Our treasured Heathcote Gardens made it through Irma but its fairly battered and bruised. There are a lot of trees down and and debris everywhere! There’s a lot of cleanup to be done and many hands lighten the load.
The silver lining is that our historic Heathcote House still stands. Regarding the James J. Smith Tropical Bonsai Collection, bonsai curator Seth Nelson and his friend Juan Andrade had moved many of the trees into the Pavilion and onto the ground away from falling limbs to prepare for the storm. It survived fairly well but will definitely require some tender loving care. The bonsai in the Japanese Garden did not fare as well and ended up with some toppled stanchions and broken pots.
If you can spare any time, treasure or have a special talent to help get our beautiful Gardens reopened, please join us!
Bring your gloves, a hat and you’ll be welcomed with open arms!
To offer any help or assistance with the cleanup, please call us at 772-464-4672
Our heartfelt thanks for your continued support!!!
Wednesday’s volunteers were very busy with a big task at hand to say the least!
- Joe Rainey removing some debris.
- Bonsai damage in the Japanese Garden
- Bonsai damage in the Japanese Garden
- Tree down in the reef garden
- Tree down in the reef garden
- Broken tree in the herb garden
- Sonja James clearing hurricane debris
- Tree down in the herb garden
- Tree down in the herb garden
- JD Working Tirelessly
- Tree down in the herb garden
- Quite a mess
- Joe Rainey and a fallen limb.
- Junior Master Gardeners Keira and Mike
- Broken palm fronds
- Tree down by the main lawn
- Queen Emma took a pounding from Irma
- The community garden
- The community garden
- Joe Rainey hauling debris from Irma
- The community garden
- A very welcome volunteer!
- Tree down.
- Tree down.
- Smushed.