Saturday, November 1, 2014
Over night it cooled and the humidity dropped to very tolerable levels, with a brisk north wind. On our agenda today was a visit to Bill Braggs State Park to see the Cape Florida lighthouse and then on to Viscaya mansion and gardens. Both are on Biscayne Bay a few miles south of Miami.
Bill Braggs State Park is located on an island in Biscayne Bay connected by causeway to the mainland. The Cape Florida Lighthouse is located at the southern tip. The lighthouse is not as interesting as it’s history. It is 95 feet tall and was refurbished in 1996. The current lighthouse is the second one on the site and placed into service in 1855. The original operated between 1825 and 1835, but was attacked and destroyed by the Seminole during the Indian war of Florida. It was set ablaze with the assistant keeper inside, wounded, burnt, and left for dead. He was trapped at the top, 65 feet up, with no escape possible as the steps were burned away. A Navy ship arrived a day later and rescued him using ropes to get him down.
In 1846 the current lighthouse was built and activated in 1847. In 1855 the tower was extended from 65 to 95 feet to aid in it’s visibility. It was also given a second order Fresnel lens and a larger, more powerful lamp. During the Civil War, the tower again came under siege and the lens was broken. It was decommissioned in 1878, then re-commissioned as a signal station in 1898 during the Spanish American war. It was then again decommissioned. In 1978 the Coast Guard re-commissioned it and automated the light. It was again decommissioned in 1990.
It sat idle until 1996 when it was restored to its current state. It no longer operates.
109 steps to the top and yes we climbed them.
The view from the top was awesome.
Back on the mainland, our next stop was at Viscaya. This is a mansion and gardens built by millionaire James Deering, the owner of Deering Harvester Co. which later became International Harvester. Tmeframe is 1910 – 1920, referred to as the “Gilded Era”, a period when guys like Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, J.P. Morgan, etc. made their fortunes and spent it building extravagant mansions. These were the days of the Titanic. You get the picture. So Deering, a lifelong bachelor, built Vizcaya in a Spanish motif, with art from Europe. He wanted it to embody Florida history. It is named after a Spanish province.
We never saw cost estimates, but think millions and back then that was big money. The amazing thing, he occupied it only during winter months, November to April, entertaining other big shots constantly. He lived in Chicago, France, and New York City during the summer. He died of a heart attack in 1925 at the ripe old age of 64. Guess you can’t take it with you.
Here are a few pictures of the place, outside only, no photography allowed inside.
This picture is taken from the garden. The next shot is of the garden.
Actually there were several gardens with statues, sculptures, plants, and flowers. On one end was an orchidarium, our favorite area. We saw orchids at Selby, but here the variety and size was larger. Here are a couple of our favorites.
Did you know an orchid is an epiphyte? These were tied to stakes, branches, and stems of other plants. The back of Viscaya faces Biscayne Bay.
Called the Barge, it was an after dinner hangout that required a little gondola ride.
A secret garden.
A Gazebo, today used for wedding pictures and ceremonies. In fact, the joint was undergoing a prep for a wedding reception with caterers setting up tents and tables, etc. Bet that cost some bride’s daddy a buck or two.
Viscaya was quite an eyeful, but the whole time you’re thinking, couldn’t Deering find anything more meaningful to blow his money on? Think back to Flagler. He left a legacy with his string of hotels and railroad. He also gave a bunch of his money to people in need of help in getting started in the cities he launched along Florida’s east coast.
You see Flagler’s name on streets, buildings, parks, and beaches around here. There is nothing with Deering’s name on it.
Sunday, November 2, 2014
Today we visited a couple locations, the first was Biscayne Bay National Park. There wasn’t much going on here since the Park IS actually Biscayne Bay and an island across the bay with a lighthouse. Since there is no boat concession operating, there isn’t much to do. So your visit is limited to the mainland visitor center and little shore trail.
Our next stop was a little place called the Fruit and Spice Garden. It is run by the Homestead Garden Association and has a collection of tropical fruit trees and spice plants. The trees were from all over the world. Part of their goal here is to see what they can grow in Florida’s climate. Hurricane Andrew messed up the place pretty bad, so they are just again getting going. Here are some of the cool things we saw.
Jack Fruit. They can grow to 70 pounds!
Guinana Chestnut. This is about 6 inches across. the following is the flower that precedes the chestnut.
Ever wonder how a banana grows?
The banana forms under the red petals of the flower. The petal then drops and the bananas grow in these rows. The following is more mature bananas.
When its time to harvest the banana that whole stalk is cut off, the plant is cut down, and new plants grow around the base of the original, called a mother plant.
Sausage fruit. Poisonous to humans but elephants and orangutans eat them. It makes the orangutans drunk; like intoxicated drunk.
The flowers of Passion Fruit.
Some other cool flowers
There was a tram tour through the park where the guide told us about many of the plants here. Like it takes an avocado tree ten years before it will bear fruit, no wonder they are so expensive. And worldwide the most consumed fruit is the mango.
Anyway, a very interesting afternoon.
