The Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, located on Route 24 southwest of Gainesville is a beautiful site with 62 acres arranged into 14 separate, major collections. You'll have the opportunity to be bamboozled by Florida's largest public display of bamboos and to peruse the largest herb collection in the southeast. The Gardens takes their name from Kanapaha Lake, located directly to the north. Kanapaha means "Palmetto leaf house" in the Timucuan tongue.
The best time to visit Kanapaha Botanical Gardens is from June-September. You can also arrange special events at the Gardens, such as weddings, showers, etc. The venue is closed every Thursday, but aside from then, it opens every day at 9:00 and closes at either dusk or 5:00. Admission is very inexpensive and tours are available.
Kanapaha Botanical Gardens is comprised of 14 major collections visually accessible from a 1 ½ mile paved walkway. These include the state's largest public display of bamboos and the largest herb garden in the Southeast. Some of Kanapaha's gardens are organized taxonomically; others demonstrate principles of ecology or natural selection. Kanapaha's signature plants include a premier stand of Chinese royal bamboo (Wong Chuk), and--during the warm months--giant Victoria water lilies and Asian snake arums. The months offering the most color are June through September.