Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden gets you back to nature
Published: Apr 6, 2009
You can sip tea with the Mad Hatter, skip through the labeled Rain Forest (without fear of malaria), and peek at the 5- to 18-foot-tall red and yellow Heliconia bihai plants native to the West Indies and South America at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden's 83 acres.
It's like nature's wild outdoor museum. Walk on the grass; it's encouraged! But please don't pick flowers or take anything from the gardens with you.
Guided tram tours start every hour on the hour, and tours in Spanish are available on weekends. Walks are also guided, with a butterly walk and a tropics walk among the few available. Stroll over to The Shop at Fairchild located in the visitor center. You can find books on South Florida's horticulture, landscaping, natural history, gardening, and plant families. The shop also features clothing, accessories, and several fair trade items.
Take your mother to afternoon tea at Fairchild. About once a month you can experience a themed tea party, such as the "Mad Hatters Tea Party" and "Mother's Day Tea."
The garden opens up on Thursday nights to bring the community together. For $15 (non-member price) bring a blanket and a basket of treats while watching a movie, listening to the Zoo Orchestra, or enjoying a live performance.
Or skip the snacks and try the new Piazza di Stella with open air dining. They offer Spanish tapas, cocktails, and more. Check out the Thursday night calendar. Between moonlit sculptures from artists Mark di Suvero, Kris Martin, Dale Chihuly and Daisy Youngblood, you'll feel the magic of the garden.
View the full event calendar here.
Fairchild offers adult-education classes such as photography, horticulture, art and cuisine. You can also join graduate studies or research seminars to gain accredidation through a local university. Younger children can discover their diverse interests through Fairchild's school programs or take the Fairchild Challenge. View all classes here.
Fairchild Garden's mission is to conserve tropical plant life and spread knowledge of plant growth and gardening among the general public. Membership provides discounts and special offers to Fairchild events. The garden can also provide space for weddings or corporate events.
- by Jessica Bates, Miami Reporter for HelloMetro
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