FAIRCHILD TROPICAL GARDEN

 

Fairchild Tropical Garden

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 of 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.