Who knew there was a hidden community garden in Oakland Park. They are a nonprofit which truly…read moreserves the community. I have been on their mailing list for a while but finally joined them for one of their weekly gardening talks, Talk @ 10. The topic was tomatoes I learned something and it inspired me to purchase a tomato plant (wish me luck). I plan on attending future talks as my schedule permits. The presenter was knowledgeable and patient with all the questions. They have garden plots you can purchase and the is a garden shed that sells gardening items.

Credit to the Urban Farming Institute for offering the urban farming in a low income, high crime…read moresection of Oakland Park. It is a food desert in the nearby area and the concept of fresh vegetables for the community is encouraging. The Institute offers a variety of classes including in beekeeping. The also have garden plots and vertical gardening.

I have been shopping here for over a year and it is amazing. Their plants are beautiful and range…read morefrom rare aroids to butterfly garden attractors to landscaping plants. Jeff and Todd, the owners, are so friendly and knowledgeable! This place has been such an amazing addition to the neighborhood since it opened. They also host awesome local free community events like the Rooted In Broward Plants Swaps. Go and support this amazing local business!

This is a new awesome nursery. I went when they first opened, so I'm looking forward to seeing the…read moredifferent exotic plants that grow in zone 10. I'm always looking for more plants that I can't find in mainstream stores. The staff were very knowledgeable and friendly. I wish them nothing but success!!

Sawgrass Nature Center & Wildlife Hospital Review - Coral Springs, FL…read more Rating: 2/5 Sawgrass Nature Center & Wildlife Hospital is a nonprofit organization dedicated to wildlife rehabilitation and education, and I genuinely respect the work they do for injured and displaced animals. However, as a visitor attraction, I found the experience underwhelming and left feeling disappointed by both the limited exhibits and the overall condition of the facility. Animal Exhibits: The center houses a collection of educational ambassador animals, including: * Red-tailed Hawk * Red-shouldered Hawk * Barred Owl * Eastern Screech Owl * Black Vulture * American Alligator * Yellow-Naped Amazon Parrot * Fancy Pigeons and Domestic Pigeons * Guinea Fowl * African Spur-Thighed Tortoise * Ball Python * Apalachicola Kingsnake * Gray Ratsnake * Red Ratsnake * Curly-Haired Tarantula * Bearded Dragon * Everglades Crayfish * Eagle Map Turtle * False Map Turtle While all of the species listed were present, many of the enclosures were small and the overall exhibit collection felt limited. Unfortunately, several exhibits appeared empty during our visit, and it was often difficult to determine whether the animals were simply hiding or no longer on display. Ironically, the most exciting animal encounter of the day wasn't part of the exhibits at all--it was spotting a large Giant Ameiva lizard roaming the grounds. Facility & Grounds: The facility appeared somewhat run-down and overgrown in several areas. While I understand resources are likely directed toward animal care and rehabilitation, the grounds lacked the polished appearance many visitors may expect from a wildlife or nature center. The walking paths were uneven and not wheelchair or stroller friendly, which may make navigation difficult for some visitors. Educational Value: The center provides educational information about many of its resident animals and serves an important role in wildlife rehabilitation within South Florida. Learning about the stories behind some of the animals on display added some value to the visit and helped highlight the organization's mission. Gift Shop: I always enjoy supporting conservation organizations, so I visited the gift shop before leaving. I was surprised to find there were no magnets, keychains, postcards, pins, or other common souvenirs available. It was mostly T-shirts and fidget toys. They did, however, have a unique collection of handmade earrings created from recycled cereal boxes, along with several pinned insect displays that were interesting to browse. I ultimately purchased a sticker simply to help support the center's work. Things Worth Knowing: * This is primarily a wildlife rehabilitation facility rather than a traditional zoo or nature center. As such, much of the organization's work takes place through the animal hospital, which is not open to the public. * They also offer programs for birthday parties and small groups, which may provide a more interactive experience than a standard self-guided visit. * Admission is only $2-5 per person, and children under five are admitted free. *The entire facility only took us about 15 minutes to go through at a slow, comfortable pace. This included the main building, gift shop, and walking grounds. Final Thoughts: Sawgrass Nature Center & Wildlife Hospital performs valuable work rehabilitating and caring for wildlife, and I respect the mission behind the organization. However, from a visitor perspective, the experience felt limited. The small exhibit collection, lack of visible animals, overgrown grounds, and short visit duration made it difficult to recommend as a destination attraction. It's important to remember that this facility's primary purpose is wildlife rehabilitation rather than entertainment, and visitors should set their expectations accordingly. If your primary goal is supporting wildlife rehabilitation efforts, a visit or donation is worthwhile. If you're looking for an engaging wildlife center or nature attraction, you may find yourself wishing there was more to see.

A fun little nature center with a good amount of animals. We saw a medium alligator, baby gators,…read moretortoises, birds etc. It is a donations based entry fee but it was very reasonable. There are a lot of types of animals even though it is not a huge place. Kinda great for young kids.

We live waking at Fern Forest. The trails are beautiful and the "treehouse" in the middle is great…read morefor events and kids to explore. It's also a great spot for photos! One thing that could be improved is the wildlife children's center needs a major deep clean. It doesn't look like it has ever been cleaned. There is so much dust everywhere and has lots of spiderwebs around the baseboards and underneath the furniture. Great spot to get a spider bite. Lots of the content and activities are old and out of date.

