Morikami Park

Delray Beach, Palm Beach County


great blue heron
4000 Morikami Road
Delray Beach

Website

Overview: Among Morikami Park's celebrated attractions is nature in its most ordered form. The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens is one of our go-to places when we have out-of-town guests, and makes for a great stroll any time, really. But the museum and gardens isn't all that this Palm Beach County park has to offer. There is a wild side to Morikami. Survey the grounds as you approach the musuem building.

There are fields and trees filled with warblers, jays, grackles and raptors; ponds alive with water fowl — moorhens, mottled ducks and anhingas. There are delicate wild flowers and pine woods with an understory of airplants, greenbriers, palmetto and ferns. Morikami also offers Lake Biwa, with a covered observation platform and seating. There are no nature trails per se, no interpretive signs, and this isn't the place to go if you're looking to get away from the civilized world for a few hours.

But on the other hand, there is no admission fee to wander the park grounds outside the gardens, and the hours are better — dawn to dusk seven days a week. Just be aware that in some places it's hard to discern private land from park and take heed of the "no trespassing" signs. All photos on this page were taken outside of the Morikami Museum and Gardens but within the park grounds.

History: The story of Morikami Park dates back to 1904 and the creation of a small colony of Japanese farmers called Yamato in the northern reaches of Boca Raton. Among the early settlers was one Sukeji George Morikami. The colony never really thrived because of various factors including poor growing conditions, the 1920s Florida real estate boom, hurricanes, the depression and bank bust. World War II marked the end of the colony when the land was seized for the construction of Boca Raton Field.

Morikami, however, made a go of it moving to Delray Beach, selling vegetables and investing his money in real estate. In 1974, he donated the 189 acres that now make up the park to Palm Beach County. Morekami Park opened in 1977 and has become a major cultural attraction in Palm Beach County. By the way, the colony is remembered in Yamato Road and Yamato Scrub Natural Area. Yamato is the ancient name for the main island of Japan.

lake biwa

What You'll See: Lake Biwa is the main attraction outside of the Museum and Gardens. It is surrounded by trees and shrubs and has boardwalk that leads to a pavilion overlook. There's also a pond along side a field used for parking during major events. Both make good areas to look for birds, wildflowers and moisture-loving plants. There are wooded areas along the roads, but be careful if you wander inside the; some of this is private land.

Amenities: There are restrooms, drinking water, lots of parking, picnic and playgrounds. The Morekami Museum and Gardens has a separate parking area. The Morekami has restrooms, restaurant, exhibits and gardens with walking paths and sitting areas.

Nearby: Wakodahatchee Wetlands is five to 10 minutes north on Jog Road. Green Cay Nature Center is also close by on Hagen Ranch Road.

Of Note: Admission to the park is free and open from dawn until dusk every day of the year. If you want to visi the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, check the website above for admission fees and hours.

Cover Photo: A foraging great blue heron near the banks of a pond along side the park's overflow parking area. It's a quiet spot, a good place for an evening stroll. Second photo: Morikami Park's Lake Biwa as seen from a pavilion overlook. A second photo of the lake is below.
Virtual Tour


Getting There ...
DIRECTIONS: From the Turnpike: Exit at Atlantic Avenue and head east. Look for Kings Point retirement village on your right. When you see it, you're approaching Jog Road. Turn right (south) and follow past Linton Boulevard. Continue south. Morikami Road is on the right (west) side of Jog just past the South County Civic Center and Gov. Lawton Chiles Park. Follow to the park. Note: Morikami Road actually intersects with Jog Road twice. The first is the more direct route to the park, but the second one will get you there.

From I95 coming from the north or south, exit at Linton Boulevard and follow west to Jog Road. Turn left (south) and directions to Morikami Park are the same as above.

Photo Gallery for Morikami Park

Click on the photograph to see an enlarged image. Click on the name to read more about the species.



Published by Wild South Florida, PO Box 7241, Delray Beach, FL 33482.
Photographs by David Sedore. Photographs are property of the publishers and may not be used without permission.