Fourteen Master Gardener Volunteers (and family) toured Nehrling Gardens in May 2026. Theresa Schretzmann-Myers (Board of Directors Vice President) was our excellent tour guide. Ms. Theresa fed us history, facts, stories, and anecdotes in rapid succession. Here are a few bits that we learned from this very special field trip.

Horticulturalist and Naturalist

Henry Nehrling (1853-1929) was a pioneer horticulturalist and naturalist in Florida, originally trained as a teacher and avid ornithologist from Wisconsin. By 1896 he had purchased 65 acres in Central Florida near the new German-American town of Gotha. The Palm Cottage Garden, as it was originally known, used 25 acres of the land to create a tropical garden and experimental gardens, the latter with the USDA (Department of Agriculture) to test plants for introduction to Florida. As a result, the Palm Cottage evolved into a scientific growing and testing facility for newly discovered plant material from all over the world.

Nehrling’s Legacy

Nehrling brought bamboos from China and Japan, crepe myrtle from China, the Araucana Monkey puzzle tree from South America, caladiums from Brazil, and many others. The result was a massive collection of species that grew well in Florida. The garden became a recognized destination with visitors from all over the world seeing the magnificent display. Nehrling sent each visitor home with plant souvenirs, thus helping his material to spread around Florida and the county.

Nehrling’s Favorites

His favorites that he grew and bred most were Caladium, Amaryllis, Palms, Cycads, and Bamboo, also Magnolias, Indian Hawthorn and Crinum Lilies. Currently there are at least 230 different species and many more plant genera if the hybrids are included.

The visit allows enjoyment of the many habitats created, with overall ecology to preserve the best environment for the many different species, while maintaining habitat for pollinators and birds. There are wooded areas, tropical, greenhouse, arid, and lakefront habitat on display. Check the website for the annual plant sale and many classes to help fund the gardens that are now a 501C-3 non profit.

Key Tidbits from our Docent

• To differentiate clumping from spreading (running) bamboo, look at the rhizome, since the clumping rhizomes hook upward like a fishhook; plus there is a vertical groove on the combs of the spreaders.
• The best saw is the Japanese Silky Zubat sold by Vermeer Arboraculture in Ocoee, because it is so sharp and durable
• Sanitize blades with concentrated disinfectant diluted per bottle directions to kill bacteria, virus, and fungus, and not rust your tools: dip tool and dry off.
• How to tell the Age of a Live Oak:
  • Measure the circumference at 4′ 6″ from the ground
  • Divide circumference by Pi (3.14) = diameter x 6 = AGE
  • Or just use an arborist tape
• How to treat scale on the Nehrling 240 year old cycad:
  

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  • Spray the underside with 2-3 Tbsp. dishwashing liquid/gallon of water
  • Sprinkle coffee around the base of the tree
  • The dishwashing liquid (or other horticultural soap) cracks the scale shell, and the caffeine is toxic to the insect!
• The best plant app after testing all 15 on 50 plant pieces is Plant Net with 99% accuracy
  

This post was written with the help of MGV Cathy Keller, Lake County Master Gardener Volunteer. Thank you!

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