Though Southwest Florida certainly has its share of preserved and protected wild lands, most are a bit far-flung, set apart from crowds and commerce. A visit can become something of an expedition, requiring advance preparation (Do I have the sunscreen? Bug spray? Binoculars?) and a good chunk of time.

But fortunately for souls craving just a quick drink of green-perhaps chased with a bit of violet, carmine and saffron-the region does offer a few little oases tucked among its paved places. Here are some singular spots for a dose of urban renewal.

Fragrant Flora
Never mind the kaleidoscope of colors, the cleverly designed patterns formed by the paths and the lush interplay of texture-they're all beside the point. The Fragrance Garden was designed to please a sense other than sight (though it also enthralls the eye). Here, depending on the season, visitors can breathe air sweet with jasmine and honeysuckle, listen to the whisper of fountains and waterfalls, stroke the silky leaves of lamb's ear or nibble a pungent mint leaf. There's an Asian area with a koi pond as well as a section dedicated to cacti and succulents.
The Fragrance Garden is at 7330 Gladiolus Drive in south Fort Myers; call (239) 432-2000.

Rose Retreat
At certain times of the year, it looks as if a giant hand just tossed a handful of bright confetti across the back lawn of the Alliance for the Arts campus in Fort Myers. When the roses behind the gallery are in full bloom, the plants' foliage seems to disappear into the background as the roses glow, suspended in midair and mirrored in the nearby reflecting pool. The Erv Ibach Memorial Rose Garden opened in 1993 as a tribute to its namesake, a teacher and coach, who died in 1991. The rose garden is open during regular gallery hours and during special events. There's no admission charge.
The Alliance for the Arts is at 10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers; call (239) 939-2787.

Downtown Delight
The old-fashioned word for this sort of place is palmetum, a term that still carries with it a whiff of Victorian fascination with the collecting of curious specimens. These specimens don't grow in a glassed-in conservatory, however. They stretch to the sky, flowering and fruiting and fancy-free as they would grow in the wild. Members of the Fort Myers Garden Club have been planting palms and cycads in the diminutive Garden of Palms in downtown Fort Myers for 50 years. More than 30 species now grow shoulder to shoulder in a space that's less than a city block. This urban oasis includes huge Puerto Rican hat palms, bright-fruited oil palms, and many more. Most trees carry identification labels. A few benches among the crisscrossing paths provide a place where visitors can sit and relax.
The Garden of Palms is at the corner of Edwards Drive and Lee Street in downtown Fort Myers.

Quiet Riot
It seems an unlikely setting for a riot, but through the white picket fence and along the brick-paved path, the rose garden in front of the Cape Coral Historical Museum is indeed a riot-of color and perfume. Instead of a front lawn, there's a brilliant array of strapping, healthy roses locked in a perpetual tussle for the title of Most Beautiful. Free and open all the time, the garden is perfect for an inspiring morning walk or a moonlit stroll.
Cape Coral Historical Musem is at 554 Cultural Park Blvd. in Cape Coral; call (239) 772-7037.

Orchid Oasis
Just steps from the bureaucratic bustle of Collier County government, orchids, palms and butterflies quietly thrive on the grounds of the Collier County Museum. Home to the Carolyn K. Craighead memorial orchid house and the Craighead Native Plant Garden, this restful place was named for the late Frank and Carolyn Craighead, early Naples naturalists and conservationists.
The centerpiece of the orchid house is a waterfall, which helps keep the air moist for the bright beauties that grow there: little stars, lady's slippers and dancing butterflies. Beyond the airy gazebo is the five-acre native garden. It sprawls along a path that winds past venerable gumbo-limbos, stately cypress and wild rosemary that spices the air on warm days. Benches are scattered here and there for quiet contemplation.
The Collier County Museum is at 3301 Tamiami Trail E., Naples, in the county government complex; call (239)774-8476.

Caribbean Corner
For the past few years, Caribbean Gardens has been positioning itself as The Zoo in Naples. But the gardens were there first, and for those interested in losing themselves in sylvan shade, they still offer an unparalleled experience.
Started in 1919 by botanist Henry Nehrling, who planted some 3,000 tropical species, the lush gardens now cover more than 50 acres. Many of Nehrling's plants survive today and have grown large enough to nearly re-create their ancestral jungles. Huge ficus, giant bamboo and vining ferns twine and climb toward the sky. Admission to the zoo includes a day in the gardens.
Caribbean Gardens is at 1590 Goodlette-Frank Road, Naples; call (239) 262-5409.

Earthly Delights
The official name sounds formally academic: the Southwest Florida Horticultural Learning Center. Don't be fooled, though. There's nothing dry about this place, which contains all the elements of a garden of earthly delights: tropical fruit, lush foliage and exotic blossoms. It serves as an outdoor classroom for gardeners, but one that can be enjoyed by casual visitors as well. Check out the butterfly gardens, landscape plant demonstration plots and rows of citrus. It's possible to stroll its paths, gazing and sniffing in wonder, for a good hour. Best of all, if you aim to create your own tropical Eden, this is the place to learn how to do it-and get a taste of what's in store.
Southwest Florida Horticultural Learning Center is at 14700 Immokalee Road in Naples; call (239) 353-4244.