Some of the Upper Keys’ more unusual — and distinct — private gardens will be on display during the 45th Garden Walk on Saturday, Feb. 28.
Organized by the Garden Club of the Upper Keys, this year’s tour will take landscaping enthusiasts, locals and visitors through a bayfront property where native forest meets shimmering bay. Next, a Plantation Key residence features a towering, majestic banyan tree and red mangrove grown from a sprout, among other tropical plantings.
Farther up U.S. 1, a campus known for fish surveys and research will show off its native plants and heritage trail. Finally, a compact property showcases its sustainability and creativity.
“Each site offers its own interpretation of beauty, resilience and connection to the natural world,” says the Garden Club of the Upper Keys. “Together, they exemplify the Garden Club’s commitment to feature a diverse range of garden spaces — rustic and native, polished and curated, playful and deeply personal.”
In addition to the private garden tours, the Garden Walk will include an art show courtesy of the Art Guild of the Purple Isles, shopping and a stroll through the lush landscaping at the Francis Tracy Garden Center in Tavernier. The activities at the center run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m, while the private tour gardens will go from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. More information is at gardenclubupperkeys.org or the Garden Club of the Upper Keys on Facebook. Tickets are $32 in advance or $35 on the day of the event.
Here is a look at each stop on the walk: Photos by JIM McCARTHY/Keys Weekly
Serenity Cay
Owners Steve and Christina Pearse turned the 3.5-acre property on the Islamorada bayside into a tranquil oasis with some Bali inspiration. Visitors can expect to view an artful blend of native and exotic plants, whimsical sculptures and carvings, a rustic firepit and an expansive view of Florida Bay.
Also, be ready to seek out two hidden Ganeshas, a Hindu god known as the obstacle remover and astrology deity. As Christina said, each offers moments of reflection and overcoming hurdles in life.
“This is more than a garden — it’s a haven where every creature, from the hidden Ganesha to the visiting hawks, our resident owls or nocturnal raccoons, all play a part in the joyful ongoing dance toward peace,” she said.
Visitors to the private garden should also be aware of distinctive, dark and sometimes oozing bark with telltale black splotches. The native poisonwood trees are best viewed from afar, Christina says.
‘Banyon’ Breeze
A charming conch-style home features quite a mix of plantings, including striking staghorn, frangipani, desert rose and palms. Then there’s the conversational piece – the massive banyan tree for which the property is named. With sweeping branches adorned with orchids and ferns, it’s a sight to behold.
Owner Lourdes Berg said she first experienced the annual garden walk last year as she toured the magnificent landscapes. This year, she said she wanted her property to be featured.
There’s also the red mangrove that Berg has grown from a sprout.
“I had it in a bud vase, and then I had to put it in a vase and pot and do this with it,” Berg said of the red mangrove now planted in the ground.
There are cozy sitting areas to admire the flora and fauna. Berg will also have her little workshop open for visitors to see her artsy seashell creations.
REEF Native Plants & Heritage Trail
A peaceful blend of native habitat and historic charm is situated between the oldest structure built in the Upper Keys – now REEF’s administrative office – and the new, state-of-the-art Ocean Exploration Center in Key Largo.
Nearly every plant on the property at 98380 Overseas Highway is native, creating lush gardens that mirror the Keys’ beauty.
“We have some garden club members that are very active in protecting the native plants,” said Jill Kuehnert, REEF’s campus director.
Chelsey Davis, REEF’s director of learning and engagement, said the garden contains tall trees like gumbo limbos.
“It’s shaded and inviting for people to come through and walk through, especially on those really hot days, because we get a lot of bike path traffic,” Davis said.
There are two buccaneer palms belonging to REEF co-founder Paul Humann at the front of the administrative building. The property also contains a historic cistern.
Interpretive signs highlight the plant and wildlife communities in the Keys. A small pond and butterfly garden evoke a miniature ecosystem, complete with red mangroves and mosquito fish. REEF’s property allows garden walk participants to explore the marine world at the new Ocean Exploration Center.
Beautiful Truth Garden & Apiary
This biodiverse garden inspires commitment and ecological stewardship to the environment. The Key Largo property features more than 100 plants for edible, medicinal or pollinator use, an aquaponic system, a 5,000-gallon cistern and a composting operation including vermiculture.
Motivated by supply shortages from the pandemic, property owner Jacquelyn Bello and Breaz Vera transformed their yard into a self-sufficient “food forest” to ensure their produce is free from pesticides and chemicals. They’ve long composted their own food and yard waste, but had plans for additional raised beds to expand the operation. In 80 weeks, they have composted roughly 14,000 pounds with help from their neighbors.
“Eleven people in our neighborhood compost with us,” Bello said. “People come on their own and they can do a clean bucket swap and leave the dirty bucket.”
The scraps are brought back to the property’s two compost bays.
The property features chickens, a beehive, fruit trees and an array of vegetable and herb plants. Rain barrels and the large cistern help reduce municipal water use.
