Nancy Forrester's Secret Garden

This is a must when in town! You can tell that Nancy and the volunteers genuinely love the birds and care about their future! Learned a lot about some different species of parrots and the town! My son, Connor, and I loved it and can’t wait to visit more when we are all moved in!

Very small, quaint oasis. Tall shade trees and birds. It's largely a volunteer effort to provide rare birds a safe place. Please go and relax. All contributing helps a great cause. And it's nice and relaxing respite for travelers.

This was a great place to visit. It is a quiet place where you can slow down and just enjoy the company of these beautiful and colorful creatures. They are very knowledgeable gave lots of information about each type of bird and their unique personalities. You can't touch them but you can interact as each cage gives information on what they can do. This is not a fancy museum but a person's home that has rescued these birds. If you like parrots you can't go wrong here.

Our visit was nothing short of magical. From the moment we stepped inside, we were enveloped by a vibrant burst of colors from the diverse array of parrots. The parrots displayed delightful personalities, some even mimicking our words, adding a playful touch to the experience. This was an unforgettable experience that I highly recommend to nature and bird lovers alike!

Going in with no expectations, I found a woman who has been caring and rescuing parrots out of her home and backyard for decades. Think of your $10 entry fee as a donation, and you can donate more if you wish to do so. I enjoyed taking my time visiting with the birds and reading their stories, and interacting with them. Nancy took the time to show us Peaches, a beautiful cockatoo, and her ability to understand words and actions, as well as recognize pictures and colors. It was an educational and relaxing experience.

Highly recommend! The parrots were beautiful and very well cared for. Be sure to check out the parrots “Hammerhead”, “Lucy” and “Pierre”, they’ll be happy you came to support!

Nancy's Secret Garden is a small garden located at a backyard of a private home. We can see the birds up close, but we won't be able to touch them. Nancy gave us plenty of explanation about the parrots with patience. She showed us how the birds do tricks and speak. Nancy is doing amazing work rescuing the birds. It was wonderful to learn about their history.

The birds were beautiful and interactive to some degree although none of them wanted to talk. What I wish I knew was to wear pants with socks and sneakers. My ankles were eaten all the way around by something while wearing flip flops. Photos 3 days later with benadryl. Visit was worth it still, just be prepared.

The parrots were really cool but we did not see Nancy. Just her assistant. He was pretty rude and did not want to talk about the parrots themselves. Just basically lectured us for 30 minutes on how inhumane parrot breeders are. We agree, but we came to see and learn about the parrots. There are rats all over the place too so wear good shoes if you go. We won't be back

This certainly is not a traditional tourist destination. Essentially, it is the backyard of someone's house with several parrots. But it has a very Key West vibe. Essentially, these are rescue parrots that have been given housing and board here. If you are not a McCaw parrot fan this will not interest you. There were 10-15 birds there in individual cages.

For a donation you learn about oarrots and macaw birds. It is a small sanctuary in her yard. Many birds In large cages and some loose. We learned a bit. Good was a little lengthy in tongue but informative. Answered questions.

Thank you so much, Nancy! You made my birthday one that I will never forget. I could say that this birthday was for the birds lol--but know that means the parrots and it was AMAZING! Nancy is one of a kind and it was so cool to sit down with her and hear all about her history and how many birds are there. I got to hang out with Baby the Blue Macaw Parrot and what a cool experience! Baby loves macadamia nuts and cuddling. We also saw parrots playing the electronic keyboard. We learned so much on this tour/meet and greet. You will need to make a donation at the door. We just happened to luck out in terms of timing and had a wonderful experience. It's not far from Kermit's Key Lime Shoppe, so make a day of it. Have some Key Lime Pie and then head down to Nancy's after. This really was such a great birthday in Key West! I would do this again in a heartbeat!

A must see if you love parrots. Her work to rescue unwanted parrots and prevent bird abuse is noteworthy. Please go and donate to this worthy cause.

What a special, magical place. I learned a lot during my visit. Definitely worth a stop while in Key West!

