In 1991, Dr, Raymond Webber purchased an abandoned lime rock quarry property for his own use. Then he began to transform the property into something more. Rock by rock, the walkways, wall of the gardens, islands, waterfalls, pavilions, gazebos and bridges were created. Ray resumed gardening and enjoying his beautiful botanical creations.
In 2014, Ray created the 501(c)(3) non-profit Cedar Lakes Woods and Gardens, Inc. He donated the 20-acre botanical garden to the non-profit and the entire 64-acre surrounding woodlands to Conservation Florida in order to keep them protected in the future.
Now the quarry walls are filled with hundreds of species of plants and flowers. The surrounding trees and the topography of the quarry allow temperate and semitropical plants to flourish year-round. Birds of prey, owls, doves, numerous songbirds, butterflies, turtles, frogs, and other wildlife may be encountered along the trail.
There are benches and picnic tables throughout the trails to allow visitors to sit and enjoy the spectacular views. It is also suggested that you bring a picnic lunch to snack on while enjoying these views. Today, thanks to the help of staff members and Ray's dedication to his artistic dream, the garden continues to grow with the addition of new garden displays, scenic features, and expansion of education programs. You may also wander through our surrounding woods and enjoy the Oaks, Cedars, Pines, Pecans, Hickories, and Dogwoods in an adjacent 64-acre nature conservation easement maintained by "Conservation Florida."