A Season of Gratitude at Historic Palm Cottage: Honoring a Legacy in Bloom
- The Orlando Foundation for Architecture
- 45 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Hidden among the towering live oaks of Gotha, Florida, sits one of Central Florida’s most remarkable architectural and horticultural treasures: Palm Cottage, the historic home of esteemed naturalist, horticulturist, ornithologist, and early environmental advocate Dr. Henry Nehrling. What began as a modest Florida vernacular cottage has grown into a living museum of botany, ecology, and heritage—known today as Nehrling Gardens.
But behind the quiet charm of this cottage and its gardens lies a dramatic journey of relocation, reinvention, and restoration—one that mirrors the pioneering spirit of the man who made it famous.
A Naturalist Who Shaped Florida’s Identity
Born in 1853 in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, Henry Nehrling grew up exploring forests, collecting plants, and observing wildlife—interests that followed him through early teaching posts in Illinois, Texas, and Missouri. His lifelong devotion to nature eventually brought him to Florida, where in 1885 he purchased land in the small German-American community of Gotha.
There he began what would become one of the first experimental botanical gardens in Florida, a site where he tested more than 3,000 species of tropical and subtropical plants for the USDA and the U.S. Bureau of Plant Industry. More than 300 of those plants—including caladiums, amaryllis, bamboo, palms, crinum lilies, and Indian hawthorn—became staples of Florida’s landscape and the foundation of entire industries.
His work continues to shape Florida’s horticultural identity today.
The Architectural Story of Palm Cottage
Though Palm Cottage appears rooted in place, its story begins elsewhere.
The original home—a late 1880s Florida wood-frame vernacular cottage with a semi-detached kitchen wing—was first constructed about a mile from its current location. Around 1902–1903, when Nehrling moved his family permanently to Gotha, the house was dismantled, transported in sections, and meticulously reconstructed on the garden property.
This act of relocation was both practical and visionary:
The original structure was well-suited to the Florida climate—raised off the ground, cross-ventilated, shaded by deep eaves.
Its simple massing and traditional craftsmanship made it feasible to take apart and rebuild.
Placing the home at the heart of his gardens allowed Nehrling to live within his “living laboratory,” blurring the line between domestic life and botanical exploration.
The reconstructed cottage became known as Palm Cottage, anchoring what Nehrling called “my dreamland.”
Palm Cottage Gardens: A Sanctuary of Innovation
Throughout the early 20th century, Palm Cottage Gardens became internationally known as a place of horticultural innovation. Dr. Nehrling’s gardens were one of Florida's first USDA experimental botanical gardens, where over 3,000 plants were tested for their suitability for Florida's climate. Visitors—ranging from botanists and scientists to artists, writers, and everyday nature lovers—traveled long distances to walk Nehrling’s pathways, wander his bamboo groves, study his palms, and admire his amaryllis and caladium displays.
He built lath houses and shade structures to experiment with light and humidity. He kept records of climate, pests, and plant performance. And he believed deeply that plants and people thrive together, a philosophy that continues to guide Nehrling Gardens today.
A Landscape Saved from Time and Storms
After Nehrling’s passing in 1929, the property changed hands and slowly declined. Large portions were sold off; storms, neglect, and encroaching development threatened what remained.
In 1999, concerned citizens formed the Henry Nehrling Society to save the six acres that survived. Their efforts led to:
National Register of Historic Places listing in 2000
A protective historic covenant, preventing demolition or redevelopment
Dedicated volunteer efforts to restore the gardens
New educational, ecological, and community programming
Hurricane Irma (2017) caused major damage—toppling historic trees and mangled bamboo—but the community rallied, raising funds and volunteering through the Fallen Giants Tree Fund to restore the beloved site.
Restoring Palm Cottage: A 2020 Architectural Milestone
A major milestone came in 2020, when the exterior of Palm Cottage underwent a significant restoration supported by a Florida Division of Historical Resources matching grant.
Work included:
Restoration of the original metal shingle roof
Rebuilding the front brick porch and its piers
Reconstructing the back porch
Repairing and repainting historic wood siding
Removing lead paint
Repairing original wood-framed screens and windows
This renovation ensured that Palm Cottage, one of the oldest surviving homes in Orange County, continues to stand as a testament to Florida’s architectural heritage and the power of community stewardship.
A Legacy Alive in Bloom
Today, visitors to Nehrling Gardens still walk among the descendants of plants Nehrling cultivated more than a century ago. The cottage continues to host classes, garden talks, historic tours, ecological workshops, and community celebrations.
Most importantly, the home and gardens carry forward Dr. Nehrling’s message:
that beauty, ecology, and architecture together shape the soul of a place.
The 13th Annual Holiday Amaryllis Festival – December 14th
Saturday, December 14, 2025 | 9:00AM - 3:00PM | Nehrling Gardens, Gotha, FL
Among the many species Nehrling championed, amaryllis holds a special place—and each December, Nehrling Gardens celebrates this living legacy with its 13th Annual Holiday Amaryllis Festival.
Join the community on December 14th to experience:
Spectacular amaryllis in bloom
Guided tours of Palm Cottage & historic gardens
Seasonal music and artisan vendors
Family activities and festive garden experiences
A chance to support preservation, education, and horticultural heritage
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