Many years ago I rescued African Grey's, Cockatoo's and Amazon Parrots it a lot of work and costly I praise Nancy for her hard work and dedication to rescuing Parrots. Also thank you for sharing them with the public. It was fun talking to the Parrots.

Expectations were high but we were saddened. I truly believe any support to this "organization" is merely supporting an elderly, bitter, woman with a bird hoarding addiction. The male who, I guess, volunteers there is condescending and is absolutely in need of psychological assistance, he will make you feel uncomfortable, quickly. As parrot owners ourselves we simply cannot condone this operation or any support of it.

Nancy Forrester's secret Garden is a wonderful, hidden spot of calm(unless parrots are screaming! The is a very small wooden sign to guide you in. Yes, it's a residential area. You are walking into her back yard. You'll go up a small set of chairs, honesty system. Suggested price is $10. As we make our way into the full backyard. You'll notice Nancy's is fully forested with palm trees. Then you'll notice outs of parrots that have been with Nancy are older, middle age, and just like to spend time inside and out. Some of them have developed tics, because of not as much human & bird entertainment.there are 2 Nancy will bring out if you have been there a while. She will shoe you how to pet a parrot so it doesn't hurt them I could have stayed for hours, but we had another place to go for lunch!

Nancy's is a great space to explore, tucked in a neighborhood in Key West literally in her backyard. She rehabilitates and rehomes birds, and it is clear she loves what she does, wants to share it with others, and also cares deeply about her birds. We learned a lot from reading about each bird and getting a sense of their personality from Nancy's experience with them. Great experience! During COVID things are less interactive (i.e. the entrance/payment is automatic and not in-person).

I could have spent the whole day here just watching the birds. Our host was knowledgeable and interesting to listen too. The birds we saw were well tended, there were a few that looked stressed but I guess the road to wellness is long for a broken parrot. There were a handful of volunteers chopping veg n fruit. It appears to be a pretty ramshackle situation doing the best they can.

really enjoyed visiting today, the birds are beautiful and they are very happy. Nancy is a great host and really was so kind. She taught us a lot about the birds and I really appreciate her having us. Thank you Nancy!

Well we like to find unique experiences and this would qualify. It was really good odd. The website seems to Mention many things we did not see. There were maybe a dozen birds? We walked in and joined a small group already seated around a table. Nancy had peaches out and he was pretty fun. You could not touch the birds and she did not put any on anyone. We watched peaches play the piano app Nancy left, Peaches was quite upset. She came back put Peaches away and a volunteer stepped He was, in my opinion, inappropriate. When discussing birds and separation anxiety he seemed rather angry about the trauma they experience if they have to get new owners. Then he went on to say that. If you are RAPED it stays with you forever and the birds can not go to therapy and talk about what has happened to them etc etc. Really uncomfortable and not exactly child friendly. We left soon after. He stood with a parrot on his arm. While talking. That is it. A backyard with cages and birds. Nice that they rescue them. But $10 person suggested donation ?

Nancy Forrester's Secret Garden is a gem of Key West. Yes, those who have been to Nancy's before will be surprised to find that the Secret Garden is now just a much smaller section of her backyard (thanks to 'progress') where her beautiful birds are kept. Her once thriving garden is no more, but please don't let that deter you from a visit, because her birds are beautiful and absolutely worth seeing. We had a wonderful hour with Nancy and Mr Peaches the Cockatoo on our visit, where we got to talk about her birds and her garden. Nancy's passion and dedication alone are worth the visit.

Nancy is a great educator on the topic of parrots. I learned a lot and have a much greater appreciation of them. She has some beautiful birds -- entertaining, too!

An odd place with some odd birds, worth the visit. Really beautiful garden, really beautiful birds.

Fun stop on a day trip to the Keys, tons of birds & volunteers have some great stories about each one!!

We had an excellent time visiting this secret gem in Key West. Nancy takes the time to slow down and sit with her guests, teaching them her clear passion for parrots and their well being. We learned a great deal about deforestation and the impact it has on the parrots. Then, she described the intelligence of these creatures and showed us firsthand with the blue macaw named Baby. Their parrots can speak, wave, give high fives, and interact with the visitors. Definitely worth a visit for any animal lovers!

