Misha McRae, executive director of the Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden, joined Good Morning Keys on Keys Talk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about what’s going on in the garden.
Scarecrows are almost here!
McRae said, “This is our seventh annual Scarecrows in the Forest art exhibit and contest. The children’s mentorship program is already in full swing. We’re working with six different children’s organizations with an artist to lead them through the process of designing, building from recycled, repurposed and natural material, scarecrows throughout the garden. This is that time of the year that little things are different and the weather’s kind of changing. So we put some scarecrows out in the garden to kind of scare you or amuse you, or just educate you that not everything belongs in the dump. It’s a great opportunity to come out explore the garden, using the garden for what it’s set up for. I really do believe art was created through gardens and landscapes and such, and then to have something whimsical like our scarecrows is something great for the community. We put flyers and notices out. We need businesses. We need individuals. We need professionals. If you want to put your scarecrow in the garden, please out to our website, get a registration form, and we’re having 10 days to put our scarecrows in and start up the exhibit.”
It goes through November 30.
McRae said, “There is a cash prize to it. The public votes. That’s the show for our guests that come in, typically, we have anywhere from 13,000 to 15,000 people come through the garden. They all vote on the art pieces, and we do a cash prize at the end of it in December. It supports Art in the Garden. It supports the children, and then it supports another community effort. As I always say, you look for every new demographic you can find to come out to the garden. And this is just another way to do it.”
The 90th Gala is just around the corner in January.
McRae said, “We’re kicking off our capital campaign. We’re building a new education center for all the children, not only in our location and within our region, but also all our visitors that come in as well. And we want to install a new visitor center as well that’s closer to US Highway 1 that really shows off the garden for what it is, and, of course, a view of what the forest is all about. Very excited about it. Scheduled for January the 30th. It is the Friday. It is ticketed. It’s going to be a sit down dinner. It’s going to be a wonderful celebration, not only for the garden’s 90th anniversary, but also acknowledging all of the people, the passion and the dedication through the decades that make sure, one, that the garden is still here, and then two, that we can cheer and be proud of the fact that the garden turns 90.”
Screaming Green Halloween will happen in October in the garden.
McRae said, “It’s a kick off from the Scarecrows in the Forest children’s mentorship art program. The this is the 17th year we’ll be holding the annual Screaming Green Halloween. For those who here in the community, we know it is the safe Halloween for our community throughout the Keys. We open the garden up from 10 to 2, and this will be on October the 25th. We have arts. We have crafts, we have games. We have treats, we have food, we have fun, we have two costume contests. And of course, the focus being on recycled items for your costume, just a great day for the kids come out, enjoy the Botanical Garden, learn a little more about it and also the mission of conservation of gardens like that, and also provide a safe community event for the children.”
The garden is also taking part in a composting research project.
McRae said, “We have added two new methods for recycling. We have seven in all now. We’re looking for participants, citizens, scientists, if you’d like to call them, Tuesdays at one o’clock and then Saturday mornings at nine o’clock to help us with the project, do the maintenance, do the research, do the process, learn about how to recycle. The whole idea is to determine the best way to recycle in Key West Florida. There’s all of these different opportunities. It is actually student focused, but any adult can come in and help us as well, especially on the third Saturday of each month when we do our kitchen scrap drop off, it’s a great opportunity to come out to garden, learn more about composting and how you can do it at home. Because just like recycling, this is recycling. I think it’s every human being’s obligation.”
Weed warriors are always needed.
McRae said, “It’s a happy, happy, joy, joy when it rains and the thunder, of course, gives the nitrogen, and the plants are so happy, and the trees and the palms and the bushes, and of course, the gardens all fruited out for the migration that’s happening. But unfortunately, that means the weeds are invited, too. We need our weed warriors. We need help in our nursery. Help us with the baby plants. We have 120 different species of plants we grow in our nursery. We need support within that and of course, our garden guardians meet every Wednesday and Saturday mornings, from nine to noon o’clock. It helps to learn about the garden, learn about landscaping, learning how to take care of plants and how to protect and beautify our beautiful 89 going on 90 year garden.”
Volunteers and members are also needed.
McRae said, “Listen, become a sponsor for Screaming Green Halloween. Sponsorship not only pays for the expenses and the advertising, but actually goes back to the children. It is the Education Department’s Living Lab fundraiser. So it’s more than just a children’s program. It’s a way to help the education program, which brings in 3,500 kids annually into that garden, to help them with their classwork and in curriculum. Capital Campaign, donate to the education capital campaign. We have a big project coming up. We want to do a state of the art education center, which includes classrooms and science labs and conference rooms. We need an indoor classroom, which we’ve never had. Donate to the Education Office in the capital campaign. And, of course, the number one way to support this awesome organization, the society itself, and this beautiful botanical garden, which, unlike most of us keeps looking better even at 90, it’s to become a member. Sign the dotted line with your name. Become a member. It’s good for a year. Has many privileges and helps support this awesome organization. It really is one of the last vestiges of green space that we have left. It’s not only preserving Key West history, but also island life the way it looked like 90 years ago.”
For more information, click here: https://www.keywest.garden/