Susan Smith, Emmanuel Didier, and Christine Hobart [Photo: Denise Ritchie]

Donors and supporters of the brand-new Children’s Garden at McKee Botanical Garden set their inner souls free as they explored the enchanted nooks and crannies of the wonderful interactive playground during a private showing Friday evening, before its official opening on Saturday.

Minkee, a pirate monkey mascot, greeted guests under the Monkey Bridge, directing them to follow a wooden path through the trees and over a stream to the Waterlily Fountain and courtyard. Once there they could enjoy the full wonders and splendors of the Children’s Garden, with its interactive splash pad, where children will cavort among dancing water spouts, a Nautilus Shell Amphitheater and even a pirate ship marooned in the top of a tree.

Caterers in pirate costumes offered up platters of cannonballs, peg legs and parrot meat, washed down with a selection of wines. Music emanated from a musical duo playing saxophone and violin, and from a steel drum trio further back in the bamboo garden. Visitors were spellbound as they meandered through the fairy forest, along the music maze, and into a reading circle, where blue crab benches were waiting for someone to sit down and read a book from the lending library.

But it was the pirate ship that captured nearly everyone’s attention, as guests climbed up the gang plank to take their turn at the helm and aim cannons at far away targets.

Liza McClure and Ann Wallace couldn’t resist kicking off their shoes and climbing up the rope slide.

“I think we were supposed to slide down it,” said McClure with a laugh. “This is like being a kid again.”

Bob Wood was especially proud of the pirate ship, claiming it as his own.

“It was his idea for sure,” said Emanuel Didier, designer of the Children’s Garden. “Mr. Wood challenged us to create the ‘fury of the storm’ by placing a ship in the treetops, like it was on the crest of a wave. It was brilliant. And the kids learn about the trees as they pretend to be at sea.”

Didier said that the first time he visited McKee, “I was blown away by its unique sense of place, where the jungle wrapped itself around history. I’ve worked on many gardens but this one is special in its timeless presence. It was an honor to design the Children’s Garden to capture its essence.”

“I’ve always loved McKee and the fact that we finally got the Children’s Garden is the crème de la crème,” said longtime supporter Alma Lee Loy. “We have to build good stewards of our environment, and by exposing children to such a mystical place surrounded by nature, it will instill their love of nature and their desire to preserve it.”

“It’s a dream come true,” said an enthusiastic Christine Hobart, executive director. “It has been an amazing journey, and after nearly a decade of strategic planning and two years of construction, we are so proud to offer our children a special place where they can play and explore while experiencing nature.”

For more information, including Children’s Garden weekly activities, visit mckeegarden.org.