ABOUT TFTS

History

About

The Tropical Flowering Tree Society (TFTS) was formed in 1988 by a handful of enthusiasts interested in promoting, propagating and preserving tropical flowering trees. Some of the goals of the Society are to:

  • Create a forum for the exchange and distribution of knowledge on tropical flowering trees to interested persons;

  • Foster the preservation and proper utilization of these beautiful and colorful members of the plant kingdom; and

  • Facilitate the wider distribution and availability of the many valuable, but rare, species of tropical flowering trees.

Consistent with these goals, the Society also has a strong sense of civic commitment and seeks to achieve its purposes in ways that benefit the community and the environment.

Meetings

The Society meets at 7:30 PM on the second Monday of the month, except May, July and August. Meetings are held at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, 10901 Old Cutler Road, Miami, Florida, and are free and open to the public. Meetings feature a bloom table, presentations by horticultural experts, and conclude with an auction of tropical flowering trees, shrubs and vines.

Publications

The Society publishes a color catalogue before our Mother’s Day Plant Sale and two or more newsletters in color, each year. These publications generally feature in-depth articles on genus or species of tropical flowering trees, new plants in cultivation, care and maintenance of same, dealing with plant pests and other related subjects and provide news on the activities of our Society.

Show & Sales

The Society sponsors sales of tropical flowering trees during Earth Day at ZooMiami, the Spring Sale at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. We hold a Mother’s Day weekend Show & Sale at Fairchild and we participate in the Fall Sale and Ramble at Fairchild. Check our events page or on Facebook at Tropical Flowering Tree Society for up to date information.

Other Activities and Civic Projects

  • The Royal Poinciana Fiesta is sponsored by the Society annually in June.

  • A tree planting, with other civic groups, is held on the Saturday of the Fiesta.

  • Sunday, a narrated trolley tour of local Royal Poincianas and other flowering trees, departs from The Kampong of the National Tropical Botanical Garden (former home of Dr. David Fairchild). Walking tours of The Kampong are also available.

  • During the celebratory Fiesta our meeting on Monday evening includes a tram tour of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, the presentation of book scholarships to young women graduating from high school and going on to college, and the presentation the Schokman Book Award. Local artists exhibit and sell their beautiful art and we listen to the music of talented local musicians.

  • The first tropical flowering tree park in Miami-Dade County was created by the Society at the Jean Willis Park, 7250 SW 61st Avenue, South Miami, FL. The park features many rare and beautiful species, and was designed to have trees in bloom throughout the year.
  • At ZooMiami the Society has donated and planted more than 4,000 trees. We have also planted trees in many areas of Miami, and elsewhere, in an ongoing effort to beautify our surroundings.

International symposiums on flowering trees are sponsored by the Society in Miami and overseas.