A Fantastic Tropical Fourth of July

Live Zydeco music highlighted Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ popular Tropical Fourth of July Celebration on Wednesday evening, July 4th.

Festivities began at 6:00 p.m. Children enjoyed games on the south lawn along with face painting by Pitter Pat. Prizes were awarded to Davonee Podolski and Zoie Zanoni in the children's category and to Lori Schaper and Pat Evans in the adult division for the best patriotic attire. The evening culminated at nightfall in a spectacular community fireworks display along the bayfront. More than 900 attended this year's celebration.

 

 

Selby Offers

Selby Gardens - A beautiful place to have lunch!

Visit the Historic Selby House for refreshments.

Open Daily from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Local Coffee and Tea offers the following options:

Salads and Sandwich Wraps

Espresso and Coffee Drinks, Hot or Cold

Large Selection of Teas and Tisanes, Hot or Cold

Baked Goods and our Signature Tropical Rainforest Cookie

Ice Cream and other Treats

Water, Juice, Soda, Beer and Wine Available

Great Fun - Join the Volunteer Team

Volunteer Orientation

Wednesday, August 23, Noon to 3:00 p.m. in the Mansion

Get an insider’s view of this magnificent institution! Attendees will be treated to a behind-the-scenes tour and an overview of Selby’s Center for Tropical Plant Science & Conservation, the Center for Environmental Education, Horticulture, Membership, and more. You will learn about interesting volunteer opportunities as well as the fabulous benefits you will enjoy as a Selby Gardens volunteer. Brown bag lunches welcome; we’ll provide drinks and snacks. Dress comfortably: the tour includes much time outdoors. Everyone is welcome, but please pre-register by calling Emily Lane at (941) 366-5731, extension 267, or e-mailing elane@selby.org.

Volunteering at the Gardens: What’s in it for Me?

When asked, most Selby Gardens volunteers say the reason they continue to donate their time and talents is because they love the institution, that they value the wonderful learning opportunities, or that they enjoy the staff and other volunteers with whom they work. But there are also some great benefits offered to Gardens volunteers who donate at least 25 hours annually:

Free admission with your volunteer badge

25% discount on Selby Gardens membership

10% discount in Gardens shops (20% discount for volunteers who are current members!)

Discounts or free attendance for selected Community Classes

Opportunities to earn the President’s Volunteer Service Award for volunteering at least 100 hours of time annually

Free membership for volunteers contributing in excess of 200 hours annually

Insider news through the bimonthly volunteer e-newsletter

Interested in joining our elite corps of valued volunteers? Please contact Emily Chalker Lane, (941) 366-5731x 267 or e-mail elane@selby.org, or attend one of our monthly Volunteer Orientations to learn more.

Membership Department

Be sure to check your list of reciprocal Gardens and Museums throughout the United States that are free for Selby Gardens' members to attend. For the most current listing of Gardens go to www.ahs.org to see more than 190 available sites. We would love to know of your travels and the interesting places you visit throughout the year.

Members Day is scheduled for November 10, 2007. In response to last years overwhelming show of members on Member's Day, we have begun planning earlier than ever this year. Descriptions of the plants that will be available will be published in the fall issue of the Tropical Dispatch.

Bricks, benches and trees are always a wonderful way to pay tribute to our friends and family. Call the Membership office at 366-5731, extension 229, for more information.

Horticulture Spotlight - Gorgeous

Griffinia liboniana

The genus Griffinia, a dozen or so species of rainforest amaryllids, are a rather rare garden subject in Southwest Florida. Two species can be seen on the Selby Garden's grounds from time to time in warm weather. Pictured to left is the G. liboniana species.

Center for Tropical Plant Science & Conservation

Selby Gardens' Center for Tropical Plant Science and Conservation Considered a Wealth of Information

Wes Higgins, Ph.D., Head of Systematics of the Orchid Identification Center recently was interviewed by the News Press in Collier County regarding a ghost orchid that was found in Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Collier County. Click this link and you can hear what Wes has to say to the News-Press. Scroll down the right column in blue until you reach the Multimedia section and then click on Listen: Wes Higgins.

Dendrophylax lindenii, the ghost orchid, is the best known of the Florida leafless orchids because of it large white flowers. The ghost orchid typically flowers May through August. The other two epiphytic species can also be found growing in the cypress swamps, and wet hammocks of South Florida. Harrisella porrecta, the jingle-bell orchid, has small pale yellow flowers that appear from August through November. Campylocentrum pachyrrhizum, (leafless bentspur orchid), flowers late winter with many minute orange (rarely pinkish) flowers arranged in two ranks. The keen-eyed observer may be rewarded with a glimpse of a "sightseeing" of these seldom seen orchids.

Harrisella porrecta shown on the right.

Campylocentrum pachyrrhizum shown on the left.

The Garden Shop and Banyan Treasures

Banyan Treasures offers a selection for brides-to-be as well as numerous great gift selections from jewelry to home decor. Plan a Selby Gardens day for a fun shopping experience. The Garden Shop has unique, gorgeous orchids and bromeliads that would delight any plant lover. Both stores offer gift certicates.

You can enter The Garden Shop from Palm Avenue without going through the Welcome Center. Bring your friends for a fun shopping experience.

Visit Banyan Treasures and The Garden Shop online.

Exhibit

In the Museum of Botany & the Arts

10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Selby Instructor's Summer Showcase

Thru August 27

This is a great opportunity to see examples of upcoming classes. View the artwork of our talented instructors and become inspired to sign up for one of their classes.