The Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens in Punta Gorda has opened its first phase with 11 contemporary sculptures by internationally renowned artists. The works range from the 21,000-pound Steel Palm by Boston artist Jacob Kulin to Ostriches, two 20-foot tall human forms by Yu Zhaoyang from China.
When completed, the Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens will be one of Florida's largest at 27 acres, 17 of which will be developed with the remaining 10 remaining as waterways, marshland and heritage mangroves.
Currently, 11 acres have been developed, including the Garden Community Center, where visitors can enjoy a light bite and enjoy visiting exhibits. More than 3,500 botanicals have been planted and include the caladium garden, succulent garden and hibiscus garden.
Visitors can walk the Mangrove Marsh Boardwalk and view all three types of Florida's mangrove trees: red, black and white. A 50 million-year-old stone palm frond fossil serves as the inspiration for the gardens' logo and its signature sculpture.
On display through March is the visiting botanical photo exhibit by Laurie Tennent. Her outdoor collection is created from specimens found in the Peace River Gardens. The five permanent works on aluminum were purchased for the garden through a grant from the Charlotte Community Foundation.
The Tetrault Foundation, a private nonprofit foundation, is providing one of the largest endowments for public botanical gardens in the state of Florida.
The Peace River Botanical Gardens is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and $8 for students through high school; children 5 and under are free.