Sculpture and Botanical Gardens

Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ■ No charge ■ Closed during inclement weather

Above: Gaston Lachaise (1882–1935), Short-Tailed Peacock, 1920, re-cast 2017, 2 of 12, bronze. On loan from the Lachaise Foundation.

Left: Jim Dine, American (b. 1935) King Parrot, 1995, Painted and polished bronze. Gift of Dorothy Tremaine Hildt in memory of her son K. Bryant Wick, Jr., Collection of The Society of the Four Arts, 2014.1

Photos by ELVIO SALAZAR

The Society of the Four Arts acquired this 2.2-acre expanse of land in the mid-1960s to prevent a Jacksonville firm from developing a Winn Dixie supermarket. The land remained unkempt and neglected until 1979 when Four Arts member Mrs. John Clifford Folger asked Philip Hulitar, a fashion designer, and former Four Arts’ Chairman of the Board, to transform the undeveloped space into a sculpture garden. Not only did he design the space, but he also helped acquire sculptures for it. The garden opened in November 1980 and was officially named the Philip Hulitar Sculpture Garden in 1988 in honor of his continued support of the space and for his many years of service to The Four Arts.

In 1987, The Four Arts celebrated the installation of a new garden gate that linked the Sculpture Garden to the Botanical Gardens. Two decades later, hurricanes Jeanne (2004), Frances (2004), and Wilma (2005) roared through and caused destruction to both gardens. The Four Arts hired the landscape architecture firm Morgan Wheelock, Inc. to reimagine the Sculpture Garden and the Botanical Gardens, which reopened in March of 2007. The Sculpture Garden was enhanced with new seating, water fountains, additional sculptures, four pergolas, terraced planters, and a garden pavilion.

Despite its urban setting and its proximity to two busy streets, the Sculpture Garden has become a place of refuge and contemplation.

Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ■ No charge ■ Closed during inclement weather Maintained by The Garden Club of Palm Beach

CAPEHART The Garden Club of Palm Beach hosted an “In Bloom” Flower Show in 2021. Originally planted in 1938 by members of The Garden Club of Palm Beach, many of whom were members of The Four Arts, the Botanical Gardens were designed as demonstration gardens to educate residents about plants that thrive in the South Florida climate. Garden Club members divided the space into thematic sections that favored architectural styles popular in the Town of Palm Beach and selected plants, sculptures, and architectural features for each unique setting.

During World War II, the Botanical Gardens fell into disrepair and their form and meaning drifted away. In 1953, The Four Arts turned care of the gardens over to the Garden Club, which still maintains the space. Profits from the Garden Club’s annual House & Garden Day and biennial Flower Show support the maintenance of the gardens. For more information, please visit gardenclubpalmbeach.com.

In 1956, the Garden Club hired the landscape architecture firm Innocenti & Webel to restore the gardens and Morgan Wheelock, Inc. redesigned them after the hurricanes of the mid2000s. The Four Arts Botanical Gardens continue to enchant and teach residents and visitors today.

Photography Policy

We welcome you to take informal photos with your personal camera or smartphone in our beautiful gardens. However, any staged, formal, planned, or professional photography requires a $100 permit. Visit www.fourarts.org/faq to fill out a permit or call (561) 655-7227 for more information.

Not Permitted

Please note, the following are not permitted in the Philip Hulitar Sculpture Garden or Four Arts Botanical Gardens:

• Pets* • Bicycles • Skateboards • Wedding ceremonies • Wedding receptions • Non-Four Arts events