Press Releases

SARASOTA, Fla., February 17, 2021 – The Sarasota City Commission voted 4-1 on Tuesday, February 16 to give final approval to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ Compromise Master Plan. The approval allows Selby Gardens’ 15-acre Downtown Sarasota campus to realize its full...

On Saturday, January 16 and Sunday, January 17, 2021, Selby Gardens partnered with UnidosNow to offer more than 130 families free admission to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota campus. The families enjoyed the gardens and toured the...

SARASOTA, FLA. – December 29, 2020: For the 18th consecutive year, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens (Selby Gardens) will exhibit the Rainforest Masks of Costa Rica in the Museum of Botany & the Arts at the Downtown Sarasota campus. Guests to the exhibition will...

SARASOTA, Fla. – Roy Lichtenstein made his name by applying his Pop Art interpretation to cultural icons like Mickey Mouse and images from American advertising. Yet, he was also fascinated by landscapes and the popular art form of Impressionism. Starting in the 1960s,...

SARASOTA, Fla., November 5, 2020 – Lights in Bloom®: An Open-air Holiday Light Show returns to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota campus beginning December 12, 2020. In 2019, this family-friendly experience was selected for inclusion in USA Today’s Top...

SARASOTA, FL – October 28, 2020 – A new experience will soon take flight at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ Historic Spanish Point campus, when the Butterfly House opens to the public on October 31, 2020. The region’s only butterfly house will reside beside the outdoor...

SARASOTA, Fla., October 19, 2020 – In further efforts to ensure a sustainable future, Wendy Deming, chief operating officer recently signed a ten-year employment contract.  Deming joined Selby Gardens in July 2018 and the contract extends her appointment for the next...

SARASOTA, FL – August 25, 2020 - This year marks the 45th anniversary of the official opening of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens (Selby Gardens). To help celebrate that milestone, Selby Gardens’ annual orchid show will honor the Gardens’ founder, Marie Selby, and...

SARASOTA, FL – August 14, 2020 – Marie Selby Botanical Gardens (Selby Gardens) expanded its reach over the past year through its successful “My Garden” program. Launched in August 2019, the program provides underserved youth in Sarasota and Manatee Counties with...

SARASOTA, FL – August 11, 2020 – Dr. Calaway (Cal) Dodson, the first Executive Director of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens passed away on Sunday, August 9, 2020 at the age of 91. Dr. Dodson began his tenure at Selby Gardens in 1973 and established it as a viable...