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As of Sunday (October 1, 2023), rare and endangered plants have a new place to call home: the St. Johns Botanical Garden & Nature Preserve, 8310 County Road 13, Hastings, Florida

Located along Deep Creek in rural Florida (a bit inland, and about midway between Daytona Beach and Jacksonville, the garden features areas based on the native geography of the plants.

Founded by biologist Dr. John Rossi the preserve showcases plants from around the world, and will offer guided tours, programs, and classes on native plants, landscaping, and water conservation. The grand opening is October 1, 2023.

One of the more delicate and beautiful species that occurs in natural areas of the SJBG is the Piedmont Azalea, Rhododendron canescens (pictured, right). This species is found across northern Florida in moist areas that border flood zones in hardwood forests. While inconspicuous most of the year, their blooms in the spring are hard to forget, ours being a mass of brilliant pink and white, fragrant flowers. Indeed, they are one of the earliest bloomers here at the garden, often appearing in early March.

Many of the palms grown here are considered rare or endangered. One such tree is the giant windowpane palm, or Madagascar coconut palm, Beccariophoenix fenestralis. As young palms, these plants have the unusual feature of having partially fused leaves, which create the look of a fan palm leaf, but with holes between the fused leaflets! This is how it received its common name, the windowpane palm. Regardless of the micro-anatomy of the leaf, the young palm is stunningly beautiful and the epitome of a tropical appearing plant, as the broad leaves hang down and move gracefully with the slightest breeze. Unfortunately, the leaves lose this appearance as they grow, but the tree becomes very coconut like in its appearance, possessing long pinnate leaves.

(Photo courtesy of St. Johns Botanical Garden & Nature Preserve)