Vizcaya Mansion and Gardens
The Vizcaya Mansion and Gardens, hidden behind a stone wall and wild grove of trees, is situated right in the middle of Miami. The magnificent estate, consisting of nearly 30 acres of gardens, once belonged to James Deering, who made his fortune from farm equipment. The formal gardens, coral caves and grand vistas provide a peek into the luxurious lifestyle that was early 20th-century Florida.
Magaly Blanco
Just south of Miami, five garden acres are transformed into a little piece of Cuba. The royal and silk floss trees remind Magaly Blanco of the scenery in her native country. But this is Magaly's second attempt at creating a garden paradise. In 1992, hurricane Andrew swept through Miami, taking with it Magaly's previous five months of planting and hard work. It's taken eight years to get her garden back, yet Magaly's still thrilled to discover new surprises in her own backyard.
Mari Davies Garden
Mari Davies' garden is just plain fruity! Its one acre yields baskets of starfruit, grapefruit, mango and more. And if Davies' garden seems bigger than it actually is, it's because she indulges in a bit of gardening trompe l'oeil. Trompe l'oeil is a French term that means "to deceive the eye," and Davies uses bigger plants toward the front of the garden and smaller plants in back to create an optical illusion. But from whatever perspective, the view is always in good taste.
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