One of the most beautiful and complex gardens in Florida, Kanapaha Botanical Gardens sits beneath grand live oaks with a 1.4 mile trail through more than a dozen themed gardens on it's 62 acres. Bamboo is the specialty, along with Florida’s best collection of tall grasses.
The Butterfly Rainforest is a Tropical Environment with a living exhibit that features hundreds of free-flying butterflies and birds from around the world along with other animals including turtles and fish. All of these are viewed along a pathway lined with orchids and hundreds of other vibrant flowering plants.
When
June 4, 2022
9:00 AM
Admission Fees
$10.00 Kanapaha Gardens
$12:00 Adults
$10:00 Seniors Butterfly Rain Forrest
Where
4700 SW 58th Dr, Gainesville, FL 32608
Entrance on S.W. Archer Road (State Road 24) 1 mile west of Interstate 75 (Exit 384)
Contact - Dave Wholey
904 322 4004
Parking Info - Parking lot at entrance
Entrance Info -
Transportation
Car pooling arranged individually as requested.
Food
Discuss options such as breakfast before, lunch after, etc.
Schedule of Events
We will meet at the Kanapha Garden parking lot at 9:00AM. We will photograph throughout the park reconnecting back together at 12:00 PM for travel to the Butterfly Rain Forrest.
We will meet in the Museum parking lot and proceed into the Butterfly Rain Forrest at the museum. You can photograph at your leisure finishing the day at your own pace.
Gear
Shooting in the Kanapha Gardens will offer both landscape and flower opportunities. The bamboo sections are particularly interesting both from the scope and design elements presented in the stands.
Both wide angle and mid range zoom lenses will work here. Tripods are allowed and may be called for in the bamboo stands.
The Butterfly Rainforest will present more intimate landscape opportunities so the midrange zoom will work here also. Check the minimum focus distance for your lens as you will have lots of posing butterflies to work with. A close focusing telephoto or macro lens both work well here. A flash can help here also. Tripods are not permitted.
Other Tips
Sun and bug protection recommended for Kanapha Gardens, not so for the Butterfly Rain Forrest.
Since we will not have a meal time in the schedule, water, snacks and a packed lunch should be considered.
Directions
From the Jacksonville area best option is I10 to US 301 to Gainesville. Use GPS to destination from there.
Orange Park area Florida 21 South to Florida 26. Use GPS to destination from there.