Locals Day in The Garden

Photo from: Sandy Hunter Guy

You'll recall that we've been able to take advantage of the great offers by several Key West museums (and conch train) to get in free on Local's Day - the 1st Sunday of every month. The Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden decided to get into the action for the first time and we, of course, jumped at the opportunity.

Photo from: Bahama Bob's Rumstyles

I might have questioned the "tropical forest" aspect of it, but it's been really humid here lately. Even the long-timers have been complaining about it - it has been like living in a rain forest. Fog rolled in the other night (again), was gone by the time I went running early the next morning, but rolled back in again around 8am and stayed around for hours, wreaking havoc with boaters. Strange.

As we left our apartment this morning, we noticed our own pine forest and neighborhood mammal (Calvin).






Once at the Gardens (on Stock Island), we barely left the parking lot before we saw turtles and lizards/iguanas.




There were instruments made out of recycled materials before you got to the main entrance - you'll note that there was a lizard who liked what he was hearing.



Once inside, we enjoyed a couple of little ponds,



and much greenery.

There was so little color though, then when you found it, it really popped out at you (Garden photos hint that flowers do bloom throughout occasionally) .

I always thought butterflies were drawn to color, and they are, but per a sign in the garden, they're also drawn to rotting fruit - so I guess the berries worked for that.



There really was a lot of life in the park, including many birds we didn't capture on camera.



Apparently, there was a little too much of a certain kind of life though and they were trying to trap some of the iguanas (which are not a protected species).



Oddly, there was a display of Cuban "rafts" onsite.



Not to make light of the hazards of such an escape, but I couldn't help but think at least they didn't have to go through the Miami Airport.

There's also what they called a "chapel" nearby that's used for yoga classes, among other things.



On our way back, it seemed like the iguanas and turtles were posing for us. Can you see them?



Not a bad way to spend some time. I sit in the sun like that on our deck too. The breeze and shade felt great as well and we felt recharged. It's not easy getting away from the noise of this compact city, and it wasn't all that quiet here either (air traffic, motorcycle traffic, police/fire/ambulance sirens, and a noisy generator or pump nearby), but to be surrounded by the fresh smells, so much wildlife, and pretty flora almost made it fade away.

Of course, now Michael's in a bar watching football and I'm staring at my computer, but it was nice to disconnect for awhile.