from the chief operating officer South Floridians jokingly say that we only have one season: perpetual summer! And while our calendars indicate that we’re technically in “autumn,” here in South Florida, we don’t experience dramatic changes in foliage like the rest of the country. However, that doesn’t mean we’re green with envy. There’s a consistency in the tropics that’s very reassuring; a reliability and steadiness that resembles a Swiss timepiece. There’s comfort in that, I believe. It’s also what makes Miami such a desirable place to live and vacation: blue skies, warm waters, year-round outdoor living, lush foliage and, of course, Fairchild. Fairchild is like that Swiss watch. We clock the passage of time not just by the nearly endless spectrum of green foliage woven like a beautiful tapestry within our historical landscape, but also through spectacular blooms. For example, each year between October and November, you can expect to see the beautiful silk floss tree (Ceiba speciosa) in full splendor. The vibrant pink blooms punctuate the start of fall with such flourish as to inspire even the greatest poets. I was talking with Georgia Tasker, our garden writer, a few days ago, and she reminded me that, while they are subtle and nuanced, a few of what I’ll call more “traditional” fall changes also take place in South Florida. Keep an eye out for these delicate and underrated passages of time that she shared: “Carolina willows shed their leaves; goldenrod lines the roadsides; swamp lilies bloom in the prairies; fruit appears on smilax, baccharis, myrsine, wax myrtle, morinda and snowberry; tree snails mate in the fall, bury their eggs in the ground and then ascend their favorite trees to seal themselves in to survive the dry season. Sweet bay magnolias hold up seed pods, maple leaves will turn red and the ruby throated hummingbirds are back now and will migrate back north in the spring.” Tasker also noted that the turkey vultures—our winter residents—returned on October 9. I can attest to this personally, having seen a kettle of turkey vultures mightily at work on a dearly departed animal while I was stopped in traffic. I skipped breakfast that morning. The arrival of autumn also means that we’ll soon be out of hurricane season (June 1 – November 30), for which most of us will be especially glad this year. In early October, we prepared for Hurricane Matthew, and thankfully for South Florida, Matthew stayed far enough offshore to produce mostly leaf litter and garden debris. As I drove to the Garden following the storm, I was pleased that many homeowners heeded warnings, shuttered their homes and proactively prepared their gardens by pruning trees and moving potted plants indoors. Once I arrived at Fairchild, I walked the grounds and surveyed the plant collections and buildings for damage. You can imagine my relief in finding very little damage and my joy in seeing the silkfloss trees’ familiar silky, bubble-gum pink blooms hanging from high above. So get ready for shorter, cooler days. Our quiet fall has arrived right on time, its subtle beauty burning brighter than autumn’s ambers. And enjoy our Fall Issue; we’ve specially curated it to enrich the season’s bounty. fall 2016 5 Warmest regards, Nannette M. Zapata, M.S./MBA Chief Operating Officer Ceiba speciosa
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