This post was orginally posted on 3/7/2019. I’m re-sharing it today as I love the beautiful Fairchild Botanic Tropical Garden in South Florida.
Fairchild Botanic Tropical Garden, 10901 Old Cutler Road Coral Gables, FL 33156
Fairchild is dedicated to exploring, explaining and conserving the world of tropical plants. We are one of the premier conservation and education-based gardens in the world and a recognized international leader in both Florida and international conservation. Currently Fairchild has field programs in over 20 countries including support to protected areas in Madagascar and Africa and botanic garden development and renovation projects in South and Central America, the Caribbean and the Middle East.
For many years I lived in South Florida. I moved to greater Miami back 40 years ago. Later I moved slightly north to the greater Ft. Lauderdale area. I have many friends in Dade County, Broward County and even just north to Palm Beach County and love visiting my favorite spots when I come back.
If you are a plant lover like me, Miami/Dade County is in growing zone 10 and is perfect for tropical plantings. If you visit Miami, you must take a day to explore the exotic plantings at beautiful Fairchild Botanic Tropical Garden in Coral Gables. Take a tram ride and view lush plantings.
Tickets are $24.95 for adults, $17.95 for seniors, $15.95 for students, $11.95 for children 6 to 17, and free for children 5 and under. There are various discounts available for AAA, the military, Culture Shock Miami, The Golden Ticket Program and the Eco Discount. I love the Eco Discount – if you travel to the garden by walking, biking, or public transportation, you can ask for a $5 discount for adults or $2 for a child. It is the Garden’s way of thanking you for contributing to conservation. See the website for more information. For groups of 20 or more, contact the Garden for special group rates.
Fairchild was named for one of the most famous plant explorers in history, David Fairchild (1869-1954). Dr. Fairchild was known for traveling the world in search of useful plants, but he was also an educator and a renowned scientist. At the age of 22, he created the Section of Foreign Seed and Plant Introduction of the United States Department of Agriculture, and for the next 37 years, he traveled the world in search of plants of potential use to the American people. Fairchild visited every continent in the world (except Antarctica) and brought back hundreds of important plants, including mangos, alfalfa, nectarines, dates, cotton, soybeans, bamboos and the flowering cherry trees that grace Washington D.C. He retired to Miami in 1935 and joined Col. Robert H. Montgomery, environmentalist Marjory Stoneman Douglas, County Commissioner Charles Crandon and landscape architect William Lyman Phillips in developing a one of a kind garden. In 1938, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden opened its 83 acres to the public for the first time.
Fairchild is the proud home of the American Orchid Society, and their display contains many plants from the orchid society’s collection.
There are special events all year and you should check their calendar when planning your visit. Early morning bird walks and yoga classes are popular this time of year. Bird walks are offered every Saturday and Sunday from February through May and September through November at 7:30 a.m.
March 12th will be the annual Gala in the Garden. This year’s event is a galactic journey. Revered for over 25 years, the annual Gala in the Garden is one of the most beautiful and magical events in South Florida. Set amidst the lush tropical foliage of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, this breathtaking event is noted as one of the “Top Five Must Attend” galas by Miami Magazine. Besides the Gala, numerous events are scheduled for the garden including classes, tours, plant sales, and more.
For me the butterfly garden is a must see stop in the garden no matter the season.
Come and enjoy the tropical beauties in the garden.
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Carol your photos are a site for sore eyes because right now it is about 5 degrees outside. We can definitely use of of that springtime beauty around here.
The cold weather has come down and low was 42 last night and night before. I know that’s nothing in comparison to 5 degrees but I’m cold! High is supposed to go up to 74 today and then I’ll dance a little jig!
OMG these photos are absolutely gorgeous. Those blue fish are so pretty! TFS
Ah thanks Clearissa!
What a gorgeous garden. My husbands family lives in various areas of Florida. I’m putting this on my must see list!
It’s worth a trip!
Oh wow! These are just beautiful photographs!! I love all the unusual flowers.
thanks Joanne!
Thanks for sharing with us at Encouraging Hearts and Home. Pinned.
thanks for the pin Joanne
What a wonderfully tropical place! Your photos are amazing and I’m glad you shared them. Thank you for linking up to My Corner of the World!
What a fabulous garden. Oh, my! I love the orchids and imagine taking a yoga class here! It’s simply gorgeous.
I love botanical gardens and this one is deluxe. Thank you for all the great, colorful photos.
Thanks for the visit Alan. Wishing you a great weekend!
The grounds look beautiful! Kind of a photographer’s paradise. I love the shot of the palm trees and their reflection off the water. Also the bougainvillea over the park bench.
Thanks for the kind words Peter. Hope your day is great!
Wonderful gardens. I especially like the ponds, the lakes and all the butterflies.
