MAY 2007 • Member Newsletter

 

Mother's Day Brunch

The Gardens is offering a special Mother’s Day Brunch under the Banyans on May 13, 2007. Michael’s on East will cater the brunch in two different seatings, one at 10:00 a.m. and another at 12:30 p.m. Tickets for the event can be purchased at Selby Gardens Welcome Center, located at 900 South Palm Avenue, Sarasota, Florida or on-line at www.selby.org. The Brunch tickets are $35.00 for non-member adults and $25.00 for adults that are members. Youth tickets – ages 6-12 are $12.50 and children under the age of 5 are free.

To add to the ambiance, The Venturas will be providing music in the Gardens from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Free on-site parking is limited; additional parking is available at Sarasota’s bayfront park.

Banyan Treasures and The Garden Shop will offer numerous specials, especially chosen for Moms from May 7 through May 13. Stop in and shop early!

The Orchid Ball

The 26th Annual Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Orchid Ball held on April 20, 2007 raised more than any previous year in the history of the Ball according to Event Chair, Nora Johnson. The Orchid Ball benefits the Gardens’ conservation, research and educational outreach programs as well as a pledge campaign to fund a new Children’s Garden.

The gala took place outdoors in a clear tent lighted with crystal chandeliers and candlelight. The theme, Luna Toscana, was carried out with rustic Italian décor and floral arrangements on long banquet tables. Guests enjoyed Italian delicacies catered by Michael’s on East and danced the night away to the music of Mainstream.

More than 46 sponsors underwrote the evening, including Signature Event Sponsors Michael Saunders & Company, The Concession Golf Club & Residences, and A Friend of the Community Coalition for Children.

Funds were raised by event ticket sales and silent and live auction items including a 12-day European Crystal Cruise, a Heinz Lechner portrait photography sitting, a one-year Founders Club golf membership, and catered parties in the Gardens by Michael’s on East.

The evening’s most unique auction item was an opportunity to name a new species of bromeliad in conjunction with Selby Gardens’ Mulford B. Foster Bromeliad Identification Center – a perfect example of the importance of the evening’s fund raising efforts to support Selby’s scientific research. Karen and John Melk submitted the winning bid for an opportunity to name this newly discovered bromeliad.

The Children’s Garden funding campaign was kicked off with a $50,000 matching funds pledge. For further details or if you would like to contribute to the Children’s Garden fund contact Roger Birkel, President, CEO of Selby Gardens at 941.366.5731.

Orchid Ball photos are now available for viewing Online. Photography by Keith A. Millard Photography

Newly Discovered Bromeliad Named

Karen and John Melk submitted the winning bid for an opportunity to name a newly discovered Bromeliad at the 2007 Annual Orchid Ball. The bromeliad of the genus Guzmania will be named in Karen's honor. This gigantic, stunning Bromeliad from Ecuador will forever bear the name chosen by Karen and John. Selby Gardens sincerely wishes to thank the Melk's for their contribution to the Gardens' scientific mission.

Garden Music Concert Series

Meet at the Great Lawn from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. for an enjoyable afternoon of relaxation and music. Free to Gardens’ members.

May 6

Connie Dillon and Company

May 13

The Ventura's- Blues, Jazz and Popular Standards

 

Membership Department

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.

Volunteer Opportunities

Selby Gardens currently has openings in a variety of volunteer positions, including tour guides, Welcome Center staff, Museum docents, greenhouse and grounds assistants, research and administrative volunteers and more. Those interested in helping the Gardens to achieve its mission of research, education, conservation, and horticultural display should contact Emily Chalker Lane at (941) 366-5731, extension 267 or e-mail volunteer@selby.org.

Horticulture Spotlight

The Horticulture staff would like to call your attention to two plants that are flowering for the first time!

Schotia brachpetia

This South African legume tree is located near our Library on the corner of US 1 and Orange Avenue. Its clusters of blood red flowers can be best seen from the Selby Gardens' parking lot. Bees and insects love these nectar filled flowers which actually drip or “weep” their sweet nectar. (Don’t park your car under it!) It is interesting to note that these flowers have highly reduced petals, the red parts you see are actually the sepals.

Wallichia disticha

This unusual looking palm gets its species name from the distichous manner in which it holds its leaves-in a flat plane, much like the common traveler’s tree (Ravenala madagascariensis). Found growing in the wet forest valleys of the Himalaya mountains, this species is monocarpic, which means it will die after flowering. Like its close palm relatives Caryota and Arenga, stems will flower at the top, and successively flower down the trunk. When the bottom flowers have finished fruiting, the stem will die. On a solitary trunked species like Wallichia disticha, that means our specimen will die once it finishes flowering. Its inflorescences are massive, so make sure to see them while you still can! You will find it growing along the bayfront pathway northwest of the Selby House.

Center for Tropical Plant Science & Conservation

The Garden Shop and Banyan Treasures

Shop our unique gift selections at Banyan Treasures and The Garden Shop. Lots of unique, gorgeous orchids and bromeliads will delight any plant lover. The month of May will offer many tantalizing sales in the shops.

Visit Banyan Treasures and The Garden Shop online.

Exhibit

In the Museum of Botany & the Arts

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

27th Annual Juried Photography Exhibit

The 27th Annual Juried Photographic Exhibition will be on display from May 5th through June 4. Opening Reception for Members and Contestants only will be on May 4, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Museum of Botany and the Arts. Please R.S.V.P. 366.5731 extension 221.

A Taste of the Tropics

The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Associates hosted a colorful and mouth watering event on Monday, April 16, 2007 at Selby’s Great Room by the Bay. More than eighty attended this delicious catered tropical themed luncheon. The afternoon included music and a tropical fruit recipe contest with celebrity judges Brian Mattison, Judi Gallagher and Jamil Pineda. Claudio Baltierra, virtuosa played guitar classics from tropical locations around the world for a tremendous mini-concert. To top the event off a fruit carving and garnishing demonstration was presented by Executive Chef Aaron Chavarria of the Hyatt Sarasota. This was a creative, fun-filled event with great professional secrets and unique tropical edible displays.

Cancellation