Flowers, tropical spices and plants, towering palms, small rain forest frogs and hundreds of butterflies all express the wonder of the 26th latitude and more in Naples.

Face facts!

When you travel in the south during the summer you are going to sweat! Call it perspiration, call it overly damp epidermal cells – but we all know the dewy sheen July, August and even September adventures can bring.

Your alternative is to remain bound to the frigid environs of an air-conditioned building – but what fun is that?

So your best plan of action is to journey to places where the atmosphre is beautiful and can take your mind off the heat. Just please remember to keep yourself hydrated. Fainting from dehydration only works well in books and movies – not real life!

Attractions like the Naples Botanical Gardens are perfect for outdoor activities.

At the Gardens community pride and involvement is paramount as one enters the Tropical Mosaic Garden. Local residents donated the pottery, tile and other earthenware which when smashed decorated the serpentine tiled wall depicting the dramatic and color drenched gulf sunsets familiar to all Southwest Florida tourists. Can you find the turtle, seashells and other creatures of the deep?

Geckos skitter through low carpet of Bolivian sunset plants along the stunning Date Palm Allee. The facility features plant life ranging from just above and below the 26th latitude. Places like the Maidenhair Fern Grotto provide natures own cooling system or a short respite on a shady bench by the Australian blue fan flower, buttercup bush or a Red Latan Palm.

At the Behedum Learning Lab – summer’s heat is forgotten when kid’s camp is in session. Learning about places like the South American rain forest is cool for elementary school age campers.

The Windstar Room with its interior waterfall sculptures by renowned artisans like Katy Spalding also features amphibian exhibits like the poster child of the “Save the Rainforest” campaign - the red eyed tree frog.

It is easy to get hungry in the Fruit and Spice Garden. Here tropical sweet potatoes, pineapple, bananas and mango grow along Mexican pepper leaf plants and the gingery turmeric from India and cardamom.

Outdoing the tropical gardens’ colors for vibrancy are the inhabitants of the Butterfly House. Art Deco looking Mangrove Buckeyes, elegantly black and white striped Zebras and the majestic Monarch are among the Lepidoptera flittering about and often land delicately on a thrilled human observer.

Just as vibrant and more talkative are lorikeets from Australia and SE Asia. Droppings from the bird’s brush-like tongues pollinate trees like the eucalyptus and continue the circle of life.

Just as naturally beautiful is the stroll up through the Uplands Preserve to the Oak Scrub and Pine Flatwoods. Imagine the first people who walked these lands and see it through their eyes. Hear the screech of a scrub jay or watch as a hawk soars overhead.

The Greek philosopher Aristotle once wrote,

"In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous."

He must have envisioned the Naples Botanical Gardens.

For more information see:www.naplesgarden.org/

Get the latest on area information at: www.paradisecoast.com

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