For a nature fix to engage all the senses, stop by downtown Bonita Springs’ 102-year-old Shangri-La Springs. After replanting the garden beds in May and September, garden manager Cecelia Morales leads one-hour Organic Garden Tours—limited to 20 participants—on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Guests can stop to pick, smell and taste their way through the edible, tropical and subtropical grounds.
Depending on the month, you may see sprouting tomato vines or blooming rows of lettuce. (We recommend waiting a month after the May and September plantings to see a fuller crop.) Southwest Florida native and Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) graduate Cecelia draws from her work with Bokeelia’s FruitScapes nursery and the FGCU Food Forest to teach guests about the various edible plants on Shangri-La’s 4-acre property.
On select days, June through August, Cecelia also hosts Garden Tea Parties, focusing on brewable plants. After the tour, guests head to a private room for brunch and herbal tea made with fresh pickings from the garden. Stop in throughout the year for a bite at the onsite restaurant Harvest & Wisdom, where chef Michael Swartz preps plant-forward breakfast and lunch options using fresh picks from the garden’s bounty.