The best spot I have been so far for long hiking trails in the Pompano area. Easy hiking. Didn't…read moreget bit by any type bugs, spiders, mosquitoes , snakes or alligators. The Trails are clean. Nature Center is great. Perfect trails for all ages. Restrooms and refreshments available. I did the Half mile boardwalk loop trail which is very shaded, so it wasn't feeling too hot. Very tropical. Felt like it was actually misting but no rain. Lots of water under the walkway. It's a Lush forest. Then I did the 1 mile loop prairie trail plus an extra 300 yard loop trail off the prairie trail. Overall a nice forest. Check it out if you haven't been. It's free and plenty of parking was available on a Saturday. They Even had a cleaning station with a water hose and foot scrubber to clean your shoes on the way out.

I came to Snyder Park for a meeting and ran into Park Naturalist, Joan Starr. She wanted to give me…read morea tour of the Food Forest. When we arrived, she took me to the edible garden. To say I had my very own smorgasbord is an understatement. She educated me and I grazed on different herbs, plants, and edible flowers. They have lots of fruit trees. Before we left, she cut me a piece of Cuban Oregano. I'll be making spaghetti sauce tonight. The Food Forest is open year around and they even have programs that will teach about the plants and trees.

I thought of joining and no sooner had I inquired about joining I was asked whether I worked. I…read morewas immediately told there meeting times would be held at times I was working without disclosing my work hours. The second time I inquired I was referred to the Parkland club. Not friendly to people who work (hold jobs).

I have been a member of this club for about 10 years. I worked full time up until this year…read more While it is true we hold meetings during the day, the second Thursday of the month at 10AM, I felt it worthwhile to take off the day or rearrange my work schedule to accommodate this club. We do fantastic field trips and have very informative speakers and workshops. I have transformed my yard into a garden paradise, the majority of the plants being plants from other members. We also do many charitable projects, such as planting a garden in the Veterans park most recently. We also have annual scholarships for high school students. Great club!

Meadows Park is a nearly 13 acre park centrally located in Boca Raton just east of Boca Raton…read moreMiddle School. Set next to a canal, it has a plenty of parking and many shade trees. A popular amenity at Meadows Park is its 8 lane, 25 yard by 25 meter pool with two diving boards. Resident children pay $2 and adults are $4 while non residents pay double. You can also purchase monthly, semi annual, and annual memberships. The Boca Mantas Swim Team trains at the pool and the pool offers swim lessons. Meadows park is also the home of the 1.4 acre Boca Community Garden which opened on October 16, 2021. The garden is sponsored by the Junior League of Boca Raton, Brightline, City of Boca Raton, Community Greening and Tree City USA. Garden plots can be rented by Boca Raton community members from $60 to $110 per plot. Residents can also participate in gardening classes. Inside the garden is a gazebo with seating. There is a new playground being installed that is themed to match the community garden. The garden smelled lovely and I really loved exploring it and getting inspiration for things I can grow in my own school community garden. The garden and pool make Meadows Park a special destination in the Boca Parks and Rec holdings. The park also has a baseball field, sand volleyball court, tennis courts, picnic tables, and grills, and a paved exercise path. The park will be even nicer when the brand new playground is completed. Come out and enjoy all this park has to offer.

I had the opportunity to take a nature tour at Snyder Park with a Heal the Planet Park Specialist,…read moreNada Vergili. She was great !!! She was so knowledgeable about the plants, uses, benefits and botanical name and background..I learned so much... She was so enthusiastic and positive about everything she shared with us..it was a great learning experience. I learned about Heal the Planet and the things they do to make our Earth a better place...from conservation to recycling to clean up, etc. Their mission is to make our Planet a better place to live, which includes... - To safeguard our planet, for our children and future generations. - Believing that the health of the planet is each individual's personal responsibility. - Believing in being informed and making self-honoring choices, for the greater good. - Believing in using our resources to raise the level of consciousness for all humanity. A great non profit. I dropped a contribution in their donation box, I really believe in what they do....

Heal the Planet is a non profit founded by Kenneth Fisher. At 17 he purchased his first ice cream…read morebusiness and by 19 he owned four residential properties. His businesses expanded to include retail and telecommunications. Fisher always wanted to give back and he sat on the board of directors of several non profits and supported the fundraising arms of other charities. After enrolling in a Master's Program in Spiritual Psychology program he came up with the idea for Heal the Planet, a charity focused on "improving life on the​ ​planet through educating, inspiring, and empowering the next generation of children." They are "committed to improving the quality of life for our planet and all its inhabitants through education, action, and utilizing our power of choice. We provide free education and resources aimed at increasing awareness about nutrition, mindfulness, and consciousness in alignment with a better quality of life and a more sustainable planet." I recently became aware of Heal the Planet when I visited their charming gift store on Federal Highway. It is a curated artisan gift shop that sells sustainable and eco friendly items. I was so impressed with the shop that I wanted to learn more about them. Their programs include The Seed Program, six one hour sessions that connects children to the world and their place in it, Young Seeds in the Park, a three hour course for children 4-17, Heal the Planet Sports, Earth Day events, Beach Clean Up, Young Planet leaders, Contest, Food Forest Gardens, and the Spread Love Mural Challenge. They also hold nature based learning for kids, the Young Seeds Program and adult workshops and nature tours at Snyder Park The more I learn about Heal the Planet the more impressed I am. I love their environmental message and their focus on educating children although there are events for adults as well. It is amazing how much they offer the community. For more details, times, and dates, check out their website.