On a recent trip to Vero Beach, I was interested and a little dismayed-in a way that's probably unavoidable in Florida when you consider the ongoing clash between the lush vegetation and strip-mall civilization-to learn that my parents' condominium is situated on the former site of a large botanical garden. Originally called Jungle Garden, it was built in 1922 on land purchased by Arthur McKee and Waldo Sexton (an engineer and a citrus grower, respectively) who like many of today's rich-ass motherfuckers financial leaders were obsessed with orchids and water lilies, and brought rare specimens from around the world to showcase to the interested public.
During its heyday, which lasted through the 1950s, Jungle Garden was Florida's most popular tourist attraction, but following the construction of ____ World in Orlando, attendance slipped badly. The garden fell into serious disrepair and went bankrupt in the 1970s, when all but 18 of the original 80 acres were sold off to developers, who subsequently built condominiums and golf courses.
The remaining 18 acres, which were also zoned for redevelopment, sat idle and were reclaimed by Mother Nature, who moves very quickly in subtropical Florida (where it is not uncommon to find a vine wrapping its tendrils around your ankle if you stay in one spot for more than ten or fifteen seconds).
In 1995, a group of Vero Beach residents were like WTF and formed a non-profit trust to purchase the land for $1.7 million, and raised an additional $10 million to restore the garden. The new McKee Botanical Garden, as it now called, opened in 2001, and I'm happy to report that while the site remains a work in progress, it features many interesting specimens and is definitely worth a visit if you happen to be in the vicinity. To give you a sense of the restoration, here's a shot of the Royal Palm Grove, the same spot seen in the above picture from 1995.
[Next: the Horrors of the Cypress Stump!]
The American Orchid Society has a garden down in Delray Beach, which they have kept open despite their financial problems. There is also the Marie Selby garden in Sarasota, which has a more botanical focus.
http://www.fairchildgarden.org/
Luv u, lil dino <3
Indeed. The dino thing reminds me of tourist sites in some developing nations where the natural geo attractions have been gussied up with preposterous (and often rotting) mannequins and animals and dinos like these. Up close and alone they are cheap and, philosophically, disappointing. But considered on the whole, in retrospect, and compared to well-tread and profitable entertainment sites, they are refreshingly simple and amateur and charming ans the perfect inside laugh if you went with another person.
Plus, these photos make FL look less steamy and stifling than I remember which is excellent.
At the very least our dinosaurs are anatomically correct; unlike a certain knifehappy former Empire's Crystal Palace exhibition of 1851.
*cough *cough
Also: my friend's parents work partially in Florida real estate and have said that the Oilz Spillz has already had a severe impact on the market (more so) and people are already backing out of their contracts and purchasing condos elsewhere.
Ugh, I can totally believe that, although this was on the Atlantic Coast, not the Gulf. But I was shocked by the miles and miles of foreclosed properties in FL (or at least north of West Palm, where I was staying); whether or not the broader economy is recovering, it's a mess there.
Beautiful as always, Matthew.
What is that dinosaur standing on? It's not walking on water, right? At the risk of sounding blasphemous, I don't think it's a Jesus lizard...
(Dumb question: what does the 'Z' stand for in 'ZOMG'?)
I think the dinosaur is standing on some mud, or at least it's meant to look that way? (To be honest, I wasn't paying to much attention to the dinos, in my efforts to be a gardening snob.) As for the Z in ZOMG, I always thought it was basically like OMG but more sarcastic? (Actually just confirmed this on Urban D!)
Matthew, someday when I move to NY will you be available for private urban garden tours? You're poetic yet poignant observations are always striking, and I will need some reprieve from the hustle!
Also, thank you both for the ZOMG discussion - I have long been wondering this myself!
Thanks, Matthew - I learned something on the internet today. Although in my world, the 'Z' would stand for 'Zounds!'
Lovely. As you're being all helpfully scientific-y I feel obliged to point out that your noble chameleon is in fact an anolis lizard (anolis anolis, if I'm not mistaken). And don't forget Wakulla, up near Tallahassee, where the Creature from the Black Lagoon and the Johnny Weismuller Tarzan flicks were filmed. It's run-down and fabulous. The reptiles are all big ole hambones, posing for their adoring public. And there are manatees. When there are manatees all is right with the world.
Oh yeah, IB, I've heard about that place -- sounds amazing!
As a HUGE FREAKING NERD I feel honor-bound to point out that Dimetrodon was not, technically, a dinosaur.
That said, thanks for this piece -- I'm originally a Florida native and I just spent a chunk of the morning looking at Wikipedia articles about my hometown (the abovementioned Sarasota) through Google Maps, so this fit right in.
And to all reading, if you want that REAL chintzy-dinosaur-models in poorly-tended-garden-setting shizz, then you want Dino World, on I-4 between Tampa and Lakeland. It is awesome.
They had a t-rex, too, but the shot was blurry so I didn't use it! (I should probably also add that the dinosaur exhibit was not, thankfully, permanent...)