Welcome!

Redland Tropical Gardens is a not for profit organization dedicated to the education of tropical horticulture and botany in our tropical environment. We teach by delighting in the discovery of memorable and pleasurable experiences.

| History | Mission | Vision | Leadership |

Our History

Redland Tropical Gardens and Botanical Foundation, Inc., DBA Redland Tropical Gardens incorporated in 1995, as a not for profit community investment organization. Its mission to provide education for residents, national and international visitors about Tropical Horticulture, Tropical Botany and Tropical Environment. The Foundation portion of Redland Tropical Gardens is committed to providing the funds for education through endowments, trust, scholarships, technical assistance, certified training programs, seminars and tours in our communities.

Our Mission

Redland Tropical Gardens celebrates the harmony between mankind and the wondrous bio-diversity of the tropics. Our collection of gardens, located in the most unique climate in North American continent, display unparalleled horticultural richness.

Redland Tropical Gardens is a private, not for profit organization dedicated to the education of tropical horticulture and botany in a tropical environment.

Our Vision

Our vision is to create and sustain a living legacy of gardens that will grow as distinct resources for enjoyment and education in our local communities as well as acting as interpretive centers for international and domestic visitors to our unique tropical countryside and wilderness areas.

Our gardens will be connected in every way possible to the local communities and our educational programs relating to botany, horticulture and the environment will serve our neighbors. Each garden will be a focus for neighborhood pride and provide employment and other economic benefits.

Majorie Stoneman Douglas wrote, "There is no other Everglades in the world." The Redland Historic Agricultural District is another original area with its great wealth of tropical gardens and the many unusual farms and nurseries that produce such an astounding range of tropical fruits, vegetables, flowers and foliage. The Redland Tropical Gardens, with its offices at Art South in Historic Downtown Homestead 240 North Krome Avenue, Homestead, Fl 33030, is centered within this district. To our west is the magnificent Everglades. To the east and south are globally significant ecosystems: Biscayne Bay and the Florida Keys. Just to the north and ever encroaching, is Florida's most populous urban sprawl. At this critical crossroad in place and time, our educational activities will be helping nurture preservation and conservation efforts by providing and enhanced appreciation of the cultivated and natural wonders of our unique and threatened part of the world. We will also be helping control the impact of visitors by providing well organized tours that are ecologically responsible and sensible to all our local communities.

We envision five world class garden sites that will serve as tour depots and showcase the following:

Leadership

Board of Directors:
Mrs. Margi Buster Founder, President and CEO of Board of Directors With twenty-five years of experience in the Wholesale Floriculture Industry, Margi Buster leads this not-for-profit organization with a gerat perception of business. As a volunteer with a passion for plants she has worked in collaboration with many local and international experts in the fields of Forestry, Arborculture, Horticulture, Botany and Gardening. She serves Redland Tropical Gardens as a tireless proponent for education on both a local and international scale.
	Mr. Paul Mulhern Vice President, Chair of Events Committee As local business owner of The Grove Inn, and long time resident of the area, Mr. Mulhern brings to this association extensive experience in the entertainment and hospitality industries. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from Penn State University. He has served as a teacher and director of community outreach programs and coordinated various volunteer community service projects through performing arts. He is responsible for the successful acquisition of over 100 state, local and federal grants and donations from private industry.
Mrs. Brenda Shaner Secretary Brenda G. Shaner, a native resident and an advocate for a balanced community. She has dedicated her professional life to working in Ornamental Horticulture Business Management in the Redland (with not one but two companies simultaneously).
	Mr. Jerome Williams Chair of Funding Jerome Williams has over twenty-five years of experience in both the public and private sectors of business operations, serving in management and supervisory positions in not-for-profit insititutions, international banking, higher education, and manufacturing facilities. He has his BA and MA degrees in Spanish from Monclair State University and New York University, as well as an MBA in management from Dowling College. In addition, he has been a part-time faculty member teaching Developmental Writing, Critical Thinking, Developmental Reading, Spanish and French.
Mrs. Ruth Campbell Chair of RTG History Committee This widow of a third generation pioneer husband is the preservationist extraordinaire! A City of Homestead Coucilwoman for 24 years, her accomplishments are too varied and numerous to list. She shares with Redland Tropical Gardens, the depth of her commitment and experience to aid in creating a delicate balance from a different perspective to round out the quality of the gardens integrity and improve the educational experience of the visitors.
	Mr. Merv Waldman Chair of Membership Committee Dr Mervin Waldman was born in Chicago, moved to Warren, Ohio in 1947. Attended Ohio State University, graduating in 1963 from the College of Veterinarian Medicine. Dr. Waldman moved back to Chicago to practice both small and equine medicine.  His love for horses swayed him to open a private practice specializing in thorough bred racehorses. Dr. Waldman moved to south Florida in 1969 and continued to practice at Caulder, Hialeah and Gulfstream Racetracks. He retired from practice in 1992 and started a real estate and mortgage career, which he continues to this day. He is married to Councilwoman Judy Waldman, who is his partner in business. Together they founded The Little Angel's Foundation, which helps children who are mentally and/or physically challenged.
Ms. Maria Jordan Chair of Education Born and raised in Homestead, Florida, she is the daughter of migrant parents who made there living from the agriculture industry. While attending junior high and high school, Maria found her passion while being enrolled in agriculture and being involved in the Future Farmers of America program. She then pursued a degree in agriculture from the University of Tennessee. During and after pursuing her degree, Maria interned and worked in various agricultural businesses such as Pioneer Hi-Bred, Tyson Foods Inc. and Monsanto to name a few. She was also the agriculture teacher at South Dade Senior High for four years. During that time she was actively involved with Dade County Agri-Council, Florida A&M University Agriculture Advisory Board, Miami Dade County Youth Fair and Exposition  and Florida Agriculture Teachers Association. She is now a passionate advocate for agriculture education and feels that her efforts have made a difference in the lives of her students and community.

Department Managers:
	Diane Cole Gift Gallery Executive Manager Diane was born and raised in upstate New York, attended Rochester Business Institute, studied ballet and the arts for most of her youth. She moved to South Florida over forty years ago, married her husband, Robert, together raising three sons. She became acquainted with Redland Tropical Gardens at its inception over ten years ago, assisting in various phases of growth.
Alyssa Mulhern Special Events Executive Manager Alyssa Mulhern is a Florida State University graduate with a double major in public administraion and urban planning with a minor in communication.   Alyssa has assisited with many event such as Cornucopia of the Arts, Dade County Fair and Expo perfroming arts division.  Ms. Mulhern is a seasoned choreographer and performing artist.  We welcome her talent and energy to our events department.

Redland Tropical Gardens
240 N. Krome Ave. Homestead, Fl, 33030
Tours: (305) 247-5172 | Events: (305) 247-6572
Fax: (305) 247-3004 | Admin: (305) 247-2016

© Redland Tropical Garden Association, Inc. All rights Reserved.

Home Page