Hippity Hop...

Our garden is the home of a large and growing family of Marsh Rabbits (Sylvilagus palustris). They can be seen morning and evening nibbling all over our grassy areas. Marsh Rabbits are blackish-brown in color with a grayish belly and are much smaller than cottontails with smaller ears, legs, and tail.

Marsh rabbits are most active at night; they spend most of their day resting in burrows and tall grasses. Although they can hop like all rabbits, they are more agile in dense vegetation with a walking tendency. This gives them the natural ability to escape from predators. Because Sanibel is 65% conservation land, our bunnies have a large number of predators that make them an important link in the food chain. Bobcats, hawks, eagles, owls and gators all depend on the Marsh Rabbit for food, keeping their numbers in check naturally.

If you see our rabbits, stay quiet or they will hippity-hop away after a quick twitch of the nose. Our rabbits are wild and we never feed or try to tame them. We ask that you don't either. Our gardens are their home, so we welcome them to live freely and we in turn can have moments of awe and enjoyment while observing them in their natural habitat.

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Botanical Garden Tours

As a Moorings guest you are invited to our complimentary botanical garden tour with our Master Gardener & Naturalist, Anita Marshall, every Tuesday at 9am. We meet in the butterfly garden and explore the 6 acres of gardens in approximately 2 hours.

If you are not one of our guests, you too are invited to join Master Gardener & Naturalist, Anita Marshall, for an open to the public botanical garden 2 hour walking tour Wednesdays at 9am. RSVP required with a $5.00 fee/person........A must see for plant lovers!

Call us toll free at 1.800.237.5144 or 239.472.4119 for reservations and/or information.

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Yipes Stripes!

Our Florida state butterfly is the Heliconius charitonius, nicknamed Zebra Longwings. It has extra long yellow and black striped fluttering wings. Its host plant is the Passion vine, (Passiflora suberosa and Passiflora incarmata) which we have planted in many of our garden areas. To make your butterfly garden a success, be sure to include butterfly host plants. Once you have selected the approriate plants for your area, be sure to plant more than one as you will have more success in attracting egg laying butterflies if there is a group of plantings.

I like to group our host plant nestled in between non-host plants. This helps hide the nibbled plants and give the caterpillars opportunity to hide from predators. Remember, not only will you attract egg laying butterflies, you will be providing for the next generation of butterflies.


Photos Above: Maypop Passionvine - Zebra eggs on Corkystem Passionvine - Zebra caterpillar eating

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Hybrids in Our Garden



The Botanical Gardens at Sanibel Moorings has an awesome Hibiscus hybrid collection. We have lovingly selected and planted over 200 plus unique, exotic, and spectacular bloomers. Join us in our excitement and stroll thru the collection daily. These blooms usually last for only a day, so you wouldn't want to miss out on the one that might become your favorite. Our favorites change on a daily basis!

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Chronicles of Once In A Lifetime

Our Agave Americana Variegated, (lovingly nicknamed Audrey from The Little Shop of Horrors story) has left us with multiple memories to share with you. We were mesmerized with Audrey and her 6 month bloom. As you can see, Bill Zak (our front office clerk) was on call day and night recording her gynormous display. We anticipated the 24 foot bloom stalk, but never knew it would weight over 200 lbs!



Strong summer winds proved too much for the huge flower stalk. We were unable to stake her in any way that would support her stalk. Sadly, our Audrey's flower collapsed after 7 months of brilliant display. It took three landscapers with a chainsaw remove and carry her bloom to the composter. We have watched Audrey change before our eyes as she nurished her bloom.



She began at 8 feet by 6 feet and ended up at 2 feet by 3 feet. Consequently, after her 7 month bloom, our grand lady will join the circle of life. We will be honoring her with an young Agave of Audreys same species to plant in her honor, Our new Agave has been named Audrette.

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Ask the Gardener

Please contact Anita Marshall, Sanibel Moorings Master Gardener at gardens@sanibelmoorings.com with any questions or comments about our gardens. I welcome guests, garden clubs and all who love the beauty of gardens! Sanibel Moorings Resort and Sanibel Island have so many venues to enjoy tropical plants in natural and orchestrated settings. I am in the process of developing future Garden Packages for all us who can't get enough of gardening. See you in the garden!