Historic Flamingo Park Garden Tour

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Flamingo Park to Host Botanically Blissful Afternoon Garden Tour on

April 3, 2016, Amid Downtown Neighborhood’s Historic Homes

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida — Framed by picturesque streets lined with Mahogany,

Coconut Palm, Southern Oak and Royal Poinciana trees, the Flamingo Park Historic

District invites the community to come wander through 10 verdant gardens and indulge

the senses with live music and delicious cuisine at the neighborhood’s biennial Historic

Home Garden Tour, from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 3, 2016.

Gardens on the tour surround Flamingo Park’s distinctive historic homes, most built in

the 1920s in the Spanish and Mediterranean Revival architectural styles. Gardens

range widely in style from formal and cottage gardens populated by lush tropical trees

and plants, to native Florida landscapes, elaborate vegetable and herb gardens, and

outdoor living spaces showcasing unique pools and inviting patios.

Each home on the tour is more of a destination on a 10-stop roving garden party, with

live music performed by an impressive lineup of local musicians from many musical

genres, and complimentary food and drink provided by some of West Palm Beach’s

finest restaurants, including Sushi Jo, Serenity Garden Tea House, and the highly

acclaimed new Italian bistro Grato. As a special bonus for Garden Tour participants, the

new multi-disciplinary art gallery and restaurant EMKO will open their lush garden patio

as a “last stop” on the tour, serving tour guests coffee and dessert from 3 to 5 p.m.

Horticultural experts will be on hand at several homes to provide gardening advice and

answer any questions visitors may have. For guests seeking an expert-led guided tour

experience, this year’s Garden Tour will offer two such tours during the event. Larry

Grosser, a retired environmental scientist and certified Master Gardner, will lead visitors

on a tour exploring the many aspects of tropical fruit trees and produce gardening. Jeff

Nurge, also a Master Gardener, will lead a tour focused on butterfly gardening and

Florida native planting. Nurge is owner and founder of sustainable landscape consulting

company Florida Native Gardening, as well as co-owner of Native Choice Nursery.

These expert-led tours are both roughly one hour in length and available to interested

Garden Tour guests for no additional charge. Due to limited space, participation is on a

first-come, first-served basis.

Tickets for the 2016 Flamingo Park Historic Home Garden Tour are $35 in advance

(online at flamingopark.org) and include admission to all 10 neighborhood gardens (plus

EMKO visit from 3-5 p.m.), optional participation in one or both of the expert-led walking

tours, and all-you-care-to-enjoy food and drink. Tickets may also be purchased at any of

several retail locations, including:

• Belle and Maxwell’s, 3700 S. Dixie Hwy., West Palm Beach;

• Palm Beach Motor Cars (Bob Bohm in the Service Dept.), 915 S Dixie Hwy., West

Palm Beach;

• Uncle Bim's Garden Center, 926 Belvedere Rd, West Palm Beach; and

• Serenity Garden Tea House, 316 Vallette Way, West Palm Beach.

The starting point for the tour is 720 Ardmore Road, where tour goers can pick up

tickets purchased online, along with their tour guide booklet. This is also the starting

location for the expert-led guided tours. Tickets can also be purchased here on tour day

for $40 with cash, personal checks or major credit card.

The tour route is easily and comfortably walkable. Parking is free and readily available

throughout the Flamingo Park neighborhood. Visitors who wish to park close to the

check-in booth at 720 Ardmore Road are advised to park on adjacent Lake Avenue.

For complete information, including online ticket sales, visit flamingopark.org.

Information about the tour, including photos and weekly sneak peeks of the homes and

gardens on the tour will be available on the Flamingo Park Facebook page,

facebook.com/FlamingoParkNeighborhood.

About Flamingo Park

Flamingo Park is a neighborhood of historic homes, many in the Spanish Mission and

Mediterranean Revival styles, built during the 1920s boom era. Flamingo Park is

bounded by Park Place to the north, Belvedere Road to the south and Parker Avenue to

the West. The eastern boundary of Flamingo Park is defined by Georgia Avenue for the

southern half (Belvedere to Claremore) and Dixie Highway for the northern half

(Claremore to Park Place).

The 2016 Flamingo Park Historic Home Garden Tour is hosted by the Flamingo Park

Neighborhood Association, a non-profit, volunteer-run group of homeowners dedicated

to preserving the unique historical quality of the their neighborhood and connecting residents with camaradie and

community activities.