| These days the words "inner city" usually conjures up | | | | roses in Florida, the basics of bonsai, pruning and |
| images of decay and desolation, but in St Petersburg | | | | propagating plants, and much more. Local residents |
| the inner city is graced with a tropical paradise. It is the | | | | can also take advantage of the volunteer opportunities |
| Sunken Gardens, the city's oldest museum and the | | | | at the Gardens. Become a "Garden Assistant" and |
| home of the oldest tropical plants in the region. The | | | | help maintain the grounds or you can lead visitors on |
| Sunken Gardens is not only a nice place to stroll and | | | | guided tours or work during the special events and |
| enjoy the plants, it offers guided garden tours, | | | | workshops at the Sunken Gardens. |
| horticultural workshops, special events, field trips and | | | | The Sunken Gardens is also a choice spot for |
| has become the venue for corporate and private | | | | corporate and private events in St. Petersburg. The |
| events. Weddings are even held there. | | | | Museum's Garden Room, a 2600 square foot room |
| The Sunken Gardens started out in 1903 when a St. | | | | that can seat 175 people and its smaller Classroom |
| Petersburg plumber, George Turner, purchased six | | | | are suitable for all kinds of events. Private parties, |
| acres and drained a lake using clay tiles. He then | | | | seminars, luncheons and retreats are just some of the |
| turned the rich soil into a garden that soon attracted | | | | events that have been held here. The Museum's |
| neighbors and other visitors. Seeing this as an | | | | central location amidst shopping, hotels, restaurants and |
| opportunity to make some extra cash he started | | | | other downtown facilities makes it a convenient |
| charging five cents for admission. His family kept the | | | | location for special events. |
| operation going for three generations, improving the | | | | If you ever dreamed of getting married in a fairy tale |
| gardens and inviting visitors. Finally, in 1999 the City of | | | | location, the Wedding Lawn of the Sunken Gardens is |
| St. Petersburg purchased the gardens and developed | | | | the kind of place that you are looking for. You can get |
| it as a prime cultural and educational center. | | | | married on the lawn or under a canopy of shade trees |
| The site has a trail that covers one mile and it is full of | | | | in the Oak Pavilion and then hold your reception in the |
| tropical and sub-tropical plants. Almost all the plants | | | | Garden Room. |
| have markers indicating the botanical name, the | | | | The normal opening hours of the Sunken Gardens are |
| common name and their country of origin. In case you | | | | Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on |
| were wondering about the name, the gardens drop 15 | | | | Sundays noon to 4:30 p.m. Admission is as follows: |
| feet below street level and hence it is called Sunken | | | | Adults $8, Seniors (55+) $6, Children (2-11) $4. There is |
| Gardens. | | | | free parking on the site and the whole area is |
| If you want more than a casual stroll through the | | | | handicapped accessible. Sunken Gardens is located at |
| gardens, then check out the calendar of horticultural | | | | 1825 Fourth Street North, St. Petersburg. For more |
| workshops. You can learn how to grow orchids and | | | | information call 727-551-3102. |