Fairchild Adventure

The flora, fauna and architecture found at the Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens in southeast Miami-Dade represent the way I picture my home state. Here's my version of a photo narrative:

  Walking down Old Cutler Road--one of Miami's most beautiful streets. We ran into a large and colorful lizard. There's no telling what kind it was, but it was scary. By 'ran into' I mean it was running beside us on a coral ledge about 10 feet away and doing those weird push-up movements they do when they get excited or mad. This is my theory. When you grow up in a place where reptiles run rampant outside, you derive theories on why they do what they do. 

Main entrance signage and building

Around the office building on the FTBG grounds. Check out the limestone pillars which are carved and made to look like bricks. Also, the building exterior is painted in classic Florida colors, orange and green. A combination famously known because of the University of Miami.

I'm not going to know the names of most of the plants you'll see here, but they're all pretty cool and friendly.

Natural stone steps embedded into the grass. This is also right around the spot where we overheard a woman threaten her children with melanoma because they weren't wearing sunscreen. Whatever works.

  We were honored to meet the oldest FTBG resident. Like most old Floridian dudes, he's pretty chill.

Lily pads living in one of the many ponds and water structures at FTBG.

This is called Bailey Palm Glade (looked it up)...not sure what that means, but my takeaway from this structure is the mom and daughter combo on the left racing their way up. It was adorable.

A single-parent family of raccoons (also known as masked bandits) crossed our path. This was monumental for my friend, Sandy, who proceeded to beat my arm until I turned to see them. As they scurried away, I had to remind her that the "mommas don't play" animal instinct was going to kick in so that she'd stop following them. I was just able to capture them running through the grass toward a creek.

A building which is part of the conservatory and butterfly structure. A prime example of old southern Florida architecture with a wrap-around porch and stone incorporated into the facade.

A Florida resident, the banyan tree (with some spanish moss hanging from it--do not touch spanish moss, it will be painful). Growing up, I nicknamed them walking trees because the roots grow from the branches and embed themselves in the ground wherever they fall. Once the new branch is full, it almost looks like the tree has legs and is about to walk away. 

 

We left FTBG and rewarded ourselves with some delicious eats at the Pinecrest Wayside Market--"Home of the Famous Strawberry Shake!"We didn't have shakes today (although they are awesome), but we indulged in some water and Terra brand "Sweets and Beets" chips then headed home.