Seasonal Events at Nehrling Gardens: From Open Garden Days to the Annual Amaryllis Festival

A year-round calendar of botanical beauty and community charm in tiny Gotha, FL

Here's something most people moving to the Orlando area don't realize: tucked away in the tiny community of Gotha, there's a botanical garden that predates Walt Disney World by nearly a century. Nehrling Gardens, one of Florida's earliest botanical treasures, isn't just a place to admire rare tropical plants — it's a year-round hub of seasonal events that brings the community together in ways that feel refreshingly old-fashioned.

Whether you're already living in the Windermere and West Orange County area or you're scoping out neighborhoods nearby, Nehrling Gardens' event calendar gives you a glimpse of what makes this corner of Central Florida so special. Think open-air garden tours, spring caladium festivals, holiday markets with pictures with Santa, and rare amaryllis bulbs you won't find anywhere else. Let's walk through the seasons at this hidden gem on Hempel Avenue.

A Quick History: Why Nehrling Gardens Matters

Before we dive into the events, a little backstory. Dr. Henry Nehrling, a German-American horticulturist often called the "Father of Florida Horticulture," purchased property in Gotha back in 1885. On these grounds he established Palm Cottage Gardens, where he tested over 3,000 rare and tropical plants for the Bureau of Plant Industry (now the USDA). More than 300 of those plants became essential to Florida's ornamental horticulture, including caladiums, palms, bamboos, magnolias, and — you guessed it — amaryllis.

The property attracted visits from Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Edison, and famed botanist David Fairchild. After falling into disrepair following Nehrling's death in 1929, local preservation efforts brought the site back to life. The Henry Nehrling Society was established in 1999, the property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000, and the nonprofit purchased it in 2009. Today, about six acres of the original estate remain — including specimens of the 100-year-old tree canopy, many of Nehrling's original plantings, and the historic home itself.

Open Garden Days: Your Regular Excuse to Unplug

The backbone of Nehrling Gardens' event calendar is their Open Garden Days. The gardens are open to the public on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 AM to 2 PM, and on the 1st and 2nd Saturdays of each month from 9 AM to 3 PM. Saturday visits include opportunities for guided tours, which give you a deeper look at the history and plant collections.

A $5 per person donation is encouraged (and there's also a smartphone walking tour available for a $10 donation). All ages are welcome, and visitors often find teams of friendly volunteers tending the grounds — weeding paths, trimming trees, and happy to chat about the gardens. Don't miss the lakeshore area where you might spot sandhill cranes, the butterfly garden behind the historic home, and benches scattered throughout for a quiet rest. Pro tip: bring a picnic lunch and make an afternoon of it.

For residents of nearby neighborhoods like Aliso Ridge, Siena Gardens, and Lake Fischer Estates, the gardens are just a short stroll or bike ride down Hempel Avenue. That kind of walkable access to a National Register historic site? Pretty special.

Stepping into Spring: Caladiums, Live Music, and Fairy Gardens

When spring arrives, Nehrling Gardens hosts its popular Stepping into Spring event, typically held on a Saturday morning in April. This one's a crowd favorite, and here's why: it's a celebration of one of Dr. Nehrling's biggest legacies — caladiums. The event features a variety of caladium bulbs for sale from local growers, along with nature-themed vendors, live music, a seed-potting area in the Fairy Garden for kids, and even story time in the garden by the Orange County Library System.

The Avian Reconditioning Center often brings live birds for an up-close wildlife experience. It's the kind of morning where you show up for the plants and leave with a deeper appreciation for this little community. If you're raising a family in Falcon Pointe or Park Ridge, this is one of those easy weekend outings that makes you love where you live.

The Annual Art Fundraiser: Where Creativity Meets Conservation

Each fall, Nehrling Gardens hosts an art fundraiser that supports its ongoing conservation and restoration mission. The event typically features silent auctions, live art auctions, guest speakers, food, and wine. In 2025, the gardens celebrated their 25th anniversary with a special ticketed event at the Foundation for a Healthy West Orange in Winter Garden.

