The gardens became a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity, and the surrounding woodlands were placed under conservation easements to protect the site in perpetuity.
Opening the site to the public expanded its role from private garden to community resource. Visitors could explore the quarry-garden, enjoy picnic areas, attend events, and engage with educational programming. Yearly seasonal events, including “Christmas in the Quarry,” helped build its profile.
Thus the site completed its journey from industrial extraction to private restoration to public sanctuary.
The Surrounding Conservation Woodlands and Ecosystem Protection
Beyond the 20-acre botanical garden in the quarry, the property includes ~64 acres of surrounding forested woodlands—cedars, pine, live oak, hickory, dogwood, and more. These woodlands sit under a conservation easement managed by organizations like Conservation Florida.
The dual nature of the site (intensively designed garden + preserved natural woodland) gives it ecological depth. Visitors not only walk curated garden spaces but can also explore natural trails, examining Florida’s native forest ecology and experiencing two contrasting landscapes in one place.
The project thus contributes to biodiversity, environmental education, and conservation—turning what was once degraded land into a habitat for birds, amphibians, and plants. shutdown123