Visitors of all ages delighted in the magic of McKee Botanical Garden with back-to-back events that offered something for everyone. For nearly a century the unique tropical hammock – originally McKee Jungle Gardens – has been a cherished part of Vero Beach history.
First was the annual Pirate and Fairy Celebration, where adorable youngsters flitted around in delicate fairy wings or pretended to be swashbuckling buccaneers, sailing the seven seas in the Children’s Garden pirate ship before cooling off in the Water Lily Fountain splash zone.
Little ones, and the young at heart, spent the day crafting miniature Fairy Houses, meeting “real live” pirates such as Captain Pegleg, dancing to the maritime music of CharlieQ Music, and delighting in the sleights of hand by magician Michael Van Ness.
Next, brilliantly hued petals were at their early morning best, joyfully unfurling upon their leafy green pads and more than ready for their close-ups during the annual Waterlily Celebration.
This 20th anniversary of the Waterlily Celebration drew hundreds of eager early morning visitors, who wandered in to watch the magic as the little water plants yawned and stretched themselves into the exquisitely colorful displays that would last only brief, breathtaking moments.
First to catch the eye were vibrant purple lilies floating upon the luminous ponds edging the entrance walkways. Inside the gardens, more shimmering ponds and water mazes are home to one of the largest and most celebrated waterlily collections in the state, according to board member Marion de Vogel, whose great-grandfather, Arthur G. McKee, co-founded the gardens with Waldo Sexton.
Photographers and plein air artists set up their equipment throughout the garden, seeking the best mediums to capture the gorgeous lilies’ elusive, nuanced shades.
As visitors strolled beneath the venerable giants of Royal Palm Grove, another enthusiastic group gathered beneath a shade tent, watching and listening as a skilled expert stood hip deep in the adjacent pond demonstrating the fine, if soggy, art of waterlily repotting. The gardeners stressed that although these beauties may appear delicate, they play a significant role in maintaining the health and happiness of the garden’s ponds and waterways.
Within the lofty Hall of Giants, itself an historic wonder, the beautiful and impressive entries in the annual Waterlily Photo Contest were on full display; a gorgeous mélange of diverse photographic interpretations and styles, all showcasing the Garden’s glorious aquatic occupants.
Before leaving, many also happily scooped up aroids, orchids and bromeliads, as well as wire art, wood crafts and handmade baskets during the all-day plant sale, carefully cradling their damp, carefully packed new friends as they made their way out to their cars.
Even without a special event underway, McKee is a celebration, and always worth a visit.
For more information, visit McKeeGarden.org.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
