Shenandoah is one of the most unique, charming and welcoming neighborhoods in all of Miami. Located just south of iconic Calle Ocho, Shenandoah puts you in center of Miami while still offering you an authentic sense of community. With its historic eye-catching homes to the endless array of flora, Shenandoah is extremely enjoyable for walking. And that is just what I did a couple months ago as part of a world-wide walking initiative that took place in cities all over the globe. Here in Miami, we had "Miami Walks" in 15 of the city's most interesting neighborhoods including Downtown, Brickell, Overtown, Hialeah, Doral, Miami River, and many more.
The Shenandoah walking tour focused on one of the area's most attractive qualities: its plant life. Kiki Muntis lead the tour. Kiki is herself a Shenandoah resident and works at Fairchild Tropical Gardens. The focus of the tour was to educate us on plants that are native to South Florida. The emphasis was to be able to identify these plants to help promote their growth. A native plant, unlike a non-native plant, actively contributes to the South Florida ecosystem, helping enrich the area's animal life. South Florida, after all, only has two seasons: wet season and dry season. Native plants help keep the balance of the South Florida ecosystem.
The tour winded its way through the gorgeous tree-lined streets of Shenandoah. Some of my favorite houses in Miami are located here. It is no wonder why the real estate market here is so hot right now! We stopped in a local Argentinian bakery Bariloche Gourmet (1198 SW 17th Ave) for snacks and coconut water. And before the tour ended, Kiki provided us with a list of local nurseries that sell native plants, some of these are listed below:
Citizens for a Better South Florida in Miami. 305-643-0000. www.abettersouthflorida.org
Kelly’s Tropicals in Homestead. 786-444-7714. www.kellystropicals.com
Native Tree Nursery in Goulds. 305-247-4499. www.nativetreenursery.com
Plant Creations in Homestead. 305-248-8147. www.plantcreations.com
Veber’s Jugnle Garden in Homestead. 305-242-9500. www.vebersjunglegarden.