View source for Sunken Gardens (Florida)

{{Infobox NRHP
| name = Sanitary Public Market
| image =
| caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|27|47|24|N|82|38|18|W|display=inline,title}}
| locmapin = Florida#USA
| refnum = 02000680<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>
| location = [[St. Petersburg, Florida|St. Petersburg]], [[Florida]]
| architecture = [[Mission Revival Style architecture|Mission]]/[[Spanish Colonial Revival Style architecture|Spanish Revival]]
| area =
| added = June 27, 2002
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| governing_body =
}}
[[File:St. Petersburg FL Sunken Gardens sign01.jpg|thumb|St. Petersburg FL Sunken Gardens Sign]]
[[Image:Sunken Gardens Butterfly Garden.jpg|thumb|Butterfly Garden at Sunken Gardens]]
The '''Sunken Gardens''' are 4 acres (1.6 ha) of well-established [[botanical gardens]], located in the [[North Shore Historic District (St. Petersburg, Florida)|Historic Old Northeast]] neighborhood of [[St. Petersburg, Florida]], at 1825 4th Street North. The Gardens have existed for more than a century, and are one of the oldest roadside tourist attractions in the United States. The Gardens are now operated by the City of St. Petersburg, and maintained with the help of volunteers. Sunken Gardens are open to the public every day of the week. An admission fee is charged for entrance into the gardens and a yearly membership is also available.
Sunken Gardens retains their historical interest as an important example of a 1930s Florida roadside commercial attraction, and is probably the oldest commercial tourist attraction on Florida's west coast. The Gardens are open to the public for educational programs, tours, and special events, particularly weddings which have taken place for decades on the Wedding Lawn,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/sunken-gardens-wedding-continues-family-tradition/2269976/|title=Sunken Gardens wedding continues family tradition|website=Tampa Bay Times|access-date=2016-07-17}}</ref> and in the banquet facilities in the Garden Room overlooking the unique garden setting.
[[File:Sunken Gardens Butterfly Garden (1).jpg|thumb|Sunken Gardens Butterfly Garden]]
==History==
The Gardens began in 1903, when plumber and avid gardener George Turner Sr. (1881-1961) purchased six acres of land,<ref>{{cite web |title=History |url=http://www.stpete.org/attractions/sunken_gardens/history.php |website=St. Petersburg |publisher=City of St. Petersburg |accessdate=4 February 2020}}</ref> including a shallow lake {{convert|10|ft|m}} below sea level, which he drained to form his private "sunken" garden. Turner started planting [[papaya]]s and [[citrus]] fruits along with other exotic plants on the rich soil surrounding his home. By the 1920s, Turner had opened a [[nursery (horticulture)|nursery]] and began selling fruits, vegetables, and other plants, and visitors were paying a [[Nickel (United States coin)|nickel]] each to stroll through the gardens. In the fall of 1935, he fenced his garden and started charging an admission fee of 24 cents. The Gardens eventually became widely popular, and from the 1950s through the 1970s were ranked among Florida's top ten commercial attractions. After Turner's death in 1961, his sons Ralph and George Jr. continued to run the gardens, which were eventually passed on to Ralph's three sons. They eventually sold it to the city in 1999 for more than $2.26 million.
==Historic building status==
The Gardens include a large building originally known as the '''Sanitary Public Market''', first constructed in 1926–27, and designed by architect Albert Lee Hawes. It was a [[Mediterranean Revival Style architecture|Mediterranean Revival style]] arcade with twin [[Moors|Moorish]] towers, cast stone trim, and a tile roof. In 1940, it was converted for use as the [[Coca-Cola]] Bottling Company, and restyled in [[Streamline Moderne|Art Moderne]]. The Turner family purchased the building in 1967 to create the World's Largest Gift Shop and the King of Kings Wax Museum, adding [[wikt:faux|faux]] [[lava]] portions at that time. In 1999, it was purchased by the City of St. Petersburg, along with the adjoining gardens, using a voter-approved tax.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.stpete.org/attractions/sunken_gardens/history.php|title=History - St. Petersburg|website=www.stpete.org|access-date=2016-07-17}}</ref> The Gardens were designated as a local historic landmark and treated to several years' efforts of restoration. On June 27, 2002, the former Sanitary Public Market building was added to the U.S. [[National Register of Historic Places]], and is now the home of [[Great Explorations Children's Museum]].
==Flora and fauna==
The Gardens currently contain over 500 species of tropical and subtropical plants amidst pools and cascading waterfalls, lushly planted in a collection of more than 50,000 tropical plants and flowers. They include a [[Japanese garden]], [[cactus]] garden, and [[butterfly]] garden, and [[Chilean flamingo]]s. Plants include [[bougainvillea]]s, [[royal palm]]s, [[Nymphaeaceae|water lilies]], [[Justicia brandegeeana|shrimp plants]], and [[fruit]] trees. The garden atmosphere is peaceful and many of the plants are quite large (compared to typical specimens) due to their long history of protection and cultivation.
