Are you pretty wiped out from the constant green partying, bbqing and fireworks awwwing from the fourth of July weekend? What other way to spend this coming weekend then to peacefully, stroll through the beautiful Botanical Gardens at USF. Admittedly, when I was a graduate student there a few years back, I would see signs for the Botanical Gardens and always promised myself I would go but haven't until only very recently.
Kept up by the Department of Geography at the University and from generous donations from visiting and membership opportunities, the Botanical Gardens take you away from the city for a few moments to explore natural beauty from scenic plant life to small animals, insects and even birds. It is the perfect way to spend a relaxing afternoon before the hustle and bustle of the Tampa nightlife sets off.
This weekend, the gardens will be open during the day both Saturday and Sunday for its Annual Tropical Plant Fair. There will be vendors with hundreds of tropical and exotic plants, a pepper beauty contest (which seems like hilarious fun to me!), lectures about growing tropicals in your backyard and much much more!
If this sounds like your cup of green tea check it out this weekend! Here is the information:
Saturday, July 11th 10am-4pm
Sunday, July 12th 10am-3pm
Admission is $5
USF Botanical Members and children under 12 are Free.
Address: 12210 USF Pine Drive, Tampa, Florida 33620
For more information please check out the USF Botanical Gardens web page.
This article appears in Jul 8-14, 2009.