Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden Volunteers (Garden Guardians)

Get your hands in the dirt and help one of Key West’s most unique natural treasures flourish as a Garden Guardian at the Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden.

Spanning 15 acres, the Garden is the only frost-free botanical garden in the continental United States and serves as an important refuge for endangered, threatened, and endemic plants and animals of the Florida Keys, Cuba, and the Caribbean Basin.

Garden Guardians meet every Wednesday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon to help maintain and restore this remarkable living collection. Under the guidance of volunteer supervisor and certified arborist Audrey Thompson and other knowledgeable docents, volunteers can learn practical techniques for gardening in the Keys while helping with trimming, weeding, watering, propagating, planting, mulching, and other projects.

No gardening experience is necessary — just enthusiasm and a willingness to help. It’s a great opportunity to learn about native plants, spend time outdoors, and connect with others who share an appreciation for the natural world.

Prefer working with people rather than plants? The Garden also offers volunteer opportunities involving visitor greetings, tours, educational programs, office projects, and special events, including speaker programs, native plant sales, and family festivals.

Whether you’re a Key West resident looking for an ongoing way to give back or a nature lover interested in supporting an important local resource, volunteering at the Garden offers a rewarding way to help preserve the fragile ecosystems of the Florida Keys.

Dig in, learn something new, and help this remarkable living museum thrive for generations to come!