Tamiami Trail celebrated at The Kampong

Portraits of plants found along the historic Tamiami Trail will be on view at The Kampong May 4  through June 13, 2015. “Tamiami Trail: In the Beginning” is the title of the exhibition of original works by members of the Miami-based Tropical Botanic Artists collective. It marks the 100th anniversary of the start of work on the Tamiami Trail, which was begun in 1915 in Miami and now stretches across the Everglades through former wilderness areas from Miami to Naples and northward to Tampa. Above is a Fragrant waterlily Nymphaea odorata by Beverly Borland.

The exhibition, and a related children’s painting workshop on May 13 at The Kampong, are part of a series of Tamiami Trail celebrations by Florida International University about the Trail’s effect on South Florida’s landscape. Scientific information about the route’s flora and fauna was developed by Florida Coastal Everglades Long Term Research Program (FCE LTER), part of the network established by the National Science Foundation.

At left is Pine Rockland Twinflower by Pauline Goldsmith.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, The Kampong was the historic home and personal garden of famed plant explorer Dr. David Fairchild, and later of philanthropist and preservationist Catherine Sweeney. The waterfront estate features a Mission/Spanish Revival style house designed by Edward Clarence Dean, now called the Fairchild-Sweeney House. The garden is renowned for its irreplaceable collections of rare and unusual varieties of tropical and subtropical fruits, palms and flowering trees, shrubs and vines–more than 2,000 plants fill the eleven acres.

The Kampong is located at 4013 S. Douglas Road.

Guided Tours: Wednesday and Saturday 10:30 am and noon. Self-guided tours Monday-Friday Reservations required.

Admission: $20 adults, $10 students and children.

Contact: 305-442-7169