Palm Sunday Tour of the Morningside Park Palmetum

[Elvis Cruz]

Sunday, April 13, 2025, Palm Sunday, found a group of female Scouts touring the Morningside Park Palmetum in Miami, Florida.

This three-acre palmetum (palm garden) has been part of Morningside Park's original design since it opened in 1953.  In recent years it has been greatly improved by volunteers, now home to approximately 200 palms, with 125 different species.

Unfortunately, the City of Miami has drawn up plans to get rid of the palmetum.  Whether that will actually happen remains to be seen, as the political saga is ongoing.

[Cindy Adair]

Some of us heard the longer version of the threat to this important palm collection detailed in a presentation by Elvis during the Hawaii IPS Biennial. 

Several Directors (including the current IPS president) have toured this public Palmetum with its very informative signs and view of the bay.  We think it is very important that it survive the park remodel. 
 

Hundreds of children and adults have toured the collection over many years hosted by Elvis.
 

This is a critical part of the IPS education part of our mission statement.

[ASHCVS]

Thank you, Elvis, you are a true Palm Hero!

[LP305]

This is an amazing palmetum - and right by beautiful Biscayne Bay.  And in the most beautiful neighborhood in Miami. Congratulations to Elvis for preserving a slice of history and a whole lot of germplasm for the elevation of those young minds.