Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is an 83-acre natural world treasure located in the beautiful city, Coral Gables. Filled with exotic plants and trees, it winds its way down paths to the butterfly garden, rainforest, and sunken garden. With so much ground to cover, the big question is where should I start? The garden is divided between the highland and lowland ecosystems. You can discover the garden on one of its many guided walking tours available during the week or on self-guided exploration. Maps and brochures are available to assist you on your journey. There are also free tram tours every day and we invite you to borrow a pair of binoculars before setting out on your adventures. Fairchild also offers two on-site restaurants in order to maximize your visit. These cafés include the famous Glasshouse Café by Le Basque and the Lakeside Café.
Special events
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden art installations are often held in the lush gardens, with past exhibitions by Dale Chihuly, Roy Lichtenstein, Fernando Botero, and Yoko Ono. They also organize concerts and musical performances in the beautiful gardens. The International Mango Weekend is undoubtedly one of the most popular. Brides and grooms can also consider the gardens as the perfect place for their wedding.
Fairchild history
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden was conceived by Dr. David Fairchild in 1938, together with environmentalist Marjory Stoneman Douglas. , County Commissioner Charles Crandon, Landscape Architect William Lyman Phillips, and Accountant Colonel Robert H. Montgomery. Today, the garden continues to grow and prosper in the vision of its founders.
Discovering the gardens of Fairchild
To get an idea of what you’ll find, read on for some of the highlights. No matter which route you take, a visit to Fairchild offers an educational experience unmatched in the natural world.
The highlands of Fairchild
The Uplands is the most formal grounds in the garden. It is 23 acres with many exhibits and collections, as well as conservatories and laboratories. You will also find The Shop at Fairchild and Tram Plaza here. As the name suggests, Uplands is situated 14 feet higher than the Lowlands and stands 17 feet above sea level.
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Some of the highlights of the exhibition include Wings of the Tropics, where you will find the garden’s exotic butterflies like Blue Morpho, Owl, Bamboo Page, Leopard Lacewing, hovering over pools of tropical fish and rare plants. Similarly, the Lisa D. Anness South Florida Butterfly Garden is where you will find 40 species of native butterflies that interact with hundreds of different plants. The two-acre Richard H. Simons Rainforest sits along a winding creek with waterfalls, tropical palms, and orchids.
The Edible Garden is a favorite stop where you’ll discover numerous easy-to-grow vegetables, herbs, and plants. For a truly exotic experience, venture into Madagascar’s Lougheed Spiny Forest to discover a world of succulents from the African island nation. Soak up the beauty of the garden’s landscape design at Allée, Overlook, and Bailey Palm Glade, where you can see the formality of landscape architect William Lyman Phillips’ design and its stunning views.
