Koreshan State Historic Site

I recently visited friends in Ft. Myers, Florida. While there I wanted to tour the Sarasota Botanical Gardens, but unfortunately it poured down rain on that day. My friend Kerry suggested exploring the Koreshan State Historic Site. The park has 200 acres where you can picnic, hike, canoe, camp and explore the grounds of the Koreshan Settlement.

The Koreshan Unity was a communal society that started in 1880 in Moravia, New York. Their movement believed the entire universe existed within a hollow sphere and sought out a utopian society away from societies ills, like crime, tobacco and alcoholism. The colonists believed that they found the center of the universe in what is now Estero, Florida. More can be found at the Park Site and the Koreshan's Unofficial Blog Site.

The Koreshan colonists were very industrious and built structures for industry, education and the arts dating from the early 20th century. What I discovered was a great deal of interesting flora some native, but like the Koreshan many transplanted.

This Sabal Palm is a native.

Night blooming cereus of South America

It attaches to other plants like the Sabal Palm.

Spanish moss covers this Eucalyptus tree from Australia. The building in the background is the Planetary Court.

Moss isn't the only thing growing on this tree.

Arborvitae from China

Fishtail Palm from South East Asia

Sausage Tree from Africa

Spanish Bayonet a native yucca

Grapefruit Tree from Barbados

Resurrection Fern native

Sago Palm from Japan

Monkey Puzzle Tree from Australia

Red Pineapple from South America

Screw Pine from Tropical Pacific Islands

Coontie native

Washingtonian Palm of Mexico

Crepe Myrtle from Asia

Orchid Tree of India

The following plants had no identifying tags.

Giant Bamboo with my friend Kerry

Pineapple plant

Mango Tree

Orchid

The building structures were very interesting and I thought I’d share some of them.

The Planetary Court where seven women lived and governed the day-to-day business of the Settlement.

Small Machine Shop with Electric Generator Building behind it

Large Machine Shop

Conrad Schlender Cottage, a shot gun shack

Founder’s House

Bridge from the old Victorian Gardens

This was a very great day trip and much was learned of the different species, which have called Florida home.