Plants are a staple of the Historic Commodore Trail. From palm trees to mangroves to all sorts of plants, there is no shortage of biodiversity when one takes to the Trail. And with Giving Day right around the corner, on November 17, anyone with a love for plants will be more than satisfied when they come to visit the trail. Older than Miami itself, the Trail houses several enchanting gardens where one can experience all the different flora South Miami has to offer. While a good portion of the Commodore Trail runs through Coconut Grove, you will be greeted by the Kampong on the Trail’s Western side. The Commodore Trail also connects to the Old Cutler Trail, which brings you to Fairchild Botanical Garden, housing hundreds of variations and types of plants.
The Kampong is the former home of Dr. David Fairchild, who is responsible for bringing many of the plants found in the Kampong and the Fairchild Garden. As soon as you enter The Kampong you are greeted by a baobab tree that is over 50 feet tall, hailing from Tanzania. As you enter and get deeper into the garden, you can walk along the mangrove path, where you may find iguanas, pelicans, and even crocodiles until you end up at a pier overlooking the skyline of Miami as well as the keys of Biscayne Bay. Once you turn back towards the garden you can walk through and experience all it has to offer, with its exotic bamboo trees, an assortment of fruits and edible plants, ranging from bananas and papayas, all the way to cacao beans and even soap plants! All these make Kampong a rich garden with an abundance of flora and fauna.
Also featured on the Trail is the Vizcaya Museum and Garden, which is one of the Trail’s biggest attractions. With a space of over 50 acres (about the size of a shopping mall), and elegant architecture from the Italian Renaissance, it houses much history and beauty within its area. With its mix of buildings, manicured gardens and hedges, terraces, and piers that make you think you are in Europe, Vizcaya has much to offer. You can go on tours that take you through the grounds, talking about the history of the buildings, statues, and plants, making it a place to learn and experience the Trail. If you walk through the entire garden, you can even find a beautiful view at the end that looks out onto the sea and is a great spot to take pictures of and capture the moment!
We love how the Commodore Trail is more than just a running trail with some parks and plants. It is a trail rich in history that spreads out and encompasses some of Miami’s best parks, beaches, and of course these notorious gardens. You can see and experience these locations and much more for Give Miami Day on November 17. When you come to the Commodore Trail you will be amazed at all that you see and much more!
About the Guest Blogger:
Souleymane Bangoura is an undergraduate student at the University of Miami.
