Tags
epiphytes, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, orchids, Public Gardens, Sarasota Florida, tropical plants
Conservatory entrance path
Through the Garden Gates at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Sarasota, Florida
Photos by Donald Hershberger ©2012
This past May, I had the opportunity to visit Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. Situated on land bordered by Sarasota Bay, the garden property was originally the home of oil baron William Selby and his wife Marie. An enthusiastic gardener, Marie willed the property to the Sarasota community for use as a botanical garden. Selby Gardens is a renowned research and education facility as well as showcase of gardens with an emphasis on epiphytes (plants that grow in trees). Their conservatory features 6000 orchids as well as thousands of bromeliads and other epiphytes. Outside, on the grounds’ fourteen acres, you can explore twelve other diverse gardens and twenty different habitats. If you ever get to Sarasota, and you love orchids and tropical plants, be sure and make this one of your stops. But for now, enjoy your trip through the garden gates of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did.
THE CONSERVATORY
Pitcher plants, nature’s insecticide
Cactus blooms
orchid
orchid
orchid
Staghorn fern
Bromeliad in bloom
Bromeliad
Outdoor garden path of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
Bromelaids in the tree
Blooming succulent
Cactus blooms
Banyan trees
Entrance to butterfly gardens
Catherine Castle 
Beautiful photos! I’ll have to remember this if I ever get to Sarasota.
When I was a fine arts major in college, Cincinnati’s Krohn Conservatory was one of my favorite places. I haven’t been there in years, but would love to see a post on it!
That post is upcoming. We went there at Christmas this year and it was fantastic! Thanks for stopping by.
The picture that you have marked as cactus blooms is actually an orchid.