About MANA PROJECT
Our Mission
To foster environmental educational programs and initiatives at Nancy Forrester’s Secret
Garden. The aim is that the botanical, zoological and cultural site enriches and educates
the individual and the public and plays an important role in the creation of an
environmentally sustainable future.
Our Mission
To foster environmental educational programs and initiatives at Nancy Forrester’s Secret
Garden. The aim is that the botanical, zoological and cultural site enriches and educates
the individual and the public and plays an important role in the creation of an
environmentally sustainable future.
Nancy Forrester with parrot, Harlequin macaw "Larrybird" Photograph by Steve Lohman
"She was not quite what you would call refined. She was not quite what you would call unrefined. She was
the kind of person that keeps a parrot." Mark Twain (American Humorist) Writer and Lecturer 1835-1910
the kind of person that keeps a parrot." Mark Twain (American Humorist) Writer and Lecturer 1835-1910
Nancy Forrester, President & Board Member
Environmental Artist and Activist,
Curator of a Visionary Environment known as
Nancy Forrester's Secret Garden,
Gallery owner, B.S. Art and Design,
University of Michigan
www.nancyforrester.com
Cultural Tour 11 am daily Summer $45
2 person minimum
Reservations required 305-294-0015
Katarina Arnhold, Board Member
Linguist, Librarian, and Attorney.
Practice in the District of Columbia and California.
B.S. Georgetown, M.L.S. U. of Hawaii,
J.D. Catholic University
Dorothy (Dede) Quigley, Board Member
Artist, Photographer, Restauranteur,
Environmentalist, Proponent of Green Living
Marina Pavlov, Board Member
Artist, Teacher and President of FANO (Florida
Association of Non-profit Organizations)
(www.fano.org)
B.F.A. Florida Atlantic U., M.A. &
Ph.D.candidate Florida Internat’l U.
Stef Laing, Mana Project
Director of Horticulture
Botanical Tour 11 am daily Winter $35
2 person minimum
Reservations 305-294-0015
Stef with Marci "designer of the orchid displays"
with Orchid Lady Tours
Jeff Searle,
Mana Educational Director of Palms
Jeff in Madagascar 2005
Jeff Searle's Rainforest Collection
http://rainforestcollection.com/RFHome.htm
Madagascar Expedition
http://palmtalk.org/cgi-bin/forum/ikonboard.cgi?
act=ST;f=1;t=61;hl
=jeff+searle
James DePasquale
Mana Educational Director of Forestry
Joe A. Frankie
Mana Educational Director of the Fruit and
Spice Collection
Photograph of Joe in Guatemala.
Joe has been traveling a lot this year. He spent
some time in Nicaragua working with Rambutan
crops with growers there and has been to
Guatemala 3 times since January working with fruit
crops. He is going back in 3 weeks. He also visited
the rainforest in Puerto Rico in July and says it is
amazing.
Jerry Kranz
Mana Educational Director of the Aroid and
Fern Collection
Owner and Curator of the former Rainforest exhibit
at Crane Point Hammock , Marathon, FL
Nancy McDaniels,
Mana Educational Director of the Orchid
Collection
Curator of the Orchid collection at the former
Rainforest in Crane Point Hammock,
Marathon, FL
Nancy and Jerry holding the leaf of a large Begonia
in the rainforest at Crane Point Hammock, Marathon
History and Description
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 he 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 a member of the American Public Gardens
Association ( www.aabga.org )(now APGA), The Garden Conservancy ( www.gardenconservancy.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 he 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 a member of the American Public Gardens
Association ( www.aabga.org )(now APGA), The Garden Conservancy ( www.gardenconservancy.org )
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