Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2007

Hi Nancy,
I met you about two weeks ago while visiting Key West .  I greatly appreciated seeing your marvelous garden hidden away on a back lane there. 
As a gardener, horticulturist, landscape designer and field botanist, it was wonderful seeing the rich multi leveled world you have created there. 

Key West certainly enjoys one of the most enviable climates of the continental United States, and it was great to see a garden that took advantage of that special ecological niche that is so rare outside of the true tropics.

While much of the island is planted with numerous palms and other “tropicals”, it doesn’t take long for a discerning eye to realize that almost everybody is using the same old plants again and again.  And while the general effect is lovely it’s not very interesting to a true plant enthusiast. 

That is why it was such a joy to discover a place like your garden where the plant palette was tropical looking, but composed of an extensive variety of uncommonly seen elements; rare palms, rare ferns, rare cycads, orchids, gingers, etc., etc., etc.  You could really immerse yourself in an environment that was literally “another world”.  What a great resource to the local community to have gorgeous living examples of some of the finest plants growable in your zone; and growing so well.  It seems unbelievable that your garden (and island) was decimated by a major hurricane only two years before, the garden is so full of robust vigor and multi-layered plant communities.

It was also a pleasure to meet you, and share in some of your intimate knowledge of your little paradise garden.  Although I am pretty well versed in landscaping plants from around the world – having worked for 23 years at the University of California Botanical Garden in Berkeley ( California ), I obviously had walked by some of the “jewels” of your collection – thanks for pointing them out.

My primary expertise has been plants native to California ; but I appreciate native plants and their plant communities wherever I travel – be it Hawaii , Mexico , Florida or British Columbia .  And, I don’t want to disparate efforts at creating gardens of native plants, or preserving areas of good native plant habitat anywhere – especially in rapidly growing states like Florida or California .  However one thing I’ve learned over my career with plants is that most people crave something other than the native flora around their homes and in their gardens, best expressed by the old maxim, “Familiarity breeds contempt.” This is true no mater where one goes or lives.  So it is always wonderful to see gardens created with an eye for something out of the ordinary – growing things that may thrive in the area but which come from other parts of the world.  Your garden does just that, and represents some of the finest plants that can be grown in your remarkable climate.  It is definitely on top of my list of places to return to the next time I visit Key West .

Thank you again for a wonderful experience.

Best,

Roger Raiche

(www.planethorticulture.com)

Date: Sunday, June 8, 2008, 5:40 PM

Hi Nancy:

I don't know if you will remember me--Kelee Katillac--I interviewed you about 13-14 years ago for a book I was working on ( House of Belief ).... your part was taken out by editors-- but, I still have hopes of including it in a future book.

I was in Key West last week and visited your garden and the parrots. I am sending with my husband $1,000.00 to sponsor Peaches and another deserving Parrot or two. We will mail the check to the Mana Project this week and look forward to pictures and certificates. I am also sending the following letter to the mayor and commissioners. I hope it helps.

Many blessings for your ongoing journey and work!!!!

Kelee Katillac

Dear Mayor and Council:

I recently visited Key West after a 10 year absence. I was happy to see the island still intact and thriving. Thank-you! I was VERY thrilled to visit Nancy Forrester's Secret Garden. I had feared that pressure from special interests and land developers would have influenced the city government to end one of the last vestiges of what makes Key West great: artistic vision; natural abundance; and a sense of the rain forest. I thank-you for--and beg you to continue protecting Nancy's Sanctuary. Support her; cherish the foliage and the birds; celebrate your role in making it a national landmark. And, also, an objective word of caution (from a woman and husband that spent $10,000. in the Key West economy last week)--Key West needs no more development; t-shirt shops; or cheesy establishments. The balance is very close to tipping. I honor and thank-you for protecting and keeping Key West and its sacred places-- like The Secret Garden. Finally, so you understand: I am not a low-budget, artsy nomad--but a published author and high-end designer. We stayed at The Marquesa and The Gardens Hotel while there; went on the ECHO Catamarand--great experience--and dined everywhere including LaTeDa w/drag show included. I am straight; a democrat; and have a large income. I am not an exceedingly bleeding heart and I understand capitalism. Nancy's garden has broad appeal and has value because it is authentic---and that is what Key West needs to save. In fact, it could use economic support and publicity. Why not help her? It will in turn help Key West.

By the way -- we are sending a $1,000. check to support the Parrot Sanctuary there at Nancy's and plan to continue to contribute.

Sincerely,

Kelee Katillac & Steve Heiffus

Kansas City, Mo.

Date: November, 25, 2007

Dear Nancy,

It was an amazing pleasure for me and my family to meet your secret garden.

Before traveling to Key West we found out in the internet about your project and we decided that this was a place that we definitely wanted to go. But we had no idea of what we were about to discover. Your place is sensational, completely different from the other local attractions. You have at your garden a piece of Brazil, a piece of nature, the way it was created.

In Brazil there are lots of preservation projects, but I don’t know anyone like yours, in the middle of an important destination like Key West. This is a place that I’ll be glad to recommend to all my friends in Brazil, trying to spread your “secret” as much as possible.

My 9 y.o. daughter was also thrilled with all the flowers and animals. She asked me to send her photo with you.

Thank you once again for the wonderful job you are doing.
Best regards,
Eduardo Forbes