew about 100,000 visitors a year. The atmosphere is tranquil and it is hard to believe that a busy highway is so close by. There are more than 10,000 plants waiting to be discovered on this 18 acre landscape. There are 80 varieties of water lilies alone scattered throughout the property. You can also visit The Hall of Giants, The Stone Bridge and see the stick work structure, the pirate ship in the Children’s Garden and the many waterfalls scattered amongst the foliage. Don’t forget to visit the giant cypress tree trunk in the parking lot. It is 2,000 years old and was the “draw” of the original McKee Jungle Garden in the 1930’s. Mckee was not able to compete with the popularity of Disney, so it was closed in 1976. In the 1990’s, money was raised to purchase it and since 2002, it has been reopened and its splendor restored. It is a wonderful roadside attraction which continues to evolve and grow due to the support of the Vero Beach community and its volunteers.
翻译:我们从温特黑文的家开车大约 2 小时来到维罗海滩的这个植物园,我们并没有失望。我们决定在周二去,因为那时他们会组织一个小时的花园导览。我们的导游南希非常亲切,对花园了如指掌。有趣的是,1928 年它刚开放时,它只是一个丛林花园。在 20 世纪 40 年代,它每年吸引大约 100,000 名游客。这里的氛围很宁静,很难相信附近竟然有一条繁忙的高速公路。在这片占地 18 英亩的土地上,有超过 10,000 种植物等待人们去发现。光是睡莲就有 80 种品种散布在整个花园中。您还可以参观巨人厅、石桥,看看木棍结构、儿童花园里的海盗船以及散布在树叶之间的许多瀑布。别忘了参观停车场里巨大的柏树树干。它已有 2,000 年历史,是 20 世纪 30 年代麦基原始丛林花园的“亮点”。麦基无法与迪士尼相媲美,因此于 1976 年关闭。20 世纪 90 年代,人们筹集资金购买了它,自 2002 年以来,它重新开放并恢复了辉煌。这是一个美妙的路边景点,在维罗海滩社区及其志愿者的支持下不断发展壮大。