The founding of Heathcote Nurseries

The seedling of Heathcote Botanical Gardens was a small plant nursery in Scarsdale, New York, founded by Frederick Pierce Fox; later owned and operated by Mollie and Jim Crimmins.

Heathcote moved to current site

Owners Jim and Mollie Crimmins moved the business from its original Florida location on west Orange Avenue to its current Fort Pierce site on Savannah Road.

The Historical Heathcote House

The Crimmins relocated their entire 1922-built family home from Delaware Avenue to the nursery site. This historical home is now known as Heathcote House and serves as the modern day Heathcote Botanical Gardens administrative building.

Heathcote Botanical Gardens, Inc. was incorporated

When the Crimmins retired, they put the property up for sale. A group of concerned citizens led by Gloria Moore, Chris Haynes, Jan Bals, Norma Carsens, Laura Baker, Gloria Rooks and Peggy Berg saw the unique beauty of the spot and worked hard to preserve it as a public botanical garden. Heathcote Botanical Gardens, Inc., was incorporated in 1985 as a non-profit; and in 1986 the property was purchased with private donations raised by Heathcote Botanical Gardens, Inc., and grants from the state, county, and city. We are fortunate to be able to share some life history of Carol Herzog who spent part of her childhood growing up in the Heathcote House. To read more about her : HerzogFullDocument.

Dedication of The Pioneer House

In April 2002, Heathcote Botanical Gardens held the dedication of The Pioneer House, also known as the Florida Cracker House. The dedication honored O C Pete Peterson for his contributions to the project.

The Pioneer House is a replica of an authentic Florida pioneer home from the 1800s. The lumber used for the building was milled from cypress trees grown at Adams Ranch and was donated by Alto Bud Adams Jr.. The house was built by George Ivey with the help of O C Pete Peterson.

Sponsors for the Pioneer House included First Union Bank and Diamond R Fertilizer. The cypress lumber railing reflects a traditional Native American design.

Return of Triple-Headed Sabal Palm

A hard freeze or other injury can force the Sabal palmetto to produce a second head, or more rarely, a third.  Making the triple-headed sabal a particularly rare and unique addition to Heathcote Botanical Gardens.

This sabal was moved by oxcart from Okeechobee to Fort Pierce in the 1990s. In 1938, Jim and Molly Crimmins hired a 19-year-old Mr. Roy Rood to transport the tree to their Orange Avenue Nursery. Twelve years later, the Crimmins moved their nursery to Savanah Road, the present location of Heathcote Botanical Gardens, and Mr. Rood moved the tree again. In 1980, when the Crimmins retired, Mr. Rood purchased the tree and moved it to Rood Landscape just north of Jupiter. In 2005, Mr. Rood at the age of 87 returned the precious tree to Heathcote Botanical Gardens in a memorial to Jim and Molly Crimmins.

Many thanks to Roy Rood and Rood Landscape for this display of friendship, generosity, and botanical history.

Grand Opening of the Bonsai Gallery

In May 2010, 200 members and guests gathered for the ribbon cutting that unveiled the James J. Smith Bonsai Gallery, which remains today as America’s largest public display of Bonsai.

This garden was developed as a result of a generous donation in 2009 from Bonsai Master Jim Smith of 100 of his finest bonsai to Heathcote Botanical Gardens on the condition that they would be properly maintained, displayed, and protected. Following this donation, Heathcote Botanical Gardens placed 2nd in a competition for the SLC Tourist Development Council in 2010, resulting in an awarded $148,000 grant. This was matched by a $100,000 anonymous donation that provided sufficient internal resources to make the Bonsai Gallery a reality.

Today, the Bonsai Gallery is still a prominent feature of Heathcote. The Bonsai Pavillion, designed by Architect Peter Moor, serves to host performances, events, and more. While the Bonsai Garden, designed by Landscape Architect Rodney Robinson, is enjoyed by garden guests year round.

Garden of Lights Inaugural Event

In December 2015, Heathcote Botanical Gardens hosted the inaugural Garden of Lights event. The event welcomed more than 6,300 visitors during its first season. Volunteers contributed 4,672 hours specifically to Garden of Lights, and a total of 12,639 volunteer hours were recorded across all garden programs for the year.

Garden of Lights began as a vision of the late Tom Salmon and his wife Judy Salmon, who volunteered at the Gardens. What started as approximately six handcrafted light displays around the main lawn has grown into more than twenty featured handcrafted creations spanning over three acres of the property. Now the “Illuminators” volunteer team designs, creates, and installs this amazing event.

Garden of Lights has since become one of Heathcote Botanical Gardens’ largest annual fundraising events and a signature tradition for the community.

2026 Marks the 40th Anniversary of Heathcote Botanical Gardens

In 2026, Heathcote Botanical Gardens celebrates its fortieth anniversary. Over four decades, the Gardens have grown and evolved as plants have been introduced, collections have expanded, and landscapes have changed with the seasons and the needs of the community.

To commemorate this milestone year, Heathcote Botanical Gardens is releasing its first novella and updating its recipe book. The Gardens are also featuring the winner of the Forty Seasons of Beauty contest on select items available in the gift shop.

Additional celebrations include the 40th birthday party scheduled for May 16. This anniversary year honors the past while looking ahead to the continued growth and future of Heathcote Botanical Gardens.