It's an intimate gathering that connects art patrons, high-level donors, and community members who care about preserving Gotha's heritage. For new residents, attending this fundraiser is a fantastic way to meet like-minded neighbors and support a cause that directly benefits your community. Explore more area arts and culture options in our comprehensive Gotha arts and culture guide.

The Holiday Amaryllis Festival: Gotha's December Tradition

Now, let's talk about the main event. The Holiday Amaryllis Festival is Nehrling Gardens' signature celebration, and it's become one of West Orange County's most charming holiday traditions. The festival takes place on a Saturday in mid-December from 9 AM to 3 PM and draws visitors from across the region.

Here's what you can expect: beautiful and rare amaryllis bulbs for sale (making perfect holiday gifts for the gardener in your life), pictures with Santa, owls and birds of prey from local wildlife organizations, a holiday market with local vendors, food trucks, and holiday treats. The 14th annual festival was held in December 2025, and the event keeps growing year after year.

There's something wonderfully grounding about celebrating the holidays at a historic botanical garden in a community that was founded by German freethinkers in the 1880s. You're literally standing in a place where the "Father of Florida Horticulture" tested his most prized amaryllis varieties over a century ago. That connection between past and present is what makes Gotha's events feel different from anything else in the Orlando metro. Find even more things to do in our complete Gotha entertainment guide.

Visiting Nehrling Gardens: What You Need to Know

Address: 2267 Hempel Avenue, Gotha, FL 34734

Regular Open Hours: Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10 AM – 2 PM; 1st and 2nd Saturdays 9 AM – 3 PM

Admission: $5 per person donation encouraged; smartphone walking tour available for $10 donation

Tips for Visiting: Wear comfortable closed-toe shoes (the paths are mulched), bring water and sunscreen, and consider bug spray during warmer months. The gardens welcome volunteers, so if you want to get your hands dirty helping with weeding, mulching, or home maintenance, bring your own gloves and water bottle.

Getting There: Nehrling Gardens sits right on Hempel Avenue, Gotha's historic main street. It's about 20 minutes from downtown Orlando, 10 minutes from Ocoee, and just minutes from Dr. Phillips and Windermere. If you're coming from the Horizon West area, it's a quick drive north on SR 535 or via the back roads.

Why This Matters If You're Considering Gotha

Let's be real — when you're deciding where to put down roots, the "big stuff" matters (schools, commute times, housing prices). But it's the community-level details that make a neighborhood feel like home. Nehrling Gardens and its seasonal events are a perfect example of what sets Gotha apart from other Orlando-area communities.

This is a place where volunteers spend their weekday mornings tending a 140-year-old garden, where the holiday festival features rare bulbs instead of big-box retail, and where a legendary café called Yellow Dog Eats sits just down the road on the same historic street. Combine that with easy access to the West Orange Trail, proximity to Walt Disney World and Orlando's major employers, and neighborhoods that still have a rural, tree-lined character, and you start to understand why people fall in love with this community. Discover more parks, trails, and outdoor recreation in our detailed Gotha parks and recreation guide.

What the Locals Know

Nehrling Gardens isn't trying to compete with Leu Gardens or Bok Tower for tourist foot traffic — and that's exactly the point. This is a community treasure, run by volunteers and sustained by donations, that offers something you can't get at the big-name attractions: an authentic connection to Florida's horticultural history in one of Central Florida's most charming settings.

The seasonal events are where Gotha's tight-knit community really shines. Whether you're picking out caladium bulbs at the spring festival, browsing local art at the fall fundraiser, or grabbing a rare amaryllis bulb for your holiday table in December, you'll feel the warmth of a community that genuinely cares about preserving its heritage. And the best part? It's all happening right in your backyard.

For current hours, upcoming events, and volunteer opportunities, visit Nehrling Gardens.

Interested in calling Gotha home? Explore neighborhoods near Nehrling Gardens and throughout West Orange County in our Gotha community guide, or check out our Gotha restaurants and dining guide to plan your post-garden-visit lunch. Have questions about relocating to the area? Contact us for personalized advice!