Due to Tropical Storm Elsa, we are closed today and Wednesday. We hope you all fare well through the storm! 🌬🌀🌧

🔥These peppers may look like gumdrops or holiday lights,but the rainbow Capsicum packs a punch at 10,000–30,000 Scoville units! Some say they’re delicious in salads, salsas, or pickled or dried. Our #rainbowpepper shrub is happy in a container and adds a great ornamental effect!

.SunkenGardens - where you can escape to a botanical paradise in the midst of St. Pete's bustling city. When was the last time you visited St. Pete's oldest roadside attraction? 🌿🌸 #SunkenGardens #StPete

Reminder! Increased rainfall in the summer months causes nutrients from fertilizer to reach water bodies + lead to environmental issues. To prevent this, the Pinellas County fertilizer ban is in effect June 1 - September 30. For eco-friendly tips, visit: stpete.org/stormwater

Water lilies don't mind the rain 🌧! Frogs, mosquito-eating dragonflies, & other beneficial creatures find habitat & food sources amongst the roots, leaves, & blooms.🌸 #WhatsBloomimgWednesday #sunkengardensstpete #tropicalgarden #floridagarden

This showstopper is thriving in our middle koi pond w/blooms the size of your hand! 🌺

We were glad to have to Dr. Nichole Zellner of Avian and Animal hospital come out to give our exotic rescue birds a check up. A couple were wary of getting on the scale (who can blame them? 😉⚖), but our feathered friends passed their wellness checks with flying colors!🦜

There's a fungus among us and we're lichen it!🌿 Lichen are a mix of fungi & algae. Both absorb water, minerals, & pollutants from the air through rain & dust. They're sensitive to air pollutants, so if you see them, chances are the air quality is pretty good!

Pickerelweed is far from a weed! This summer-blooming aquatic plant graces our ponds with its vibrant purple blooms. This FL plant attracts #butterflies, #bees,& dragonfly-eating mosquitoes! Its lush foliage is edible to humans, too. flawildflowers.org/flower-friday-… #flawildflowers2021

The Gardens are full of tropical blooms throughout the summer, including this large bird’s nest Anthurium hookeri. Look up in the trees to see this air plant’s stunning red berries and large, exotic leaves that can grow up to 2 feet long! #WhatsBloomingWednesday #tropicalgarden

Duck! #FlamingoFriday #florida #flamingos #floridaflamingos #chileanflamingos #stpeteflorida #stpete

"The Interloper"😉 This shot is too beautiful to wait for #FlamingoFriday. Another lovely moment captured by our animal care staff member, Jane Wallace! 🦩 #sunkengardens #flamingos #floridabirding #florida #floridaegret #naturalflorida #tropicalgarden #chileanflamingos

We hope to see you over the holidays! While we're closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, we'll be open on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. See you soon! (Pictured: Decorating the Christmas tree at Sunken Gardens in 1938. This year's tree is featured in our Oak Pavilion.)

Orchids galore! Please NOTE: 1. Parking is limited. Offsite parking is available along Crescent Lake Park off of 22nd Ave N. 2. NO Membership Activations the day of the festival. Facebook event page: fb.me/e/4tb6uYBHR #stpetersburg #orchidfestival #plantsale

🦩Our #flamingos love to nibble the seeds from this striking flower. Pickerelweed, summer-blooming aquatic, FL plant. Attracts #butterflies, bees, & dragonflies that eat mosquitoes! Seeds & young leaves are edible for humans, too! flawildflowers.org/flower-friday-… #WhatsBloomingWednesday

🦩🌀We're hunkered down! Our animals are safe w/staff on site to see them through the storm. The flamingos are having a hurricane party in the bathroom; eating, drinking, & dancing. 😉 Stay safe out there!

Our flamingos are back in their outdoor habitat, but we are so glad to have their time sheltering from #HurricaneIan in the ladies restroom documented forever by @mrchadmize. What a great illustration of our staff member's photograph! We hope to reopen this Saturday. 👍🏽🦩

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WEATHER UPDATE: Sunken Gardens will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday, August 29 and 30. Team members are busy preparing the Gardens and moving all animals to safe locations. Stay tuned to our social media for updates and stay safe everyone!