Thalatta Estate welcomes visitors back Saturday, July 18, with a hands-on orchid gardening workshop. It's the first public programming at the four-acre bayfront park since Miami-Dade County closed it 19 days ago for the Snowden Pedestrian Bridge project.

The Gardening Workshop: All About Orchids begins at 9:30 a.m. at 17301 Old Cutler Road. Palmetto Bay Parks & Recreation hosts the Responsible Gardening Workshop series at Thalatta, and the estate's programming page names Master Gardener Terri Stephen as the series presenter. Workshops in the series are free with on-site registration, according to the same page.

The estate had been closed since Sunday, June 29, while the county completed bridge work. The Village of Palmetto Bay posted a public notice apologizing for the inconvenience and saying it looked forward to welcoming guests back once the work was complete.

Saturday park hours run 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Residents with questions can call the Parks Department at 305-234-6383.

Free family programs at Coral Reef Branch Library

Down the road at Coral Reef Branch Library, 9211 SW 152nd St., families have a full slate of free programs the same day.

A Summer Family Engagement event runs from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., hosted by the Miami-Dade Public Library System in partnership with the Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe. The coalition said in a July 8 Instagram post that families with children ages 0 to 11 can participate in STEM and early literacy activities and take home a free storybook while supplies last. Saturday, July 18, is the second and final session of the two-part series.

Starting at 9:30 a.m., the library also offers Sidewalk Storybook Chalk Art, Crafty Crafters: Take and Make, Board Gamer Club, Drop-in Coloring Fun, and Puzzle Club. Summer Homework Help and Tutoring begins at 10 a.m.

The branch is open Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. For details, call 305-233-8324 or email [email protected]. Residents can also sign up for the 2026 Summer Reading Challenge at the branch.

Saturday, July 18, at a glance

  • 9:00 a.m. — Thalatta Estate reopens, 17301 Old Cutler Road
  • 9:30 a.m. — Gardening Workshop: All About Orchids, Thalatta Estate (free, on-site registration)
  • 9:30 a.m. — Chalk Art, Crafty Crafters, Board Gamer Club, Coloring, Puzzle Club, Coral Reef Branch Library, 9211 SW 152nd St.
  • 10:00 a.m. — Summer Homework Help and Tutoring, Coral Reef Branch Library
  • 10:30 a.m. — Summer Family Engagement (ages 0–11, free storybooks), Coral Reef Branch Library