Avery Island, home of Tabasco Pepper Sauce, is also home to a beautifully preserved nature sanctuary. Edward McIlhenny ensured that future generations would have a place to enjoy and study plants and flowers from around the world. Groves of Live Oaks, Palm trees, bamboo forests
Massive Live Oak trees prevail throughout the gardens, groves of Live Oaks are called chenieres. They are evergreen trees and the wood is so dense and heavy that it sinks in water.
Spanish moss and resurrection fern are epiphytic plants that that attach themselves to the massive branches of the Live Oaks.
Resurrection fern can survive prolonged periods of dry weather which makes it brown and withered looking. Even a light rain will revive the fern to it's bright green color.
Man-made lagoons, once used to show- case native and exotic aquatic plants is now home to American alligators and turtles.
Bamboo varieties are found throughout the gardens. Bamboo is the fastest-growing woody plant; it is a grass.
Azaleas are a flowering shrub and type of rhododendron. They are blooming all over the gardens in lovely shades of pink, white, purple and red. Camellias are also in bloom and quite impressive.
Bird City on Willow Pond: a rookery for nesting egrets, herons, and other migratory birds.