Walking Tour of Miami Dade's First Flowering Tree Park

A guided walk through Jean Willis Park highlights Royal Poincianas and other tropical flowering trees at a site planted by the Tropical Flowering Tree Society. The tour takes place Sunday, June 7 from 10 a.m. to noon as part of the Royal Poinciana Fiesta, South Florida’s longest-running festival. The annual celebration honors the bold seasonal blooms of Miami-Dade County’s official tree, with programs scheduled when the trees are typically at their most colorful.

Jean Willis Park was established in 1992 as Miami-Dade County’s first flowering tree park, with supplemental plantings added in 2014. The walking tour will be led by Steve Pearson, who was involved in both planting efforts, and will feature yellow and orange flowering Poincianas along with other tropical flowering trees.

The park is located at 7220 SW 61 Court in South Miami, just west of City Hall and the police station. This section of SW 61 Court is accessible only from SW 72 Street, also known as Sunset Drive. Since the tour takes place outside regular business hours, guests may park for free in city parking spaces facing SW 72 Street or in other non-reserved spaces in the lot.