Overview:What originally brought us to The Arboretum at Constitution Park was more curiousity than anything else. What we found was a place worth spending time, more time than we planned. It is beautiful, well kept, peaceful, a nine-acre botanical garden within an 11-acre community park. The Arboretum is also known as the Deerfield Beach Arboretum and locally as the Tree Zoo.
Although the focus of the Arboretum is on trees of the world, it does have its share of Florida natives, including some of our favorites. It also has a pollinator garden attractive enough that we could have spent an entire afternoon watching. The trees and shrubs in The Arboretum are suited for subtropical climate; each specimen is marked with a sign giving its common name and scientific name and country or region of origin. It's also bordered by water on three sides, which attracts a variety of ducks, herons, egrets and other birds.
The landscaping is well done, and gives the arboretum a tranquil feel even though it is situated along busy Hillsboro Boulevard. The Arboretum is integrated with the park, so there are a variety of family and sports-related facilities at hand. There is plenty of parking, drinking water and restrooms on site.
History: The Arboretum dates back to 1992 when Deerfield Beach City Forester Zeke Landis conceived the idea and planted 22 trees and palms within Constitution Park. Over three decades, The Arboretum has grown to 247 species from five continents.
What You'll See: Florida Garden, the Rare Plant House, Edible Fruit Trees, Flowering Trees, the Japanese Garden and the Rainforest Garden. As we noted above, the Arboretum has more than its share of Florida natives in the Florida Garden and really throughout the park, including quite a few growing naturally. Look and listen for a variety of birds in the trees. The pollinator garden attracts numerous insects beyond butterflies.
Amenities: Constitution Park featues a community center with a game room and recreation room with an adjoining full kitchen, a playground, two tennis courts and a basketball court. There is ample parking, though it might be busy on weekends, drinking water and restrooms.
Nearby: Quiet Waters Park is nearby on Powerline Road. Farther down along Hillsboro Boulevard, you'll find the Helene Klein Pineland Preserve and West Creek Pineland Natural Area. Military Trail Natural Area is to the south along Military Trail; Blzaing Star Preserve is in the north on Camino Real in Boca Raton and east past U.S. is Deerfield Island.
Links: The Friends of the Deerfield Beach Arboretum is here.
Of Note: The park is open sunrise to sunset every day of the week. The community center building is open 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Admission is free.
Cover Photo: An eastern gray squirrel on the trunk of a South Florida Slash Pine. As we noted, this isn't the wilds of the back country, but the Arboretum has its share of wildlife — butterflies, birds and small mammals.
Although the focus of the Arboretum is on trees of the world, it does have its share of Florida natives, including some of our favorites. It also has a pollinator garden attractive enough that we could have spent an entire afternoon watching. The trees and shrubs in The Arboretum are suited for subtropical climate; each specimen is marked with a sign giving its common name and scientific name and country or region of origin. It's also bordered by water on three sides, which attracts a variety of ducks, herons, egrets and other birds.
The landscaping is well done, and gives the arboretum a tranquil feel even though it is situated along busy Hillsboro Boulevard. The Arboretum is integrated with the park, so there are a variety of family and sports-related facilities at hand. There is plenty of parking, drinking water and restrooms on site.
History: The Arboretum dates back to 1992 when Deerfield Beach City Forester Zeke Landis conceived the idea and planted 22 trees and palms within Constitution Park. Over three decades, The Arboretum has grown to 247 species from five continents.
What You'll See: Florida Garden, the Rare Plant House, Edible Fruit Trees, Flowering Trees, the Japanese Garden and the Rainforest Garden. As we noted above, the Arboretum has more than its share of Florida natives in the Florida Garden and really throughout the park, including quite a few growing naturally. Look and listen for a variety of birds in the trees. The pollinator garden attracts numerous insects beyond butterflies.
Amenities: Constitution Park featues a community center with a game room and recreation room with an adjoining full kitchen, a playground, two tennis courts and a basketball court. There is ample parking, though it might be busy on weekends, drinking water and restrooms.
Nearby: Quiet Waters Park is nearby on Powerline Road. Farther down along Hillsboro Boulevard, you'll find the Helene Klein Pineland Preserve and West Creek Pineland Natural Area. Military Trail Natural Area is to the south along Military Trail; Blzaing Star Preserve is in the north on Camino Real in Boca Raton and east past U.S. is Deerfield Island.
Links: The Friends of the Deerfield Beach Arboretum is here.
Of Note: The park is open sunrise to sunset every day of the week. The community center building is open 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Admission is free.
Cover Photo: An eastern gray squirrel on the trunk of a South Florida Slash Pine. As we noted, this isn't the wilds of the back country, but the Arboretum has its share of wildlife — butterflies, birds and small mammals.
