GOTHA, Fla. – A small, local garden was just starting to make a name for itself when Hurricane Irma hit Central Florida last month.
Officials with the Nehrling Gardens in West Orange County told News 6 they lost several trees during the storm, but say they plan to clean up and bring the garden back to life.
The Nehrling Gardens is tucked away in Gotha, a hidden gem that was just starting to sparkle.
"We had it looking wonderful. Everybody worked really hard over the summer so the vines wouldn't take over and we've been bringing lots of new plants," Angela Withers, with Nehrling Gardens, said.
It was once the home to Dr. Henry Nehrling, a horticulturist and writer. He is credited with introducing more than 300 plants to Florida's landscape and was known as the father of Florida horticulture. His gardens were a popular tourist destination for thousands of tourists and nature lovers in the early 1900s.
Nehrling Gardens is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a Florida Heritage Landmark.
For the past seven years, volunteers with the Henry Nehrling Society worked to preserve the 6 acres that are left of the original gardens.
"It was so overgrown for many, many years," Withers said.
Then Hurricane Irma hit Central Florida last month and set back all of their hard work.
Withers told News 6 that microbursts snapped bamboo trees and knocked down several other large trees. One tree almost crushed the house. She said most of the shady canopy is now gone.
"I just couldn't believe it. It was so much more dramatic than what I envisioned," she said.
But after the storm comes the cleanup. Volunteers with the gardens and local schools spent Saturday picking up branches and debris.
Withers said tree crews will have to remove the large trees.
"It's going to have a big financial impact. Some of this will have to be taken down by arborists. It's too dangerous for volunteers," she said.
They are getting results and making sure the gardens will spark once again.
"It's going to change the environment around here too, which we can deal with. That's Florida," Withers said.
Withers estimates it will cost the nonprofit $10,000 to remove all of the large trees and debris.
Withers said the organization needs more help and officials are always looking for volunteers. The organization is also accepting donations to help offset the cleanup costs. Click here for more information.