Our Roots

Who is Mounts?

From teaching Palm Beach County farmers new ways to flourish to starting Florida’s first 4-H Club, Red Mounts, left a mark on Palm Beach County. Now, visitors can see his love for the land come alive in the Garden.

History Timeline

1925–1964: Where It All Took Root

Mounts Botanical Garden was named in honor of one man whole helped hundreds. Marvin Umphrey “Red” Mounts. For 40 years, he served the entire community, encouraging farm families to expand their usual crops, lecturing to garden clubs, forming the first chartered 4-H Club in Florida and helping families overcome vitamin deficiencies by planting fruit trees. Soon, the Mounts Building would sprout up at 531 N. Military Trail and plant the seed for the Garden we know and love today. 

1975–1985: Growing the Vision

Clayton E. Hutcheson, Director of the Palm Beach County Extension Service, was a horticultural hero. He supported many groups and even turned an old horse pasture into a living classroom to demonstrate which plants could thrive in South Florida’s sunshine. With his help, the Garden property, and Lake Orth, came to life. The Extension office was later renamed The Mounts Horticultural Learning Center, and our next chapter was officially in bloom.

1983–1988: Friends in Bloom

What started as a small garden advisory group blossomed into Friends of the Mounts Botanical Garden—a nonprofit dedicated to growing and supporting the Garden’s future. With a new name (Mounts Botanical Garden), a new curator, Douglas Galbraith, and a brand-new $1.4 million complex dedicated as the Clayton E. Hutcheson Agricultural Complex, Mounts officially became a botanical destination.

1991–1999: Two Master Plans. One Big Dream.

With help from the University of Florida and Sasaki & Associates, Mounts charted a bold new blueprint for the future—to become a must-visit for nature lover’s everywhere. During this time, Mounts welcomed its first blockbuster exhibit, David Rogers’ Big Bugs, and launched Garden Safari youth programs that made learning about nature seriously fun.

2004–2014: Weathering the Storms

Even hurricanes and COVID couldn’t stop the Garden from growing. After Frances, Jean and Wilma took down much of the canopy, the community rallied to replant and rebuild. New blooms rose, plantings expanded and the Garden officially became Mounts Botanical Garden of Palm Beach County.

2015–2024: Continued Growth and Expansion

The Garden continued to expand its plantings to include more than 7,000 species of tropical and subtropical botanicals. The stunning Windows on the Floating World: Blume Tropical Wetland Garden and Moai exhibit opened – both of which remain favorite areas of the Garden today. The Garden hosted a number of large-scale exhibits, including David Rogers’ Big Bugs, Patrick Dougherty’s Stickwork (Cutting Corners and Fit for a King), Sean Kenney’s Nature Pop!, Andy Cobb’s Ribbit the Exhibit I & II, and Box Studios’ Origami in the Garden, and continue to grow its ever-popular seasonal Plant Sales. A new Welcome Center and Gift Shop opened. And youth education became a central focus offering numerous hands-on learning opportunities, including serving all Palm Beach County 3rd graders.

Now: A thriving future

Today, art, culture and education remain central to the Garden’s programming for all. Improvements continue to be made to all areas of the Garden to expand its role as a cultural hub and a premier destination for nature lovers. In 2025, the Garden launched its largest ever holiday experience ILUMINA: a Tropical Garden Lantern Festival attracting tens of thousands of newcomers from near and far. In the same year, the Garden unveiled a major strategic plan and kicked off a bold 10-year Master Plan to elevate every visitor’s experience. Read more about the transformation underway here.