The Dry Gardens

Published on February 26, 2024

Visitors to Pinecrest Gardens first see a lush, very green landscape, the “jungley” legacy of its predecessor, Parrot Jungle. Further exploration of the upper part of the Gardens reveals landscapes that are locally unusual. Two unirrigated gardens flank the Terrace slopes facing Swan Lake and the Meadow, featuring a diverse species mix highlighting drought-tolerant natives and many succulent plants from around the world. The gardens originated with the creation of Swan Lake, when the excavated material was used to construct the elongated berm that became the Lakeview Terrace and adjacent garden areas. The fast-draining slope was selected by the founder’s son, Jerome Scherr, as an ideal setting for plants that prefer dry soil and bright sunlight. 

In the Miami area, the widespread planting of display gardens is scarcely more than a century old. Many land developers and new residents, dazzled by the warmth and prodigious rainfall, sought to depict an idealized tropical setting of flowering trees, shrubs, and palms that conveyed an idyllic vacationland and escapist paradise. In truth, the quickly urbanizing, dry higher ground was subject to winter and spring seasons of little rain and sustained periods of drought.

In our time of resource and environmental awareness, the creation of gardens that reflect our regional climate and soils make sense, saving water, energy, and maintenance. Landscaping with native pineland and hammock plants is a good choice, and many succulent and cactus species, while commonly thought of as desert plants, in fact come from places with pronounced dry and wet seasons like our own. These architecturally interesting and showy plants often have beautiful, colorful blooms, and will thrive with little more than sunshine and excellent drainage. The dry gardens at Swan Lake and the Meadow offer examples of both native and exotic plants that will succeed locally. We invite you to visit any day of the year to see them in their full splendor.