As advertised, the Fountains Center in Boca Raton boasts a spectacular water feature
with waterfalls, fountains and wooden bridges.
The green and red leaves of a coleus add color and character to the commercial center’s gardens.
Photos by Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star
By Deborah S. Hartz-Seeley
Office complexes in South Florida are generally tall buildings set in a field of parking spaces. So I was pleasantly surprised to discover the garden-like Fountains Center in Boca Raton.
The landscaping at this 15-acre property was upgraded in 2012 when Zvi Schwarzman of TJAC Development bought it. “Back then the place was pretty run down,” says a spokesperson for the firm.
Now as you turn into the sweeping paver drive, the center island is filled with towering royal palms and medjool date palms. Along the edges of the street are the large orange and green leaves of a sea grape and the shimmery green foliage of silver buttonwoods.
Park your car and head for the central courtyard that’s created by low-rise buildings surrounding it.
None of them is over four stories, so the space feels nicely defined but open. And each building is architecturally different to add interest. Two have mirrored finishes on their windows, creating what looks like a mural by reflecting the blue sky, white clouds, palm trees and colorful plants.
Think cheerful red ti plants, fire bushes with orange blooms that attract butterflies, purple and salmon bougainvillea and pink and yellow hibiscus.
Even more color comes from blue plumbagos; newly planted red, white and lipstick pentas; the lime green foliage and lavender flowers of Durante; and the greens, reds and yellows of crotons and coleus.
And, for something a little different, check out the screw pine that looks like a silvery fan palm with Christmas ornaments hanging from it. Those fruits that resemble pine cones will turn from orange to red as they mature.
But the focal point of this courtyard is the water feature. It’s made up of three large pools filled with pristine blue water. You can cross over them on walking bridges.
Water tumbling down eight royal blue tile steps fills the air with a gentle sound. And jets in the center of each pool send the water skyward.
It’s Mark Torchetti of Gold Coast Property Maintenance who helped bring these gardens back to life by replacing mulch with peachy rock in the plant beds and exchanging tall hedges that blocked views with more manageable and colorful varieties such as trinette and green island ficus.
During the day, there’s shade from two royal poincianas, a Florida slash pine and plenty of palms. At night, a gentle breeze blows through to sooth and cool visitors.
That’s when in-ground spotlights as well as overhead fixtures illuminate the park-like setting.
The trunks of some of the palms are wrapped with white string lights that add their own sparkle.
Visitors can sit on concrete benches that surround eight mosaic-topped tables. Or they can take a seat on the top of the low stucco wall that wraps around the plants and palms.
If you prefer, there’s outdoor seating at the restaurants that sit on the ground floor of the complex and border the pools.
“Having this courtyard here is a big plus,” says John Vacante, a bartender at the Butcher Block Grill, a restaurant that has been in the center for about six months. In fact about 90 percent of the steakhouse’s customers choose to sit outside.
It’s no wonder: If you spend a little time here before an appointment or visit one of the restaurants for a meal or even just a drink, the garden view is a real attraction.
“This is a nice place to be outdoors,” Vacante says.
Deborah S. Hartz-Seeley is a certified master gardener who can be reached at debhartz@att.net when she’s not in her garden.
Laura Simon of the Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority
holds a box of ladybugs at the green market.
Anna Gumley (center) and friends reach for ladybugs.
Photos by Colin Lorne
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