There's almost nothing more relaxing than the blanket of warmth that envelopes you at the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in South Florida. Earthy, sweet smells are all around you as you relax on a bench, reading a book, surrounded by vibrant tropical plants from all over the world.
Guests are immediately transported to another world. A warmer one. One with that unique tropical feeling of warmth and dew underneath a canopy of large-leafed trees. It almost feels like another time, especially with help of ancient plants like cycads, which were around during the dinosaur era.
There's almost nothing more relaxing than getting to sit amongst these ancient plants, imagining how the world was before humanity. Before cities. Cars. Traffic. The sounds of busy people, people with places to go, things to do. Always something. Except when you're at the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden.
There's really no other place quite like it. It's a one of a kind place with a mission to preserve these rare tropical plants, and spread awareness of their importance, beauty and history. With over 16 various exhibits, it's hard not to feel not only fascinated with the plants, but drawn to them. It's hard not to feel the magnitude of their importance to the world and how long they've existed, whether you're meandering through a path surrounded by bright orchids, or sitting near an indoor waterfall surrounded by towering trees.
“I really, really enjoy the rare plant house,” said the botanical garden's communications specialist Maureen Tan. “I see a lot of plants that are from back home, from Southeast Asia.”
“Artist Dale Chihuly’s End of Day Tower glass sculpture standing in a pond with spotted African Cichlids darting around at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden” (Note: Dale Chihuly’s Exhibit at the garden took place in 2015 yet a few sculptures can still be seen). [Photo Credit: Daniel X. O'Neil/Flickr]
“When you enter the Tropical Plant Conservatory and Rare Plant House, look down at the floor made of native Miami oolite. See how many fossils you can spot. They represent the ancient marine life present when South Florida was under water millions of years ago. Approach the railing and look over the pond to see orange, metallic blue, white, and spotted African Cichlids darting around artist Dale Chihuly’s End of Day Tower glass sculpture.As you enter the pathways, look carefully around you at the rare philodendrons, anthuriums, pentagonias and orchids. Don’t miss the Amherstia nobilis, “Pride of Burma” tree with its orchid-like pink flowers. It is endemic to Burma (now Myanmar), and likes to flower from January to March. As you continue, view the rock walls covered in ferns and other epiphytes. Round the corner and there are petrified logs on the ground; across the path is a forest of the beautiful rare red sealing wax palms.”
- Excerpt from official website
The website goes on to say that you need to travel multiple paths to discover all the plants in this one exhibit alone. And each time you'll spot something new. There's bridges to walk over. Plants to duck under. Water to run your fingers through. Flowers to lean over and smell. Tree trunks with unique surfaces to study, touch.
Or you can just walk a bit off the path, sit down on a bench, and relax. Close your eyes. Let the warmth lull you into relaxation, the sweet smells of tropical flowers and the earth smell of dirt bring you somewhere else. To your homeland. To a place you wish you could visit. To the dinosaurs. To wherever the book you're reading is taking place, the sound of the waterfall as your backdrop.
There's nothing more relaxing.
And you can rest peacefully, knowing these tropical plants are in good hands. Being conserved and studied, and inspiring people from all over the world.
“Lin Lougheed Spiny Forest of Madagascar is another exceptional area one must explore at the botanical garden.” [Photo Credit: Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden]
Robert H. Montgomery founded the botanical garden in 1938, naming it after famous plant explorer David Fairchild. A renowned scientist and educator, Dr. Fairchild traveled the world looking for useful plants to bring back to America.
“He would travel to these places that weren't easy accessible at the time,” explained Tan. “He would hop on boats and go on these dangerous journeys. He would get into trouble. Have to negotiate with people from different regions. But he helped make U.S. agriculture what it is today.”
Over his 37 years of exploration, he visited every continent (except Antarctica) and brought back many plants we now take for granted, but have deeply shaped American culture, agriculture and economy. This includes cotton, mangos, soybeans, nectarines and even the flowering cherry trees that now define Washington D.C.'s landscape.
The mango is especially dear to Tan's heart. Not just because it's delicious, but because it's the subject matter of her favorite Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden event.
One of many festivals the garden hosts throughout the year, the Mango & Tropical Fruit Festival draws in people from all over the world, who all share a passion for the tropical fruit. The garden's director of tropical fruit travels the world, working with farmers, collecting various mangos to share with guests on Saturday, July 14 through Sunday, July 15.
Two whole days of mango madness, featuring 100 different kinds of mangos.
A rare time when the botanical garden isn't quite as relaxing. But it's worth the excitement.
“You can smell and see all these different types of mangos,” gushed Tan.
Highlighting mangos from Haiti, the weekend includes classes on how to grow mangos, cooking demonstrations, mango tasting, vendors, live music and even a tropical fruit auction.
“People will pay hundreds of dollars for a plate of mangos. People go crazy for them!” Tan continued. “It's awesome. It's great to see that passion. I love this festival because – even in the heat of summer – you have crowds of people coming. Plant people just have so much passion.”
For more information on the current events happening at Fairchild, click here for their website.