=== Chilean flamingos ===
In 2016, Sunken Gardens acquired a new young flock of 20 flamingos from the [[San Antonio Zoo and Aquarium|San Antonio Zoo]].<ref>{{Citation |work=YouTube video|last=St. Petersburg, FL|title=Sunken Gardens Welcomes New Flamingos|date=2016-04-26|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXOhbgxazxs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110050744/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXOhbgxazxs |archive-date=2020-11-10 |url-status=dead|accessdate=2016-07-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fox13news.com/news/local-news/129493128-story|title=20 new flamingos join the Sunken Gardens family|last=FOX|language=en-US|access-date=2016-07-17}}</ref>  They joined elderly flamingo residents, George and Lucy, the two remaining [[Chilean flamingo]]s from the original 17 bird flock that have been on exhibit since 1956. The new flamingos were purchased with funds raised by a nonprofit group, Flamingos Forever, composed of volunteers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tbo.com/pinellas-county/group-wants-to-raise-60000-to-restore-sunken-gardens-flamingo-flock-20150401/|title=Group wants to raise $60,000 to restore Sunken Gardens flamingo flock|access-date=2016-07-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/FlamingosForeverFund/|title=Flamingos Forever {{!}} Facebook|website=www.facebook.com|access-date=2016-07-17}}</ref> Additionally, the city purchased a $30,000 nighttime enclosure for the new flock. Flamingos Forever changed their name to Sunken Gardens Forever, after the acquisition of the new flock, and St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman named May "Sunken Gardens Forever Appreciation Month" in honor of their fundraising efforts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tbo.com/pinellas-county/new-flock-arrives-at-sunken-gardens-20160421/|title=New flock of flamingos arrives at Sunken Gardens|access-date=2016-07-17}}</ref>
=== Parrots ===
Sunken Gardens also houses 11 [[parrot]]s. Five macaws, four Amazons, and two cockatoos live in the garden. Additionally, a [[kookaburra]] also resides on the premises. All twelve of the birds are rescues and were acquired after their previous owners died or could no longer provide care for them. Bobbie Sue is a yellow-headed amazon who is over 30 years old. There is Mindy, who is a white umbrella cockatoo that's around 30. Coconut, a 20-year-old macaw, was one of the more recent birds acquired by the gardens. There is also Mitch, an 8-year-old Major Mitchell's cockatoo. In recent years, staff stated that Mitch has become agreeable and will occasionally play “peekaboo” with staff or visitors.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet the bird man of St. Petersburg’s Sunken Gardens |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/st-petersburg/2021/08/23/meet-the-bird-man-of-st-petersburgs-sunken-gardens/ |access-date=2022-04-29 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}</ref>[[Image:Sunken Gardens Chilean flamingoes.jpg|thumb|Chilean Flamingos at Sunken Gardens]]
== Programs for lifelong learning ==
Sunken Gardens offers horticulture and other education programs for children and adults. Examples include "Cameras and Kids" where children learn nature photography skills with their own camera or smartphone, "Propagation Techniques," "Growing Microgreens," "Rain Gardens and Barrels," and  "Think Outside the Pot: Mounting Orchids".  Programs are often free with membership and are included with paid admission, though some include a fee in addition to standard admission.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.stpete.org/attractions/sunken_gardens/workshops.php|title=Workshops  - St. Petersburg|website=www.stpete.org|access-date=2016-07-17}}</ref>
== Community offerings ==
Sunken Gardens offers garden tours, horticultural programs, and special events to residents of the community and visitors. Groups visits are allowed as self-guided visits and docent-led tours. The gardens also allow for event rentals of weddings, private parties, seminars, luncheons, retreats, and receptions. Since 1935, Sunken Gardens has allowed weddings on the property.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Sunken Gardens |url=https://www.stpete.org/visitors/sunken_gardens.php |access-date=2022-04-29 |website=www.stpete.org |language=en}}</ref>
== Sophie & Zack at Sunken Gardens ==
Sophie & Zack at Sunken Gardens is a children's book made by Sunken Gardens Forever Foundation, Pop Design Group, and a local illustrator. The book includes images and information about the history, plants, and animals at Sunken Gardens. The book was completed as part of an educational partnership with Pinellas County School System.[https://www.popdesigngroup.com/portfolio_page/sophie-zack-at-sunken-gardens-book/]
After the book was completed, Sophie & Zack at Sunken Gardens developed into a project to allow local students to learn about the gardens and visit them. An estimated 1,600 third graders attending 19 local Title-1 schools were initially expected to benefit from this project. Benefits include a story-time of the book by a Sunken Gardens Forever Foundation volunteer at school, each student receiving a copy of Sophie & Zack at Sunken Gardens to take home for free, and then a field trip for the students to visit the gardens. The Sunken Gardens Forever Foundation fully funds the entire project.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-07-28 |title=Sophie & Zack’s Wonderful Adventures {{!}} Northeast Journal |url=https://northeastjournal.org/sophie-zacks-wonderful-adventures/ |access-date=2022-04-29 |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Accessibility ==
The majority of historic paths within the garden are ADA accessible. These paths span three-fourths of a mile. Wheelchairs and walkers are allowed within the gardens but not provided. Some of the paths have a steep incline, but alternate routes are available to access all areas of the gardens. There is also limited seating available throughout the gardens. Only ADA service trained dogs are allowed within Sunken Gardens.<ref name=":0" />
== See also ==
* [[List of botanical gardens and arboretums in Florida]]
* [[List of botanical gardens in the United States]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{commons category|Sunken Gardens (Florida)}}
* {{official website}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070930153930/http://www.flheritage.com/services/sites/fht/record_t.cfm?ID=812&type=c&index=52 Historic Sunken Gardens] at [http://www.flheritage.com Florida's Office of Cultural and Historical Programs]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070814030404/http://www.tbrpc.org/livable/sunkengardens/default.htm Sunken Gardens] at [http://www.tbrpc.org/ Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council]
*[https://sunkengardensfoundation.org/ Sunken Gardens Forever Foundation.]
{{National Register of Historic Places in Florida}}
[[Category:Botanical gardens in Florida]]
[[Category:Geography of St. Petersburg, Florida]]
[[Category:Parks in Pinellas County, Florida]]
[[Category:Roadside attractions in Florida]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in St. Petersburg, Florida]]