Mimi- the parrot. Mimi has taken the shape of a Parrot to bring to awareness the birds of the tropics and how endangered many species are. 85 of the 340 living species of parrots in the wild are endangered… Mimi was inspired by Nancy Forrester and The MANA project (www.mamaproject.org). Mimi is created from all Key West flowers in Nancy’s Secret Garden. She is flamboyant and beautiful wanting to be noticed! If she is able to help save the parrots she will be a happy bird herself!
Madelyn: (Maddie for Short) comes up from Key West- she is a Beach girl and it is fitting her role is “Beach Conservation.” She roams the beaches, keeping her eyes on erosion, pollution, marine life and beach fun! She keeps her trusty water bottle with her at all times so she stays “hydrated” and ready to go. Beach Conservation also means trying to keep the very fragile Dunes healthy. Dunes act as dikes and reservoirs to replenish the beach. It’s all-important stuff and Maddie wants you to know about it.
Maddie is from plants at The Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden. “The Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden is the only “frost-free” botanical garden in the continental United States. A tropical environment with ample rain allows most trees to retain their leaves in the dry season (December through late May). It is home to many endangered and threatened flora and fauna. Tropical forests of the world hold at least half of all the variety of life on Earth. Moreover, the species found with the Caribbean are among the richest in plant and animal life on the planet.” http://www.keywestbotanicalgarden.org