This 83 acre garden was opened in 1938. It is named for David Fairchild (1869-1954) who was a plant explorer for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He visited every continent except Antarctica in search of plant that could be of use in America. Included in the group of plants he brought to North America are mangos, alfalfa, nectarines, dates, bamboo and the flowering cherry trees famous in Washington D.C.

Left - Marjory Stoneman Douglas (1890-1998) was a journalist and environmentalist who was instrumental in preserving the Everglades and establishing Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden.

If you are interested in tropical and sub-tropical plants, this outstanding garden is a "must see". It has a large collection of trees, shrubs, perennials and vines from the warmer parts of the world. Take the free tram ride around the garden for a nice introduction and to see some of the more remote areas that would require quite a walk. The butterfly exhibit is wonderful and contains only exotic species. You must walk through a couple of isolation rooms when entering and leaving to be sure that none of them escape into the local environment.

 
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