Garden News and Information

"The orchid is Mother's Nature's masterpiece, mysterious, sensuous, and impossibly elegant." Susan Orlean

Rare & Exotic Orchid

Exhibition & Sale

McKee in collaboration with the Vero Beach Orchid Society, will present the First Annual Rare & Exotic Orchid Exhibition & Sale, Saturday, September 6 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm and Sunday, September 7 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

The event will feature an extraordinary array of orchids from acclaimed growers including Krull-Smith, Odom's Orchids, Ritter Tropic 1, Quest Orchids, and Springwater Orchids. Lectures and educational offerings will enrich the weekend, including appearances by celebrated plantsman, Robbie Honey, author of The Accidental Botanist, and Dr. Martin R. Motes, Florida's leading expert on Vandas.

The inaugural exhibition honors McKee's remarkable orchid legacy, dating back to the 1930s, when co-founder Arthur McKee cultivated one of the largest private collections in the nation. That tradition continued under orchidologist Dr. David Fairburn, whose breathtaking displays drew national attention.

Today, McKee's collection includes more than 900 orchids and continues to grow through partnerships like The Million Orchid Project. The Garden is proud to celebrate this enduring symbol of beauty and botanical excellence with our members and the community.

Arthur McKee's Passion

In the mid-1940s, Arthur McKee, a mechanical engineer, conservationist, and co-founder of McKee Jungle Gardens, embarked on a daring, two-month expedition into the Andes Mountains in search of rare and exotic orchid specimens. Captivated by the orchids' delicate beauty and unique growing conditions, McKee returned to Vero Beach with an extraordinary collection, determined to cultivate them in Florida's subtropical climate. Recognizing the challenge of growing cool-loving Andean species in the heat and humidity of South Florida, McKee enlisted the expertise of his recent hire, Dr. David Fairburn, a young orchidologist from the Missouri Botanical Garden. Together, they designed and constructed the world's first mechanically cooled greenhouse, an engineering marvel at the time. This groundbreaking innovation allowed McKee to mimic the orchids' native high-altitude environment, safeguarding their survival and display. The result was one of the most celebrated orchid collections in the nation, cementing McKee Jungle Gardens as a destination of botanical significance and reinforcing Arthur McKee's legacy as both a pioneer of engineering and a visionary of horticulture.

Orchid Paintings by H.G. Moon (1857 - 1905) English landscape and botanical painter, renowned for his exquisite orchid paintings.

Twilight at McKee RETURNS

Back by overwhelming popularity, Twilight at McKee returns on Thursday, August 14 and Thursday, September 4. Same awesome experience in the jungle, same musical evening on the Garden Terrace, same outstanding menu at the Garden Cafe.

On August 14, join one of our aquatics experts for a waterlily tour, and on September 4, join our orchid expert for a behind the scenes look at McKee's orchids. Both tours start at 5:00. Both evenings are from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm

McKee Joins International Waterlily Weigh-off

On August 20th, McKee will join 17 participating botanical gardens from around the world in the waterlily weigh-off. Hosted by Denver Botanic Gardens, this viral moment, challenges gardens to test the capacity of their Victoria regina leaves to hold weight. Last year's winner, Missouri Botanical Garden took the honors with a Victoria that held 142.1 pounds. Team McKee is tending to the Victorias day and night to coax the optimum growth for the ultimate test. Stay tuned.

Garden Gift

& Book Shop

Stop by the shop to pick-up any one of a variety of books on orchids, before the exhibition and sale in September so you can ask good questions or identify the rarest of the rare orchids. Enjoy all the new items arriving daily, from home decor, to entertaining, to gifts, to practical carry bags, like the McKee Centennial Bag, custom made to carry everything you need to the office, the beach, or the market. The collectible bag comes in two colors, is made in America and sells for $38 less your membership discount.

McKee Recognized Nationally for Sustainability Leadership

We are proud to share that McKee was recognized last week by the American Public Gardens Association as part of their national campaign to spotlight sustainability in public gardens across the country. The campaign celebrates gardens that not only embrace beauty and biodiversity but also demonstrate a lasting commitment to environmental stewardship.

McKee's sustainability practices are deeply woven into daily operations, reflecting a thoughtful balance between horticultural excellence and ecological responsibility. One striking example is the Garden's management of its aquatic landscapes. Each day, staff remove between 500 and 1,000 pounds of pond weeds (wet weight). Far from waste, these nutrient-rich plants, containing up to 24% protein on a dry weigh bases, are repurposed as organic mulch. With an NPK (nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium) rating of 4|3|3, the mulch enriches our soil, insulates against drought, and supports plant healthy throughout the Garden.

McKee also champions reuse and natural integration. Bamboo harvested on-site is transformed into fencing and barriers, dead tree trunks are preserved as wildlife habitat, and fallen logs are incorporated into displays. We limit pesticide use, employ acid injection to improve soil nutrient uptake and continue transitioning to energy efficient LED lighting across the Garden.

Even behind the scenes, sustainability is front and center, staff members rely on pedal-powered tricycles to navigate the grounds, reducing fuel emissions and keeping the Garden a cleaner, quieter place for all.

This national recognition underscores a truth our members already know well. McKee is more than a beautiful place, it is a living example of what a sustainable future can look like.

JUNGLE LIGHTS in JULY

If you're wondering what's happening during this quieter time in our jungle, rest assured, we're deep in the planning stages for this December's spectacular JUNGLE LIGHTS. This immersive jungle experience will transport visitors through six of the eight countries of the Amazon Jungle, retracing the paths of McKee's original plant explorers who journeyed nearly a century ago to the Amazon to collect exotic specimens for the Royal Park Exotic Nursery.

Expanded trails, enhanced with the sights, sounds and creatures of each region, will offer an unforgettable adventure through the jungle before guests return to the familiar magic of holiday lights woven throughout McKee's iconic hardscapes.

Keep an eye out for more details about what promises to be an extraordinary celebration at Vero's first and oldest visitor attraction.

Need a Moment of Calm

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Give the Gift of Membership

Membership at McKee offers an outdoor experience for everyone to include year-round access to the garden's natural beauty and the Children's Garden, as well as admission to member events, garden discounts and reciprocal privileges at other botanical gardens. Choose from several levels for the perfect gift for family, friends and loved ones.

McKee Membership

Become a Volunteer

With flexible hours and a number of areas to support in the garden, few opportunities are as gratifying to year-round and winter residents as becoming a volunteer at McKee. McKee relies on the assistance of volunteers to help with signature events, garden maintenance, children's classes and tours. Volunteers enjoy a relaxing Volunteer Center, and annual celebratory luncheon, new friendships and camaraderie. No garden experience is required. Contact our Volunteer Coordinator at (772) 794-0601 Ext 113 to learn more.

McKee Botanical Garden Mission

"To nurture and enhance our historic jungle garden in a unique tropical setting for the education, enjoyment and enrichment of all."