On some maps as the FIT Botanical Gardens, the Patterson Botanical Garden is a lush oasis of tropical plantings in an urban setting.
A key feature of the Florida Tech campus along Babcock Street in Melbourne, these 15 cultivated acres are home to a notable collection of palms.
Palms are a key feature of the gardensLaced by waterways feeding the floodplain of Crane Creek, garden niches with benches provide getaways for reading and relaxation.
Seven interconnecting named trails make up the trail network. Make an easy loop of a mile or less along the perimeter of the gardens.
Crane CreekResources
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Overview
Location: Melbourne
Length: 1 mile
Trailhead: 28.06608, -80.621938
Address: 2900 S Babcock St, Melbourne
Fees: Free
Restroom: Evans Library
Land Manager: Florida Tech
Phone: 321-674-8000
Open daily sunrise to sunset. Free parking pass required on weekends. No dogs, bicycles, or skateboards. Many pathways are accessible.
For the sake of the plantings and to avoid poisonous plants, stay on the defined trails and patios.
Directions
From Interstate 95 exit 176, Palm Bay, follow Palm Bay Rd east 2 miles to Babcock St. Turn left and drive 2 miles north. On weekends, turn left at Panther Place to pick up a free parking pass from campus security for parking lot 16, which is another 0.2 mile north along Babcock St on the left
Hike
A sign for the library and garden points to a long covered bridge, a rain-sheltered boardwalk through a floodplain filled with palms.
It sets the tone for the transition to nature, ushering visitors into the natural tropical setting of the garden.
Covered bridgeWhere the boardwalk ends, the Evans Library is to the left. Turn right. The first of many picnic benches are set in the shade.
Behind the garden sign and the Molly Butterfly Garden, a bright red schoolhouse invites inspection.
Butterfly gardenTurn left at the inscribed stone for the Dent Smith Trail, which lies straight ahead. Tucked beneath the tropical tree canopy, there is a little red schoolhouse.
It is Melbourne’s oldest surviving school. It was built along the Indian River Lagoon in 1883 and moved to campus in 1970 as part of a historical preservation effort.
Historic schoolhouseFollow the curving path past it to the Dent Smith Trail and make a left at the sign. Enter a cultivated palm hammock.
Interspersed with native cabbage palms are planted species with identification markers. Turn left at the next sign towards the Turtle Pond Patio and Bamboo Trail.
Garden destinations are well markedCross the first of a series of two mid-century arched concrete footbridges, coming to the Heart of Palm Plaza. Tall palms and pagoda-roofed benches are on the left.
The turtle pond shimmers at the base of a wall of vegetation to the right. Approach it, and the turtles paddle through the tannic waters to approach you.
Turtle pondThe central pathway leads towards another arched bridge with campus buildings visible beyond atop a bluff.
Turn left at that bridge to follow the waterway flowing beneath it. Cross a bridge by the Bamboo Trail sign to follow this narrow path through lush palm plantings.
Arched bridgeAfter a second bridge, veer right on a path adjoining a raised boardwalk through the palms. Stairs lead to the boardwalk, which heads into campus on the right.
Turn left for a higher perspective of the palm gardens below. The boardwalk broadens and has benches atop it.
Boardwalk above gardensAt this end, it links to a campus green and walkways between buildings. Behind a marker, follow the Bamboo Trail downhill.
Sweeping left past a massive traveler’s palm, cross an arched bridge to complete a small loop.
Descend the Bamboo TrailTurn right and parallel the waterway back to the Heart of Palm Plaza, 0.3 miles into the walk.
This time cross the bridge to the left to enjoy the array of palms on this side of the waterway.
Return to the plaza, pass the turtle pond, and make a left after the first arched bridge to start the Creek Branch Loop.
Creek Branch LoopThis concrete walkway meanders through lush tropical plantings. After the next arched bridge, note the burble of the waterway on the left.
This tiny stream flows towards Crane Creek, making sinuous curves with erosional features.
Waterway along trailMeet the edge of a grove of palms where a mulched path vanishes into their shade.
Stay with the concrete path amid a riot of philodendron, ferns, and palms. Curve past a pagoda-roofed bench 0.4 mile into the walk.
A riotous green corridorAt the next mulched path into the palm grove, a sign encourages you to stay on the Creek Branch Loop to visit Big Pagoda.
We found it blocked off on the other side of the next arch bridge. Instead, turn onto the mulch path for a walk beneath tall oaks and palms draped in philodedrons.
An unusual forest settingEmerge at a footpath with a view of the ditched Crane Creek in the northeast corner of the garden. This footpath slips into a more natural hammock.
After a short stretch with views of the water, arrive at the big pagoda-topped bench at 0.6 miles.
Pagoda on Crane CreekContinue along this pleasant footpath over a wooden bridge into the palm hammock. A sign points out Emmett’s Fountain.
It’s a short side trip to a bridge and grotto with a man-made waterfall cascading down a limestone wall.
Natural pool near Emmett’s FountainThe walkway past it emerges at the north end of Lot 16, so follow the next path to the right to tunnel deeper into the palm hammock instead.
Cross a wooden bridge along the broad natural path and bear right through the palms to follow the worn path.
Walking the edge of the palm hammockCross the next wooden bridge into a grassy strip under the palms with another pagoda bench. Turn right.
Follow the footpath back to the Creek Branch Loop. Make a left. The concrete walkway ends between the arch bridges along the Dent Smith Trail.
Pagoda benchTurn left to exit through the palm hammock, passing the butterfly garden and schoolhouse.
Reaching the canopied bridge, the library is straight ahead. Cross the bridge to finish a mile walk.
Evans LibraryTrail Map
Explore More!
Video
A walk through Patterson Botanical Garden
Slideshow
See our photos from Patterson Botanical Garden
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