Newsletter

THANK YOU!

On Aug. 23, 2022, Key West voters overwhemingly approved the Garden’s referendum for a 99-year lease. We are grateful to voters and to our members who supported the public campagin. We are working with the City now to complete the lease. That will allow us to apply for large capital funding to improve the Garden facilities.

Please vote “yes”

Key West requires a referendum to change the terms of a lease. Thanks to the sponsorship of Commissioner Sam Kaufman and Mayor Johnston, the city commissioners unanimously passed a resolution to put the “99 year” lease question for the Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden on the August ballot.

Though 2021 brought now-familiar Covid -19 challenges, the Garden, its staff, volunteers and board members worked effectively to keep the Garden growing. From finishing the children’s playground to welcoming visitors, we are proud of our accomplishments. And we are ready for 2022. Please join us!

ANNIVERSARY GALA: Postponed until 2022.

We welcome two new staffers, ask for volunteers to help in our native plant nursery — and take our grandson on a tour of the Garden, complete with an app to identify our wonderful native, endangered and exotic plants and trees.

OUR WISHLIST: We need your help to raise funds to address our conservation efforts for our Chug Collection; paving the entrance driveway to the garden; funding to upgrade the wifi system throughout the Garden and new software to integrate all Garden business and facilitate a more efficient use of staff time in conducting daily business; and significant repairs to our ADA Boardwalk in the Garden.

ANNIVERSARY GALA: Nov. 13, the Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden celebrates our 85 anniversary. The Gala will be a 1930’s themed event with time appropriate Trivia, period costume judging and a great meal by The Iron Chefs as well as live music.

OUR WISHLIST: We need your help to raise funds to address our conservation efforts for our Chug Collection; paving the entrance driveway to the garden; funding to upgrade the wifi system throughout the Garden and new software to integrate all Garden business and facilitate a more efficient use of staff time in conducting daily business; and significant repairs to our ADA Boardwalk in the Garden.

ANNIVERSARY GALA: Nov. 13, the Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden celebrates our 85 anniversary. The Gala will be a 1930’s themed event with time appropriate Trivia, period costume judging and a great meal by The Iron Chefs as well as live music.

Since March when Covid-19 changed us, the world and the Garden, we have adapted to the new ways of doing things. From board meetings and Speaker Series via Zoom to our new online education programs for children and teachers, we learned to meet the Garden’s mission. The Garden is open for visitors to experience the wonderful healing powers of a walk along the pathways. Programming, like yoga, Garden Guardians and the monthly plant sales continue in the Garden. Join us!