By Megan Fitzgerald Dunn

For someone who prides himself on his gardening skills, creating a colorful yet calming garden at the Pride Center was something Chuck Nicholls was certain he needed to see to fruition.

“I love growing plants from seed. I love growing them from vegetative cuttings and it’s just part of my DNA to be out there gardening,” Nicholls said. “There is no better way for me to relax than to be outdoors.”

He hopes that guests to the Chuck Nicholls and Mark Turner Garden Plaza at Equality Park will share his sense of relaxation when they visit. Nicholls, who frequents the garden with his boxer Ava, said that the garden is full of orchids, hybrid plants, and non-native bromeliads.

“It really is a very peaceful place for people to sit down and to talk and have a conversation in the shade of the garden,” he said.

Nicholls has long been active in the local garden community, founding the Equity Garden Club in 2010 and serving as its president for over five years. He also co-founded The Tropical Plant Fair held every November at Richardson Park and Preserve in Wilton Manors. His idea for the Garden Plaza started about 15 years ago as a possible memorial garden at the Pride Center, which has served the local community for nearly 30 years providing a space that celebrates, nurtures and empowers LGBTQ+ communities in South Florida.

“I kept thinking, ‘how can I make this work financially and through innovative financing?’ and with the help of the American Health Foundation, the garden was completed and dedicated in February of 2023,” Nicholls said.

The outdoor space also features large marble and jade boulders that he handpicked in Italy.  With a flat surface designed to serve as seating areas, the stones facilitate leisurely conversations in the garden.