Thus the garden is not a replica of any one style but a confluence—a site-specific design that adapts to the quarry’s form and Florida’s climate. The result is unique rather than derivative. The emphasis on water, shade, multiple plant communities, and visitor circulation reflect contemporary garden design thinking applied in a historic context.
Interpretation of the Industrial Past
One of the most compelling aspects of Cedar Lakes’ history is how it interprets its earlier industrial phase. The former quarry walls remain visible, reminding visitors of the site’s past life. This historic layer adds depth to the experience: rather than pretending the quarry never existed, the garden embraces it, showing how landscapes change and can be reborn.
This interpretive approach aligns with modern conservation thinking: historic landscapes are palimpsests, and acknowledging past uses enriches understanding. Visitors walk along paths that once were mining benches; they peer down to water-filled pits that once held extraction machinery. The garden thus becomes a narrative of transformation—industry to nature, disruption to regeneration. shutdown123