These gorgeous gardens are located in Punta Gorda Florida at 5827 Riverside Drive. The gardens opened in 2017 on the waterfront on the south side of the Peace River east of Punta Gorda.
Abutting the Peace River, this 30-acre waterfront oasis encompasses the diversity of five ecosystems including marshlands, wetlands, mangroves, uplands, a tidal basin and an island amphitheater.
Flowering trees and plants bloom throughout the year and more than 15,000 sq. ft. of boardwalks and docks provide optimum viewing of the Garden's massive sculptures. All trees and flowers are marked with their names.
The waterfront estate adjacent to the gardens is the home of the founders, Roger and Linda Tetrault. Peace River Gardens was their dream and the home will eventually be a museum that is part of the gardens.
Tetrault, who lived to see the garden open after a dozen years of planning, died in January 2020. A U. S. Naval Academy graduate, his distinguished career in business included being a senior executive with defense contractor General Dynamics and CEO and Chairman of the Board of McDermott International, one of the world’s largest offshore oil exploration and construction companies.
Tree Trellises were fabricated by the metal-smith team led by Cary Stefani. The bases were fabricated in Michigan and the vertical structures were fabricated of rebar on-site.
The Tetraults funded the creation of the garden through their family foundation and selected and donated many of the sculptures. A separate entity, Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens Inc., operates the gardens and will undertake fundraising to support and expand it.
“Laundry Daze” by sculptor Paul Guilmette of Port Charlotte, FL.- The “clothes” are fashioned from “upcycled” parts of washers, dryers, refrigerators and automobiles. It is designed as a kinetic display as the “clothes” move in harmony with the wind.
Andy Warhol
From the start, it had a unique vision – to showcase the natural beauty of the property along with gardens of botanicals, all complementing the spectacular sculptures displayed throughout. Its full name is Peace River Botanical and Sculpture Gardens.
Custom designed for the Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens, this 2-story structure and patio overlook 3 ponds and houses a cafe and an event location with seating for up to 100 people. It is well-suited for a variety of events such as weddings and private parties.
The Bamboo trees were so healthy and beautiful!
They also had a very nice Butterfly House.
All in all, a nice stop on a beautiful day.
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