The Hamrick Butterfly Garden opened on June 30 of 2020 and it is the most recent addition to the five block Flagler Park that runs along the center of Main Street. The garden was created through a partnership between Okeechobee Main Street, Waste Management, Inc and the University of Florida's Okeechobee Extension Office's Florida Yards and Neighborhood Program.
The garden is designed in four sections with red, white, blue, and yellow butterfly attracting flowering plants. The low maintenance plants were chosen by the Florida Master Gardeners and volunteers from Riverwoods Nature Center. They are drought tolerant and designed to exist on rainfall and not need further watering. Park benches made from 100 percent recycled materials were then added to the garden. The garden was built with donations from local businesses and the city is also selling personalized bricks that will be installed in the walkway.
Installed in the garden are 8 large artist designed butterflies and 2 smaller student butterflies that were painted by Okeechobee High School students with the Grand Oaks assisted living center residents. I love how the real butterflies attracted by the plants mingle in and out of the butterfly sculptures. I saw several Monarch Butterflies circling around. You can get food, coffee, or ice cream from one of the restaurants lining Park Street and enjoy it in this tranquil oasis of nature. read more