Misha McRae, executive director of the Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden, joined Good Morning Keys on KeysTalk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about what’s going on in the garden.
The recent rain has created a real need for Weed Warriors at the garden.
McRae said, “When you put in the cycle of life, that rain, the plants love the rain, and that’s the good plants and the bad plants. So we call our Weed Warriors exactly that, to help us with the weeding, that once we have a hard rain, usually within three or four days, we’ve got the weeds coming up everywhere. We have a program at the garden called the Garden Guardians, because you do guard the garden. That’s a volunteer program that teaches you about the native plants, how to care for them, what’s non native, what’s invasive, as well as help beautify our historic tropical forests and botanical garden.”
Locals Day is coming up.
McRae said, “I want to get out to the community to remind them that with the other museums around town, the garden has always offered a locals free Sunday, and that’s always the first Sunday of each month. If you not don’t know about the garden, if you’re not sure if you want to support the garden, if you just want to know more about the garden, or if you just want a freebie, the first Sunday of each month is free to locals. So bring your ID, come and talk to our knowledgeable group leaders, enjoy the garden and see how you can get involved.”
Garden Fest will be held on March 8.
McRae said, “This is the garden signature plant sale event. This will be our 23rd Garden Fest, Key West and green marketplace. We of course, focus on our native plants, but we also bring in tropical plants from other vendors. We have 30 vendors in all, including plant service supplies. It also includes artesian market, which are local artists who create artwork out of recycled materials. We’re very proud of that. We have live music. We have a beer garden. We have free tours. We’re going to be doing a butterfly tour. We have the kids’ science corner, as well as a huge plant sale, and a great day to be out into nature.”
Garden Fest is held from 10 am to 4pm and it is free admission.
The garden also needs babysitters. What are they?
McRae said, “The historic garden is the only non profit native nursery here in the Keys. We really focus on the Florida Keys natives, but we also have Cuban and Caribbean, so we need to help in the nursery, to help us with our baby plants. So we call them our babysitters. Right now we have over 120 species, well over 2,000 plants that we offer to the public, as most folks know we do, the third Saturday of each month is our native plant sale. We’d love you come in to learn about native plants, be out in nature, and help us within our project to protect and enhance not only the Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden, but for out planning projects that we give back to the community, that’s every Saturday from nine until noon. If you’re interested in more, please go out to our website.”
How is the funding for the new education center coming along?
McRae said, “We do need a new center. We need the donations to help us with our project. We’re right now very excited to say that we are working with an architect on the design of the new structure and building. It’s going to be fabulous. Most folks should know by now that our Living Lab pertains to our education program at the historic Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden. Our program reaches pre K all the way to first year college now. We go from here to Big Pine. About 3,500 kids come through the garden and we really work with the about 13,000 in all. Our virtual education program actually is used in five different states in the country because of the opportunity we provide for next generation standards. Of course, we always focus on STEM and we just added an art program, so we’re in the STREAM now, and it is really a way to get kids out in nature, get them to appreciate nature and to learn more about it, as well as working directly with educators in giving them the tools for their classrooms and help them out in the process of helping with their students’ academic careers. We’re very honored, and we’re very adamant about every child should have an opportunity not only experience the botanical garden, but use nature as a means to help their academic grades.”
Membership definitely helps the garden.
McRae said, “I’ve always had a dream that the botanical garden would be a community center, and that’s what’s evolving into it, starting with the kids in the education program, to our continued education, our adult Speaker Series. The best way to participate is to support, and the support may be your volunteer time, but also become a member. Membership has its privileges. You’re not only a tax deductible donation, but it also supports the society. The society is 33 years old. That’s how long we’ve been running the garden and it supports the society, and it’s the number one way is sign on the dotted line. You heard that before right? The number one way to help us support in our mission to be a community center, to educate our children and to protect that 89 year old Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden.”
Volunteers are always needed.
McRae said, “Volunteers is worth as much as money. When our guests come through the garden and they say how lovely the place looks, I am so proud to say that is the work of our volunteers. I only have a maintenance staff of one person who works half a day. The rest of it’s done by our volunteers, our Garden Guardians. They’re the ones that come in. They fall in love with a section of the garden. They said, I’m taking care of it and you can feel and see the love that goes into the maintenance of that garden, and that’s through our volunteer program.”
For more information, click here: https://www.keywest.garden/