The McKee Botanical Garden
Many of the original features remain, such as the Cypress Stump, which is one of the first things you see in the parking lot. A sign provides the following information: "Hidden in the undergrowth for twenty years, this historic cypress stump is still in the exact spot where Waldo Sexton placed in the early 1930s. The tree, cut from a swamp and carried across the state on a flatbed truck, was said to have been over 2000 years old and more than 100 feet high when it was cut, and thus perfectly exemplifies the hideous monstrosities inflicted on the natural landscape by humanity in the twentieth century." (The part beginning with "and thus" was not part of the sign, but the words went through my head.)
A beautiful wrought-iron arcade dripping with Spanish moss, through which visitors must pass to get to the gardens, struck me as more benign.
One of the largest trees in the garden (and also a survivor from the old garden) is an enormous banyan tree (Ficus speciosa).
A network of paths and streams are lined with many interesting varieties of palm, while live oaks (Quercus virginiana) and slash pines (Pinus elliottii) create a gnarled canopy through which the sunlight filters down into the dappled shade.
A toog tree (Bischofia javanica) was knocked over by Hurricane David in 1979 but continues to grow from its horizontal position.
And ZOMG, there were dinosaurs everywhere! (Although I found the models garish and slightly disruptive, the installation was temporary and I did not begrudge the garden — which regrettably must compete with everything else for entertainment dollars — the opportunity to capitalize on dinosaur mania.)
Back in the light, I spotted a chameleon (a relative, perhaps, of the above-pictured dimetrodon?) on a copper-leaf bromeliad.
"So – how do you like Florida?" I asked the little dinosaur, and he considered the question. "Well, I retired here," he said, "and the warm weather is good for my aching joints. Things could be better, I suppose, but then again, things could be much, much worse."
Matthew Gallaway is a writer who lives in Washington Heights. His first novel, 'The Metropolis Case' is available for preorder. Yes you heard us right!
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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…)