Misha McRae, executive director for 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.
On April 25, the speaker series will discuss rare birds in the Keys.
McRae said, “We’re so excited. Our great supporter and our keys ornithologist specialist Mr. Mark Hedden is going to be coming out to the garden to talk about the rare birds of the Florida Keys. Those of you that are in the know need to share with those that are not in the know the expertise that Mark Hedden brings and the excitement that he lends to our audience on how special the Keys are, what environment opens it up to these really rare and special feathered creatures. I’m particularly fond of them, not only because of their migrating twice a year, without any gas or electric and those 223 species of birds that choose to land at this Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden annually is just another reason why we need to protect this special, special habitat.”
Are the freshwater ponds a big part of the reason for the migratory birds stopping here?
McRae said, “That is the number one factor. It’s like for you and me driving down the interstate and we see trucks stop. The pond represents a place to stop, eat and drink, rest up and go about your journey. Keep in mind that the garden is the site of the original Stock Island, hence why it was called Stock Island. It’s the only place that actually has 100% fresh water here in the Florida Keys. And for the migrating birds and butterflies, it’s paramount to the success of their journeys, including the monarchs that fly through that garden every November. We have four species of butterflies, including the monarch, and as I pointed out, 223 species of birds documented flying through that botanical garden. And I say that with such security because we are a birding hot spot, and you can get a list of all of the species that can be found at the Botanical Garden throughout the year.”
Donations to the garden are tax deductible.
McRae said, “We are 501c3, even though we are leased, the property is leased by the city of Key West. We own, operate, earn and pay our own bills, and so I mean number one is to participate. To get the most out of life, you need to participate if you want to protect this 90 year old garden for the next 97 years, which is the lease that we have. The number one way is with a signature, your donation is not only tax deductible, but it helps support the society who has been managing this garden and growing it every year for the community of Key West for 33 years, but also protects the remaining 15 acres out of the original 55 as a natural arboretum, a wildlife refuge and Cultural Heritage Site.”
Volunteers are also needed.
McRae said, “For those people that moved down here and are used to having yards and miss gardening, hey, I’ve got 15 acres you can work at. But it also is a lesson. We call them our garden guardians, because we teach you what’s native, what’s not native, and how to care for both. And this is done with your volunteer hours. This organization started as a volunteer organization 90 years ago, and we fulfill the function because you’re also helping the Botanical Garden maintain and grow. And I tell just about every visitor that comes to this garden that takes that opportunity to say, oh, we just love this place, to remind them that it’s because of our volunteers. You can actually come in visually, see and feel the love that it takes to maintain and keep this garden growing. And our volunteers are our number one asset.”
A new education center is sorely needed at the garden.
McRae said, “Since 2004 the Botanical Garden has lent to our district our Living Lab, because that’s what we consider the tropical forces, a living lab we offer for free. It’s grant supported and donor supported curriculum. We just added pre K all the way up through college. We do hands on, we do virtual and we do in classrooms. For those of you that are teachers in the community, keep in mind that we are here at the Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden to take some of the weight off of you. What we do is we provide a la carte, if you want to call it, we talk to the educators, ask them what they need, show them what we can provide, and we provide that opportunity in class and a field trip and post class visit in order to help the educator. I think what’s been very successful about this, especially on the hands on is that we take it out of the textbook, out of what you’re seeing in a picture or on a laptop, put you in the garden hands on so they can actually see these STREAM applications, firsthand experience it and throughout the program, I have yet been able to see a group of kids come through the garden with anyone sitting in the back row falling asleep. Everyone’s excited. They’re all into it. They’re out in nature, breathing the fresh air out of the classrooms and actually applying what they’re learning through their textbooks in a living environment. It’s a really, really special, a great opportunity, and I believe it’s a great product for Monroe County School District. Through the education program, an offshoot of the Weed Warriors, the garden guardians, is the garden companions. This is a special program especially for our middle and high school and college students to get their community service hours. We’ve been running this since 2010. It is a chance for the students to come out, help the garden, learn about the environment, put on their resume that they work for a non profit environmental organization, which looks very good, and help the garden out in its process of growing. I say we grow more than plants at the garden.”
For more information, click here: https://www.keywest.garden/