kid stuff

WHAT’S NEW AT THE EVERGLADES WONDER GARDENS?

The Bonita Springs attraction reopens with an array of new exhibits, including a lorikeet aviary where visitors can feed the colorful birds. | BY ANDREA STETSON

Kai Williams, 8, Joey Gorman, 4, Ara Gorman, 2, and Kieran Williams, 4, feed the lorikeets at the Everglades Wonder Gardens in Bonita Springs.

Dozens of colorful lorikeets waddle along a branch and then swoop down to land on a guest’s head. These friendly creatures examine sunglasses, cellphones and hair as they climb on shoulders, arms and heads.

The Everglades Wonder Gardens recently reopened with an array

of new interactive exhibits. One of the most popular is the lorikeet aviary. Guests can walk through the lorikeet habitat and purchase little cups of nectar for the birds to eat. Bright blue, orange, yellow and green feathers make these friendly birds look like a painted picture.

“This is awesome,” said Kai Williams, 8, as he fed the lorikeets on a recent visit.

“It’s so great,” added his mother,

Sarah Williams. “This whole place is amazing.” Ara Gorman, 2, was scared at first and put her cup of nectar on the ground.

But after a few minutes, she bravely walked over to the colorful birds to feed them. “It’s fun,” she said. The attraction in Bonita

Springs also added a honeycreepers habitat. Honeycreepers are another colorful bird that’s smaller than the lorikeet. Their aviary is expected to open to visitors this month (November), and like the lorikeets, guests will be allowed to walk through. That’s just the beginning.

There’s also a relatively new teahouse and a butterfly and orchid pavilion. The flamingo area has a new waterfall and beach. The peacocks had babies this summer and the little ones are now strutting around. Both the flamingos and the peacocks wander loose throughout the gardens and can be fed by guests, giving people close-up interactions. People can also feed the alligators from a distance.

“The peacocks are great,” says Zawi Borsa, the gardens’ event manager. “They have babies right now. In November they will be medium size. There is interaction with birds like Casey, who talks and interacts and dances. Sometimes Buddha the iguana walks back and forth with the kids. He will move his head and nod at them. Peanut and the other parrots are so funny.”

The Everglades Wonder Gardens also has tortoises, an array of other birds, snakes and reptiles.

“I think there are learning experiences around every corner,” says David Webb, executive director. “It is perfect for social distancing. It is a very safe place to visit. This is a perfect opportunity to provide a safe space for families.”

Zawi says the new teahouse gives the bonus of hosting special events, including baby showers, weddings and birthday parties.

“We have a lot of kids’ parties in there,” she says, “and it is very competitive with other places. For two hours, it is $200 for 20 people, and you can bring your own food. That includes the access to the entire place. It is like an educational birthday party, and it is outdoors, which is better with the whole COVID thing.”

“I think there are learning experiences around every corner. It is perfect for social distancing. It is a very safe place to visit. This is a perfect opportunity to provide a safe space for families.” — DAVID WEBB, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.