What is the minimum age to participate?

The workshop is open to ages 7 and up; children must be accompanied by an adult.

How long is the class?

The session runs two hours and includes guided observation, writing time, and pairing poems with visuals.

Meeting point: 4013 Douglas Rd. Miami, FL 33133.

Is previous writing or art experience required?

No prior experience is needed—workshops are beginner-friendly and focused on observation and practice.

How large are the groups?

Groups are limited to 12 participants to keep instruction personal and interactive.

Should I bring art supplies?

Bring a notebook and pen; basic drawing materials can be helpful but instructors provide simple prompts that work with minimal supplies.

Haiga in the Garden: Two-Hour Haiku & Visual Workshop in Miami | Workshop | Events

Haiga in the Garden is a two-hour haiku and visual-art workshop held in a quiet green pocket of Miami, Florida. Set at 4013 Douglas Rd. Miami, FL 33133, this class invites writers and families to slow down, notice small details, and translate them into short poems paired with images. The session is open to anyone age 7 and up and limits groups to a dozen participants, making it intimate enough for hands-on coaching and group sharing.

The experience begins with a short primer on haiku—its three-line structure, seasonal references, and focus on an immediate moment—followed by guided observation exercises around the garden. Key features of the scene include low garden beds, mature palms, flowering shrubs, and open sky pockets that throw light and shadow across leaves. Participants are encouraged to use the natural elements as prompts: a curve of a palm frond, the scatter of light on a pond, a bird’s sudden flight. These small, precise observations are perfect material for haiga—the Japanese art of pairing haiku with an image.

What makes Haiga in the Garden stand out in Miami’s outdoor recreation scene is its hybrid approach: it’s both creative workshop and nature-immersion walk. In a city better known for beaches and nightlife, this program carves out a place for quiet attention and artistic practice, offering a different way to access the outdoors. The small class size and family-friendly age range mean the pace is deliberate, with instructors offering prompts, feedback, and simple drawing or collage techniques to pair with poems.

Practical details: bring a notebook or sketchbook, a pen, and a folding stool if you prefer to sit; wear comfortable shoes for walking on mulch and lawn. The meeting point is 4013 Douglas Rd. Miami, FL 33133; parking and public transit options vary—check local maps before you go. The workshop runs two hours, perfect as a morning or late-afternoon activity when light shapes the garden most vividly.

Visitors who value slow experiences, families wanting a creative outdoor outing, and writers looking to refresh their practice will find this workshop rewarding. It cultivates a better eye for detail, a steadier hand with concise language, and a small collection of haiga that feels rooted in place. For anyone visiting Miami who wants a moment away from the city’s rush, Haiga in the Garden offers a precise, artful way to see and speak the landscape.

Expect gentle instruction rather than formal critique: instructors guide observation, meter, and image composition, and the work created is yours to keep. Families often leave with a stack of handcrafted haiga and quieter walkers report returning to neighborhood pockets with sharpened attention. Reservations are recommended given the 12-person cap and the intimate teaching format and limited availability.

About The Kampong - National Tropical Botanical Gardens

The Kampong — part of the National Tropical Botanical Gardens — is a historic tropical garden located in Miami, Florida on the shores of Biscayne Bay. The site preserves the Fairchild-Sweeney House and showcases the legacy of plant explorer David Fairchild through extensive exotic fruit trees, rare tropical species, and curated collections. Visitors can choose docent-led guided tours that highlight the estate’s history and plant collections, or self-guided tours that allow leisurely exploration with a provided map.

The Kampong hosts a rotating schedule of hands-on workshops and classes set in the garden landscape. Offerings include cyanotype printing for fabric, community indigo dip workshops teaching Shibori resist dyeing, edible gardening programming presented with UF/IFAS (recommended for ages 12 and up), watercolor courses led by local artist Eileen Seitz, and all-levels yoga with Sam Reynolds. Forest bathing sessions guided by neuroscientist Karina Del Punta focus on sensory practices grounded in science; evening Moonrise Forest Bathing is offered under the full moon.

Several specialty experiences such as macrophotography, ikebana, functional movement, and seasonal events invite creative engagement with plants and place. Cyanotype workshops note limited spaces to encourage advance booking. The Kampong combines plant conservation, education, and cultural programming on a historic estate, offering both structured interpretation and independent discovery for visitors interested in botany, art, sustainability, and Miami’s tropical landscape.

Public programs emphasize hands-on learning, conservation-minded practices, seasonal plant highlights, and the site supports research, education, and community engagement for residents and visitors from Miami and beyond, with year-round programming and volunteer opportunities available.