The Secret Garden, Key West, Florida, USA.

An excerpt from www.ManaProject.org: 

"The botanical collection on the last undeveloped wooded acre in Historic old town Key West was created by environmental artist and activist Nancy Forrester 40 years ago and opened to the public in 1993.  It was named Nancy’ Forrester’s Secret Garden by a local newspaper editor in 1994 because of its hard to find location.  The collection houses over 150 different species of palms as well as hundreds of other exotic trees, plants including orchids, bromeliads and cycads.  In 2006, the collection expanded with the acquisition and gift of more than 300 species from the Jerry Kranz’ rare aroid and fern rainforest collection at Crane Point Hammock, Marathon Key.  Nancy’ Forrester’s Secret Garden is the only Keys garden open to the public which was not devastated and flooded by salt water during the recent hurricanes.  The garden is located on the island’s highest elevation, the flood-free X Zone. 

D. Armand Hull, well-known University of Florida Horticulturalist, has described the garden as “one of the finest botanical and horticultural sites I have ever visited.”  It is the destination of the French Chapter of the International Palm Society, which visits every other year.  Forest and wildlife students come annually. Alan Lacy, gardening critic for the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, featured the garden in his magazine, Homeground.  It is listed in National Geographic, AAA Guides, Florida Gardens, Edens of Florida and most national and international guidebooks.  Charles Kurault’s America features the garden prominently. It is a world tourist and botanical destination.   

Mana Project, Inc. was formed in 2000 to carry on the educational, wildlife and arts programs in the garden.  Mana Project received its federal non-profit status in 2002.  Mana is a Polynesian word meaning positive creative force.  Mana Project is a member of FANO (www.fano.org ) and soon to be a members of the American Public Gardens Association ( www.aabga.org )(now APGA), The Garden Conservancy ( www.gardenconservancy.org )"   

Nancy Forrester is a very dear friend and a mentor of the creators of www.RainforestSong.org. Her efforts to protect and educate with the resources of Nancy Forrester's Secret Garden and Mana Project in Key West, Florida, USA are undoubtedly one of the greatest efforts we have ever encountered. Despite the overpopulation of the tiny island of Key West, and the enormous financial burdens placed on her not-for-profit organization, Nancy has devoted more than 40 years to keeping her single acre of land pure and protected from the commercialization that has arisen around her. She has created an unbelievable sanctuary for birds, reptiles and other animals as well as housing one of the grandest collections of tropical plants in the United States.

www.RainforestSong.org could not be here today without Nancy’s influence. Her guiding hand has cultivated in us an unending desire to push ourselves further, to make a profound impact on rainforest conservation and to educate those who also can make a difference in this world. We have laughed with her and cried and in our deepest sincerity cannot think of another individual who has so deeply impacted our collective being. We can never be the same again in matters concerning preservation. We can never look at another felled tree or mistreated animal or the destruction of huge tracks of land for the purpose of “development” without these atrocities shaking our very souls.                 

Thank you Nancy Forrester for making us think. Thank you for your eccentricities that are you and for spending the time with us that we so desperately need. We must learn. We must understand that these “things” of beauty that you and many others have harbored and nurtured are not forever if others do not feel the way that you feel and devote themselves as you have. We are very blessed to know you and cannot ever be the same again now that we have been graced by your intellect, passion, devotion and simply, your presence.

www.RainforestSong.org is dedicated to Nancy Forrester and all of her efforts in this life. We will continue to do all that we can to ensure that our children and grandchildren will have the possibilities in nature that we have now, and hopefully much more.    

-- From the editor of www.RainforestSong.org  

Our favorite picture of Nancy - at home.