Saturday, August 17, 2013

Gardens Around Miami

By Maria Cabrera


When anyone mentions the city of Miami, the first things that many people think about are the attractive beaches and the active nightlife. However , there are many more attractions available to those who need to experience something else during their trip to Miami. These are the numerous floral gardens in Miami, Miami public parks and nature preserves that will delight both locals and visitors.

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

This is proving to be one of the botanical gardens Miami is celebrated for, specifically its palm trees and other tropical plants. The Windows to the Tropic section brings an illustration of a rainforest to the visitor, with the plants, rainfall and humidity found in those areas. The plants range all the way from native plants from Florida to rainforest species from South America. This garden can also include the Lisa D. Anness Butterfly Garden, a garden that has plants used to attract over 30 different kinds of butterflies. Also combined in the Fairchild Gardens are the Arboretum and an area for succulent plants.

The Kampong

The Kampong is an oasis set within the Miami metropolitan area. At the Kampong, patrons can view many plants not usually found on our continent. These include the Sausage Tree, named for its long fruits, as well as a 100 year old Baobab tree from Tanzania. Collections include plants from the Caribbean, Southeast Asia and Central and South America. Thanks to the great variety of plants here, many universities use this garden to enhance their experience in their horticulture and botany classes. If a visitor is looking for something unique, the Kampong is the one to visit.

Miami Beach Botanical Garden

This garden, though a bit small, is packed with numerous examples of maximizing space with plant arrangements. Built in 1962, it is preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Here, one will find a Japanese garden with collections of orchids. There are also examples of vertical landscaping, occasionally commonly known as a living wall. Water is also an important ingredient here, and therefore there are several water gardens. This is another example of the botanical gardens Miami has to offer to its residents and visitors.

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

The gardens and museum here have been honored as a National Historic Landmark. The gardens are a mix of French and Italian designs. They are comprised of out of doors areas or rooms with focal points including elegant statues, fountains, raised islands and a centrally located pool. The 10 acres of gardens include subtropical forests as well as a large Orchid Garden.

Fruit and Spice Park

This unique site, part of Miami public parks is located in the midst of enormous areas of tropical farming. Here, one will find more than 500 differing kinds of nuts, exotic fruits, spices and herbs. These include 70 kinds of bamboo, 80 sorts of bananas as well as many adaptations of grapes and mangoes. There isn't any other garden of this type in the US. Visitors are welcome, and can sample the fruits grown here that have fallen off plants naturally.

Parrot Jungle and Gardens

When walking through these gardens, patrons might forget that they're only a short distance from a big city. The gardens, together with waterfalls, streams and a lake, are home to 1200 sorts of exotic plants including bromeliads, bananas and orchids. Many tropical animals live in Parrot Jungle, such as native mammals, tropical birds and even some endangered baby apes. In addition to the gardens and animal exhibits, a replica of the Everglades is also available. This exhibit employs the plant and animal life of the Everglades, including alligators.




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