I'm so glad I found out about this place. Its not actually a garden anymore per se, but an exotic bird sanctuary. Nancy takes in and rehabilitates abused or abandoned exotic birds and they all live right in her back yard. She has lived on Key West for over 45 years and is truly an amazing person. Its $10, (all the money goes to help feed and take care of the birds), and if you go between 10-11, either her, or Steve will be there to talk to you about the birds and even hold one or two of them. After 11, it's a self-guided experience, and very much worth seeing on your own, but I highly recommend going at 10. When I went, I was the only one there, and I sat with Steve (he works for Nancy) for an hour talking about the birds and asking all sorts of questions. I got to hold Peaches, the cockatoo, who was so excited to be on my arm, he kept bobbing up and down doing his little dance moves. When I was leaving, I bumped into Nancy who I spoke to for a good 30 minutes about what she does and her time on the island. She's been there for 45 years and worked as a nature conservationist for quite some time before finding herself taking care of all the birds. Apparently, she used to have beautiful gardens behind her house as well, but lost those to foreclosure and they have since been developed into housing. Very sad for such an environmental advocate, but now her duty is to care for and help these birds. If you are an animal lover and want a really cool, up-close experience with some beautiful birds, definitely visit Nancy's place. You'll not only be doing yourself a favor, but you'll also -be helping out these gorgeous feathered creatures.

I love this place. I'm not sure if this little patch of land is what Key West was like before development, but it's a gorgeous slice of heaven, and a great place to relax in a tropical jungle-like paradise in between touring the island. The garden is somewhat hidden, in what is essentially the owner's 1+ acre back yard. You have to walk down the alley into the back. But then you enter what can be described is similar to what I've experienced in Costa Rican or Venezuelan rain forests. Beautiful tropical flora. There are some tables and chairs if you really want to kick back and relax. For those who love beautiful tropical birds, the owner of this garden also sponsors a rare bird rescue operation. Towards the house, there are a number of caged scarlet macaws, parrots, and cockatoos. Most of them say "Hey baby" or something similar and it's a fun diversion. Highly recommended!

This hidden bird rescue/sanctuary is wonderful. As you enter there is a entrance fee jar on the table with a sign in sheet. Go for the 10:00 greet with Nancy. She has a very informative talk. Introduces you to the birds that are outside. She brings a few birds out to socialize with us. I was there for hours. It is very entertaining and the cause is wonderful. She keeps birds that have been given up by their owners for some reason or another. They try to find homes for the birds that are ready to take that step. KEEP IT UP GUYS

A great hidden gem in one of Key West's residential neighborhoods, not too far from the Historic Seaport and Old Town. Nancy is definitely knowledgeable and very caring about all the parrots she helps rescue and rehabilitates. I didn't get to check out her daily 10:00 AM lecture, but there were quite a few parrots to see. Many of these same birds were previously dumped, neglected or abused in the past by other former owners, but Nancy has done a wonderful job of taking care of them. Very fun and interesting experience! Thanks for all you do to help with rescuing parrots and educating the public about them!

I'm in awe of these gorgeous creatures and Nancy who obviously loves them. I wasn't really aware that these birds had such huge magnetic personalities. A few giggled when I giggled, one kept saying hey baby, and baby blue (my personal favorite) gave me a kiss. I would love to own one but that would be entirely selfish as I know nothing about caring for the beautiful birds, I'll admire them from afar and visit them here every time I'm in the Keys. Thank you Nancy!

A lovely shaded spot to spend time surrounded by rescued birds.

Definitely a necessary stop during your Key West visit. Nancy is very knowledgeable and really cares about her (and all other) parrots. She explains the story of some of her parrots, has them act things out for you, etc. At the end you can even have them sit on your arm or hold them like a baby! This was definitely a fun experience. Although they are open most of the day, be sure to get there at 10am. From 10-11 is her lecture and after that it's self guided. This wouldn't be nearly as fun as a self guided tour.

