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Exhibitions &
Special Events
Historic Spanish Point Campus

Cocktails at the Cottage at the Historic Spanish Point campus

cocktails at the cottage

Chairs 
Renée James Gilmore, Jeannie Russell, and Pauline Wamsler

cordially invite you to

Cocktails at the Cottage


celebrating the new exhibition Robert Louis Stevenson: A Child’s Garden of Verses

and the reburbishment of the Sunken Garden at the Historic Spanish Point campus

Wednesday, November 12, 2025

5 to 8 p.m.

Enjoy a casual evening of cocktails and hors d’oeuvres overlooking Little Sarasota Bay at Selby Gardens’ Historic Spanish Point campus. Watch the sunset and be the first to see the refurbished Sunken Garden and preview our new exhibition Robert Louis Stevenson: A Child’s Garden of Verses. This exhibition is a celebration of childhood and the imagination of youth through the words and images of A Child’s Garden of Verses, the beloved book of poetry for children by the celebrated Scottish writer, Robert Louis Stevenson. The exhibition will feature photographs of pages from a vintage edition of the book, combining Stevenson’s poetry with illustrations by the notable American artist, Alexander Dobkin. Accompanying the photographs will be simple interactives that draw their inspiration from Stevenson’s poems and enhance the visitor experience. An audio recording will enable visitors to hear the poems read by Selby Gardens’ Artist-in-Residence, Patti Smith.

The event will be held at
the Historic 19th Century White Cottage, Sunken Garden, and Pergola. 

Purchase Tickets and Sponsorships

Presenting Sponsor – $5,000

  • Reserved Seating for Ten (10) at the event.
  • Opportunity to address guests at the event.
  • Opportunity to supply pop-up banners for display at the event.
  • Opportunity to distribute branded items at the event.
  • Recognition as Presenting Sponsor in event-specific promotional materials, preview invitation, Selby Gardens’ website, and The Sanctuary member newsletter.

Lead Sponsor – $2,500

  • Reserved Seating for Eight (8) at the event.
  • Recognition as Lead Sponsor in event-specific promotional materials, preview invitation, Selby Gardens’ website, and The Sanctuary member newsletter.

Partner Sponsor – $1,500

  • Reserved Seating for Six (6) tickets to the event.
  • Recognition as Partner Sponsor in event-specific promotional materials, preview invitation, Selby Gardens’ website, and The Sanctuary member newsletter.

Sponsor – $750

  • Four (4) tickets to the event.
  • Recognition as Sponsor in event-specific promotional materials, preview invitation, Selby Gardens’ website, and The Sanctuary member newsletter.

Individual Ticket – $175

Thank you to the Founders Garden Club for supporting the horticultural refurbishment of the Sunken Garden!

Located on Little Sarasota Bay less than 10 miles south of Selby Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota campus, the Historic Spanish Point campus is one of the largest preserves showcasing native Florida plants that is interpreted for the public. The preserve celebrates an archaeological record that encompasses approximately 5,000 years of Florida history.

All proceeds from Cocktails at the Cottage benefit Selby Gardens’ Historic Spanish Point campus. 

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