Sure, New Englanders have their striking autumn colors, but we have vibrant Royal Poincianas. In its 66th year the Royal Poinciana Fiesta, Miami's oldest continuously running festival, fills Fairchild Tropical Garden (10901 Old Cutler Rd., Coral Gables). The event begins at 10:00 a.m. with a tree-cultivation and care workshop. At 11:30 a.m. a hands-on demonstration will show off the decorative uses of the flowers. Poinciana cake and poinciana passion punch will be served afterward. Three-hour trolley tours take off at 1:30 p.m., offering a look at this town's spectacular poincianas and a visit to Coconut Grove's Kampong, historic home of David Fairchild, botanist and Fairchild Tropical Garden inspiration. Back at the garden, raffles, educational displays, art exhibitions, kiddie activities, and poinciana seedling distributions will fill the day. Festivities end at 5:00 p.m. with the crowning of this year's Poinciana Queen and a reception. The trolley tour costs $20, but everything else is free with $10 garden admission. Call 305-789-7608 for tour reservations.-- By Margaret Griffis
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Leisure Slave Trade
So you want to tee off at the beautiful Crandon Park Golf Course, one of the top-ranked golf courses in the nation, but you just can't afford the steep prices. For the summer the luscious and challenging public course is throwing the public a bone. The park is offering people who are willing to volunteer as rangers and starters free use of the greens. Just think, spending eight hours on the links during the mosquito-drenched swelter of summer that is a Miami August was never done for a more worthy cause. Volunteers will oversee Miami golfers, making sure they follow course rules and maintain etiquette. You won't be provided a bulletproof vest, but you'll get to golf for free. Did we mention it's free. Hey buddy, it's free golf and lunch breaks! To volunteer call Karen Campbell at 305-361-9129. -- By Juan Carlos Rodriguez
