30 Days of Discovery

During September, area museums will be featuring a special "2 for 1" offer on admission to all residents of the state of Florida for the "30 Days of Discovery."

This is a great opportunity for fun and learning. Visit the 30 Days of Discovery event page to view the entire list of participating museums.

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.

 

"Make it Green Seminar"

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens and MyGreenBuildings will cosponsor an all-day seminar, "Make it Green," on September 29, 2007. The seminar is designed to clarify the definition of the term "green" and to inform homeowners and others about the rapidly expanding array of green products and efficient home and garden-related systems available for the residents of West Coast Florida.

Learn how to reduce your environmental impact on our community and the world. Discover ways to save dollars and substantially reduce our reliance on energy, water, and potentially harmful or polluting chemicals. Experts will address subjects including smart landscapes, green roof systems, green building construction, high efficiency design, local resources, and products that promote efficient resource use, healthy homes, local incentives, rebates, and the certification process to make it green.

A “Make it Green” Seminar is also planned for March 14, 2008. You will not want to miss these informative conferences. For further information contact Donna Krabill at 941.366.5731, Extension 237.

 

Shop in the Gardens! Place your order now!

The Garden Shop, a plant lover's paradise, offers some of Selby's finest plants. Enter directly from South Palm Avenue without paying admission. This shop features exceptional orchids, bromeliads and other tropical plants. You can call us, order online or just stop by for our master gardener's best in bloom recommendations and quality care instructions.

Banyan Treasures offers a large variety of gift items including Murano Venetian glass, jewelry, a new line of bath products and various home decor. You will certainly be guaranteed to find the perfect gift in either store while enjoying the Gardens at the same time.

Store hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. seven days a week. Call 941.366.5731, extension 242 for the Garden Shop, and extension 258 for Banyan Treasures for further information.

The Garden Shop Book of The Month Recommendation: Last Child in the Woods

Futurist and journalist, Richard Louv builds a case for saving our children from nature deficit disorder and intimately involving children with nature. Today's children are increasingly separated from the outdoors choosing TV, video games and computers over playing outside and activities such as hiking, swimming, climbing trees, chasing butterflies, building forts, and camping.

Members can purchase Last Child in the Woods at a discount price of $12.56.

 

Visit Banyan Treasures and The Garden Shop online.

 

Selby Offers

Visit the Historic Selby House for a great lunch!

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

Catering is also available for on-site meetings.

Great Fun - Join the Volunteer Team

For Members Only

Member's Tours Resume September 12

One of the privileges of Selby membership is our monthly members’ tour. Participants’ eyes are opened to a whole new side of the Gardens under the guidance of one of our knowledgeable tour guides. Learn about the Gardens’ history and mission and discover new things about the beautiful and unusual plant life featured throughout our greenhouses and grounds.

Next Members tour: Tuesday, September 11, 10:30 a.m to 12:30 p.m.

Participants must be current members or active volunteers. So that we may provide enough guides, we request that you preregister by signing up at the Welcome Center desk or by calling (941) 366-5731 x 241.

Membership Department

Members enjoy exceptional benefits, including the ability to visit nearly 200 reciprocal Gardens and Museums throughout the United States free of charge. 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. 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 231, for more information.

Horticulture Spotlight - Gorgeous

The dog days of summer are often the best time of the year to view unconventional orchids in the Selby Gardens' Display Greenhouse. Many odd or small-flowered specimens are rotated into public view every few days, unless you visit several times a week you may miss something special like this strange African Bulbophyllum schinzianum pictured.

The Associates

Please Save This Date!

The Selby Associates would like to announce the Annual Member/Guest Tea on Monday, October 8, 2007, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the Great Room by the Bay. This is a great opportunity to get back together after the summer and catch up on all the news from Selby Gardens.

For further information, please call Claudia Fuller at 941.383 8339.

Exhibit

In the Museum of Botany & the Arts

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

"Intimate Views of Nature Exhibit - Now on Display

“Intimate Views of Nature” exhibit opens in the Museum of Botany & the Arts on August 30 and continues through November 26. This exhibit embraces the exploding colors of nature with the energetic movement and unique composition offered by artist and Selby member, Jon C. Stout. Included in the exhibit will be original watercolors, sketches; pen & ink and pencil, precisely rendered giclees on archival canvas and paper as well as some ceramic tile work. Jon will be on the grounds throughout the exhibit. Check with the front desk when you come in to see where he may be.