Unless you are a true bird-lover this is not the place for you. While Nancy is obviously passionate about her birds and seems very knowledgeable the "secret garden" is simply a very small backyard filled with caged birds. The birds are gorgeous and the mission of the owners is admirable, but it's not very interesting for anyone who only has a passing interest in birds. Apparently, only a couple of the birds are people-friendly, so the rest can only be viewed in the cages.

We stumbled upon this place by accident, but wow I am so glad we did because it turned out to be one of the best experiences we had in the Florida keys. Nancy, the owner of this large parrot rescue center, is so knowledgeable and passionate for all of her feathery fellows. Don't overlook this place when you visit, it's a must see.

My sister and I had an amazing time here today. Very informative and educational. The birds are beautiful. Very peaceful sanctuary. Please make sure to make an extra donation!

listen to the name... nancy forrester's secret garden. when they say 'secret' they ain't screwing around. this place was hiiiiiiiiiid-den. seriously, we stopped and asked 3 locals. only the fourth, a sweet little woman who runs a sunglass place off duval knew. i still probably couldn't even find it on my own if i tried. i remember something about it being a block off duval behind the haagen dazs and it's not like i can blame alcohol for the confusion or lack of memory... it's was early in the day and not a drink had touched my lips yet ;) so let's assume you find it. nancy forrester's secret garden calls itself, "an ongoing, living work of art." and if i remember correctly, it's the last untouched acre on key west. and boy have the packed a ton of stuff onto that acre... orchids, bromeliads, aroids, ferns, palms, and bog plants. the huge trees, ferns, various other plants tend to block most of the sky and only let a little light through. for you miami people... think of this place as an acre of the rainforest section of fairchild except with squawking birds and minus the chihuly sculptures and beautiful waterfall. in addition to the garden, there's caged parrots, cats, a little cottage you can rent for a modest fee, private tours, artwork for sale, a gift shop and you can even rent out the space for weddings. though not nearly as impressive as miami's fairchild, this women's efforts are admirable and well worth the $10 suggested donation at the front.

I loved Nancy she was so nice and welcoming. We went to Key West for our honeymoon in May and heard about this local little gem. When we arrived she had a large parrot resting on her arm. She let the bird perch on my arm as well. This secret parrot garden was in the backyard of a 2 story home, each parrot had a detailed history and story with their likes and dislikes... Very interesting! She let us take pics and stay for as long as we wanted. Nancy was such a gentle soul, I cannot say enough about how kind she was.... But then again, the best people usually are animal lovers.

While the garden is impressive and admirable my wife and I felt the $10 donation per "human" was excessive. We have a family of four. We did not feel the experience warranted $40 and would not recommend it especially to families.

Nancy's is awesome. Her dedication to these birds is so wonderful, and seeing so many beautiful parrots in one place is a must see for Key West! So looking forward to our next visit

Nancy is lovely, and clearly cares a lot about parrots (and about the environment more generally-- she says that she didn't start out as a parrot specialist). We brought my preschool son, and she let him help feed one of the birds. She asks $10.00 to get in-- it's a lot if you think of it as a ticket to an attraction, but it really is more of a donation to provide for the care of these animals (which I'm sure costs a fortune).

We had a really fun time with Nancy and her rescued exotic birds. There is nothing else like it in the area. You can tell she takes great care of them and she really is an expert. We learned a lot and would recommend you stopping by - would really be great for kids, too!

As far as entertainment or tours go, this is not a stop for that. This is a parrot rescue or sanctuary in the back yard of the owner home. In the back are some beautiful birds you can view - some out in the open and others in cages. You enter from the side of the house, provide a donation in a jar and visit the parrots. There was a gentlemen in the back who told us about the birds, their care, plans, and history. It's a good stop if you love birds and want to support a very good cause.

Great people still exist! This woman saves parrots, teaches and loves them. It is a fascinating little place that you would never imagine from the outside.

i had best time of vacation in this hidden gem. backyard of private house dedicated to saved parrots and native flowers and plants. i was planning to spend 15 minutes here, but stayed for over 2 hours talking with parrots, playing music on the phone for them (they sing and dance - so funny) and reading their history. Must do.