Off of busy McGregor Blvd. in Fort Myers, a hidden oasis awaits visitors. This piece of paradise within paradise is open to the public - although many people don't know it exists.
"We're a well kept secret," Carole Kerns, a volunteer master gardener for the Berne Davis Gardens, said.
Although it's free to visit the gardens, they are only open one day a week during the summer from 9 a.m. to noon.
Inside, visitors can see hundreds of varieties of plants that flourish in the heat of Southwest Florida.
"We in Southwest Florida have unique native plants as well as Florida-friendly plants," Kerns said. "So many beautiful things you wouldn’t see in other places."
The gardens are also a haven for Atala butterflies, which are rare in the United States outside certain parts of Florida.
"We just happen to be a headquarters for the Atalas," Kerns said. "They like us here!"
The gardens are run by the Fort Myers-Lee County Garden Council. For the latest operating hours, you can visit their website here .