Exploring Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
Where Dragons & Mythical Creatures Come to Life
A Botanic Paradise in the Heart of Miami
Just south of the skyscrapers of downtown Miami is a hidden gem, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. The garden expands to 83 acres which showcases a diverse array of tropical plants from around the globe. David Fairchild, the mind behind the flora and fauna at the garden, was a renowned botanist and an explorer who dedicated his passion to collecting plants and seeds worldwide.
Visitors to the gardens can explore the winding walking paths that will lead them through a rainforest habitat, a butterfly garden, a cycad garden, and even a citizen science project in partnership with NASA designed to advance research on growing plants in space (Grow Beyond Earth). While still exploring the winding paths, you can also see the garden’s extensive collection of rare palms, cycads, tropical fruit, orchids, and Florida’s native plants.
Mythical Creatures Unveiled
As amazing as the garden is to explore, I was there to check out the traveling exhibit of Dragons & Mythical Creatures. The subjects used in this exhibit represent myth and folklore from many different cultures from around the world, and if you keep an eye out, you might even see a glimpse of two real dragons (click through the photos below to see if you can spot them).
While exploring the winding path of the garden, I got to experience the “larger than life” dragons and mythical creatures embedded into the landscape. I have to say, it was very cool. It’s amazing to think, what if that Basilisk came to life like in Harry Potter? That would probably be pretty scary. I photographed the creatures with my Lumix S1 camera and Leica 24-70mm f/2.8 Vario-Elmarit-SL lens. This zoom lens was the perfect choice for the day. I was able to photograph the beasts at a wide angle and then zoom in up close without getting burned by a fire-breathing dragon. Here’s a sample of the images I took from my visit. Click to enlarge.
Here are some more dragons and mythical creatures
Have you spotted the two real dragons? Here’s a clue: one is in the above photos, and the other is below.
The Magic of Myth and Nature
The dragons and mythical creatures are not always the only lore to greet you at Fairchild Garden. You may encounter whimsical fairies, gnomes, and other mystical beings hidden among the foliage, like what you might see during the winter NightGarden light spectacular. The fantastical additions lend an air of magic and mystery to the dark, cool, night, making it an enchanting place for children and adults alike. I was able to experience this some years ago when we took my niece and nephew during the Christmas holiday to enjoy the event.
I am fascinated with the native people’s history and studied cultural anthropology of Central America during college. The photos below are of Quetzalcóatal, one of my favorite dragons of the show and an Aztec god. Quetzalcóatl, the feathered serpent, was a creator deity who traveled between the earth and sky and contributed to the creation of Mankind.
Take a Trip, Relax
So, if you find yourself in the Miami area with some spare time, don't miss the opportunity to explore Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. It's a place where you can get away from the loud city life and relax in the beauty of nature. To find out what’s going on at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and current exhibits: https://fairchildgarden.org/.
