Miami has a lot of interesting geographic elements that contribute to its atmosphere and make it one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. In addition to the great beaches and coastal and bay areas, the diverse ecology is interesting and attractive to scientists and avid horticulturalists and environmental enthusiasts. And while many of the guests in some of the beach resorts and regional hotels are attracted first to the sandy shores, they quickly find that there are a lot of other interesting geographic features associated with the city.

The Kampong is a National Tropical Botanic Garden located in the city and it comprises an eleven acre area in the neighborhood of Coconut Grove. The garden gets its name from the Malay or Javanese word for a cluster of houses or a village. It is one of five gardens that is part of the non-profit organization. The garden has an interesting background and was established in 1916 when the famed horticulturist Dr. David Fairchild purchased it for a winter home for himself and his wife Marian. They began living there permanently in 1928 and remained there for the rest of their lives.

While they were there Fairchild brought around 30,000 different plant species to his home, which was their introduction to the United States. He created a garden that contained many of the plant species he brought with him. After his death and Marian’s which followed his in 1962 the land was purchased by Dr. Catherine Hauberg Sweeney. Dr. Sweeney was a botanist and preservationist it was through her efforts that the garden became listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today the garden includes several species of tropical fruits. Some of these include mangos, avocados, bamboo , flowering trees and more. It is open to the public for tours and admission is free. It is definitely a great place to visit if you plan on spending time in Miami.

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