The Tropical Fruit Forum
Tropical Fruit => Tropical Fruit Discussion => Topic started by: brian on December 11, 2019, 03:04:09 PM
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Next month I'm going to be in Florida for a week with lot of free time. I'm flying into Orlando and flying out of Ft Lauderdale. Any good nurseries or fruit parks to check out along the way? Only thing on my list so far is visiting Excalibur Fruit Trees near Boynton Beach
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Nothing really in season this time of year.
Starfruit, black Sapote, canistel is all i can think off the top of my head.
Fruit and spice park would be nice to walk this time of year.
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Mounts Botanical Garden in WPB? Truly Tropical (private grower) in Delray Beach. (You've probably seen Chris's great videos on YouTube.)
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I second fruit and spice park. But hands down Fairchild’s is the place to see some incredible specimens and unique trees with history. Excalibur is close to me but I wouldn’t say it’s a place to visit and just walk around. It’s a working nursery.
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Thanks for the suggestions. I'm going to try to hit as many of these as I can.
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Yes, don't go to Excalibur and just start walking around, like i did a few years ago when i was a naive neophyte plant person.
You will get in big trouble ;D ;D
But it's a cool place, in season - if you play by the rules they should give you a golf-cart tour.
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Thanks for clarification on Excalibur! I had assumed it was a retail nursery
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If you are into other plants and nature, you might want to check out the following:
Morikami Japanese Gardens
https://morikami.org (https://morikami.org)
Butterfly World
https://www.butterflyworld.com (https://www.butterflyworld.com)
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Thanks roblack. I am going with my wife and toddler, I think they would enjoy these also
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For sure! Great for kids and family. They have a lorikeet enclosure where ya'll can feed the friendly birds and they fly all around and land on you. It's nutty fun.
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Flamingo Gardens in Davie
Morikami Japanese Gardens in Delray
Fruit & Spice Park in Homestead
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The Treasure Coast Rare Fruit Club put together this excellent list with a visual map aide of the top gardens in Florida. I personally helped Larry compile the list and since I am located in Miami the options were plentiful my neck of the woods.
https://treasurecoastrarefruitclub.com/treasure-coast-botanical-gardens/
Some more Miami area gardens below (South Dade / Redland / Homestead) included.
https://treasurecoastrarefruitclub.com/miami-gardens/
Hope this helps.
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Thanks for clarification on Excalibur! I had assumed it was a retail nursery
It is a retail nursery. They sell all sorts of tropical fruit trees, but it's much like a warehouse, there's really is no way to walk there hence the golf cart ride... really for people looking for trees. But, IMO it's definitely a worthwhile stop.
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I really appreciate all the info guys, thank you.
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Thanks for clarification on Excalibur! I had assumed it was a retail nursery
It is a retail nursery. They sell all sorts of tropical fruit trees, but it's much like a warehouse, there's really is no way to walk there hence the golf cart ride... really for people looking for trees. But, IMO it's definitely a worthwhile stop.
My issue was i had no concept of the value of plant material and the need to protect it - anyone could steal valuable cuttings from their plants. So you can't just wander around on your own.
I found out the hard way :)
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Check out the Deerfield Beach Arboretum. Incredible collection of tropical plants, palms and lots of mature fruit trees also like Cacao, Mango, Coffee, Jakfruit etc...and it's free!!!!!...I have down many tours there. Afterwards drive just a few miles east to Seabra Brazilian supermarket and check out the giant selection of Brazilian fresh and canned fruits and juices, even fresh Pacu fish from the Amazon.....Also check out Gene Joyners Unbelievable Acres botanical Garden in West Palm but it is only open for tours on Saturdays!
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Hah I maxed out google maps destinations. Thanks for all the ideas. I am going to check out the Seabras market in Orlando today while I'm still here, then look for some stuff along the long coastal drive down.
(https://i.imgur.com/4W7Iq8s.png?1)
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Any idea where I am likely to find chocolate sapote fruit to try? I have never tasted it before
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Any idea where I am likely to find chocolate sapote fruit to try? I have never tasted it before
I’ve purchased from Robert Is Here. I’m sure insiders have other/better suggestions
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Since you have time take the scenic route. From Orlando airport go to Narcoossee then Saint Cloud get on canoe creek road to Kenansville take a right on 441 to Okeechobee take 98 around east side of Okeechobee to hwy 27
to Alligator Alley I-75 and you are prett much in Fort Lauderdale
https://www.facebook.com/EricksonFarm/?fref=profile_friend_list&hc_location=profile_browser (https://www.facebook.com/EricksonFarm/?fref=profile_friend_list&hc_location=profile_browser)
Another option is from Okeechobee take hwy 710 to West Palm Beach
These photos were taking in Osceola County
(https://i.postimg.cc/305W33Fb/ppp.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/305W33Fb)
(https://i.postimg.cc/75YhHsSD/qw.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/75YhHsSD)
(https://i.postimg.cc/34pJSPQj/qww.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/34pJSPQj)
(https://i.postimg.cc/RWM63V5k/ppl.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/RWM63V5k)
(https://i.postimg.cc/ykTKJ6tt/thumbnail-3.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ykTKJ6tt)
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Any idea where I am likely to find chocolate sapote fruit to try? I have never tasted it before
You’ll likely fine them at Excalibur, they have a fruit stand there and they had the chocolates there couple weeks ago.
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Thanks, all
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Chris from Truly Tropical usually sells them.
https://www.themangoplace.com/blog/2020/1/9/fruit-for-saturday-january-11-2020 (https://www.themangoplace.com/blog/2020/1/9/fruit-for-saturday-january-11-2020)
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Thanks again for the suggestions. I didnt get as far south as I had hoped, but I made it to seabra, excalibur (overnighted a box of trees back home, hope they survived), toptropicals, mckee botanical garden, and butterfly world. Butterfly world was awesome, my daughter loved it and they have a lot of cool birds and an insect museum.
I got to try black sapote and jaboticaba for the first time, plus new varieties of sapodilla and avocado.