Habilitation Center - A Unique Garden of Flowering Plants & Deerfield Arboretum - An Inviting Garden of Tropical Trees
Boca Rio Road, a two-lane road bordered by trees and a canal, is home to Boca’s Humane Society, the Haven, the Boca Rio Golf Course, and a cluster of houses. Beyond one of the hedges is a commercial plant nursery, a colorful spread of flowering annuals and perennials. The 10 acre site is an unusual venture started in the mid-1970s. Known as the Habilitation Center, its goal is to provide special adults “with the knowledge, skills, and behavior needed to lead useful and productive lives with dignity, respect, and independence.” The center offers several hands-on programs such as cell phone assembly, and computer skills. But it is the renowned plant nursery which catches our attention. Nurturing plants have long been known as rewarding therapy for numerous maladies. Here the therapy is serious and strenuous; training is handled by an expert staff of horticulturalists.