Thank you for the photos. They’re all amazing. I especially like the ones with the water and the flower mosaics. Dr Fairchild was a passionate plant collector and environmentalist and you’re fortunate to have Botanical Gardens that were developed through his influence. I like the idea of an eco ticket for those who come by bicycle etc.
Yes he and the others that developed the garden were ahead of their time in terms of environmental concerns.
Hello, gorgeous post and photos. The flowers, butterflies and plants are beautiful. I would like to visit this garden!
I know you’d love it!
What a great sequence of images!
Tropical gardens are so much fun to visit.
http://calrat.blogspot.com
Those purple orchids are amazing — both in light and dark shades. I love the ponds in these gardens, too. Your photos are lovely!
Beautiful scenes.
What beautiful gardens! And gorgeous pics as always Carol. I love the colours and the butterflies are so pretty.
Thanks for sharing your visit with #MMBC. Have a wonderful weekend. x
Fabulous gardens and skies
Carol – I love everything about this post, and I am so grateful you have shared with the Mosaic Monday community. I never met a botanical garden I didn’t like, and your photos promote it well. I don’t often get to Florida, but an orchid festival might just be enough to draw me there! The photo with the water reflection of the palms is a spectacular shot – well done! I hope you have a wonderful week!
Thanks Angie. I hope your week is fabulous!
Stunning photos Carol – seems a paradise! The red prote or banksia looks fantastic, so do all the orchids. Happy MM!
You have some prize winning photos to share today! WOW! We love FL and visiting places like this. The flowers are in bloom everywhere now! Happy Mosaic Monday1
love those palm tree shots
What a lovely place and fab photos LQQKS nice and peaceful too 🙂
Have a botanicaltastic week ➡
What a lovely place! Thanks for sharing at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2019/03/just-do-it.html
Wow, wow, wow. I had no idea Florida was a heaven of tropical flowers.
Absolutely stunning scenes and so nice to see some sunshine and blue skies on a miserable winters day here.
Oh my Carol. This place so beautiful. Unfortunately I live about 1000 miles away from you. I used to take a cruise every January but Covid screwed that up. Miami & Fort Lauderdale are the name I remember & love. At least your blog can show me some of these stunning photos. Thanks.
Cruisin Paul
I’m glad you like the post. Hopefully in the future you can cruise again. If you cruise out of Miami, take a day before or after to go the garden. It is beautiful.
Fairchild gardens looks like my kind of place.
Lush is a good way to describe these gardens. So beautiful!
Beautiful shots.
Very pretty! I could use some tropical weather.
Beautiful place and gorgeous photography ~ Xo
Wishing you lots of laughter in your day,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
It sure looks like a beautiful place to visit. I lived in the Fort Lauderdale area for 26 years and don’t ever remember visiting there. I’ll have to go next time we are over that way. Stay warm this weekend, it’s going to be a cold one!
Just down to Coral GAbles in Miami. It’s a beautiful place. There is also a Japanese garden in Palm Beach County that is very interesting.
Splendid! What a pity I didn’t know about this garden when I was in Florida in the 1990’s! Your photos are simply stunning!
All the best after my blog break!
Traude
Bellas imagenes. Te mando un beso
I would love to see those flowers and the butterflies! It’s a beautiful part of Florida for sure! Hard for me to face the challenge of the traffic to spend time there though. Thanks for sharing this beauty!
you can see the difference when you cross the line from Broward to Dade County. Dade is dirties, busier, and noisier.
I wish I was closer my son and I could come for a walk for his Homeschool PE Class and check out the Flowers.
I wish so too.Are you in southern Texas where it’s warmer? You could check local public gardens to see when flowers bloom.
Thanks for sharing all these lovely photos such an array of colours and scenery too 🙂
Have a bloomingtastic week 👍
WOW! I enjoyed the tropical beauties, Carol.
Such a delightful feast for the eyes!
Happy Tuesday!
These captures are gorgeous. I love flowers and capturing flowers. Beautiful views too.
Amila – leisureandme.com
What a beautiful garden! How wonderful you got to visit.
Carol – absolutely stunning. This was a post worth re-sharing. We will be going to Grand Cayman in May, and I am looking forward to seeing/photographing tropical plants! Thanks for linking to Mosaic Monday!
thanks Angie – I’ll look forward to your post about Grand Cayman. Stay safe and well.
Beautiful! What gorgeous pictures! We love visiting outdoor places like this which reminds me that I should take the boys to the botanical gardens this year.
Oh my these are all gorgeous. But the flower growing out of what looks like drift wood over the water is my absolute favorite. Thanks for sharing this beauty at #aclwcc. Tweeted & Pinned.
thank you for sharing!
Lovely post , All the blooms are stunning! I loved your collection of Orchids and Roses. Thanks for sharing with Garden Affair.