10901
Old Cutler Road
Miami, FL 33156
Phone: (305) 667-1651
Fax: (305) 661-8953
Website: www.ftg.org
Hours: open
daily (except Christmas) from
9:30am to 4:30pm.
Admission: $8
Adults, children
under 13 admitted free.
Miami-Dade
County’s garden of earthly delights is certainly
Fairchild Tropical Garden, consisting of 83 acres
filled with outstanding examples of tropical and subtropical
horticulture acquired from around the world. It is
heaven for plant and flower lovers, a living
laboratory for scientists and a classroom beyond
compare for students.
Fairchild
Tropical Garden was established in 1938 by botanist
Dr. David Fairchild and Col. Robert H. Montgomery,
an enthusiastic amateur plant collector. The complex’s
gardens were designed by William Lyman Phillips.
Permanent
collections abound and some of the most intriguing
include the Arid Gardens, which houses a stunning
array of cactus and succulents; the bamboo
collection, with more than 20 varieties of the
graceful reedy plant; the Mayan Fruit Garden, which
was developed using the concepts of plant
cultivation created by the indigenous peoples
residing on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.
Children enjoy the Learning Garden, where they can
get their hands dirty as they learn about how plants
grow.
Exhibits
of rare and endangered plants and shrubs of the
Bahama Islands are here too, as is the Chachi House,
a rainforest dwelling as found in the forests of
northern Ecuador. For those who simply wish to enjoy
a nice stroll in beautiful surroundings, visit the tranquil Sunken Gardens, the 560-foot
vine pergola, and the McLamore Arboretum. Maps and
diagrams are available for self-guided walking tours
and daily tram tours start every day on the hour
from 10am to 3pm on weekdays and 4pm on
weekends. Guided walking tours are offered
mid-November through late April.
In
addition to the permanent exhibits, there’s a
steady diet of outstanding special events and
programs, including concerts, plant sales and
moonlight tours.
The
Garden Shop, located near the main entrance, offers
a wonderful array of books on plants, gardening
accessories and the perfect souvenir for your
green-thumbed friends back home.
Hint:
If your visit is during the summer months, try to
arrange a visit during the International Mango
Festival, but arrive early and be prepared to brave
the crowds for this popular and tasty weekend event.
