In Miami, there is no shortage of beaches or bougainvillea. These familiar colors erupt from the sea and the soil to keep our world interesting and full of life. If it’s a true tropical landscape that you desire though, you’ll have to head a few minutes southwest of downtown to the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. This 83-acre garden houses one of the largest and most diverse collections of tropical plants in the United States. Founded in 1938 by Colonial Robert H. Montgomery, the garden is named after the noted botanist and plant explorer, David Fairchild. Dr. Fairchild is highly regarded for having directed the collection and importation of over 200,000 plant species into the United State during his tenure at the Department of Agriculture. Crops such as soybeans, mangoes, and pistachios were all initially imported by Dr. Fairchild as well as a number of varieties of cotton, rice, and…
