11/14 Marie Selby Botanical Garden, Downton Sarasota, FL

I've added the word "Downtown" to this posting because there is also another Marie Selby Botanical Garden a few miles south of this one.  I have been here several times in the past years, but they have been expanding and remodeling the entire place, so I wanted to see the new stuff.  

Below is the new garage and ticket area, plus a map of the place.  Only problem with the garage is that i cannot fit my motorhome into it.  Luckily, I have a rental car this week.  

 

 

   

This is a wonderful place to visit on a warm and sunny day because while it is within a couple of blocks of downtown Sarasota and its big high-rise hotels and office building, it is also directly on the bay and gets wonderful breezes all year round!  Lots of benches and places to just sit and enjoy the plants and also the views of the bay.  This botanical garden has always focused on orchids and other air plants, which they do very well.  

The biggest change to the gardens is that originally there was a road separating the garden from a couple of dirt parking lots.  They have built a new four-story parking garage and completely closed the street, making it into a brick walkway.  There is a new ticket purchase area, and a new gift shop on the first floor of the garage. There is also a new restaurant with inside and outside service under garage and closer to the main street.  I did not check it out, but it is apparently a full-service restaurant.   

So, here goes with some photos of the incredible variety of orchids on display:  

 

 

After seeing all the orchids, I headed outside to walk around the rest of the property, and found these growing on a fence.  I don't know how many plants this was, but it was incredible. 

A close-up of the individual flowers.

The rest of the botanic garden includes plant and trees planted by Mrs. Selby's gardener and newer ones planted in the 70s after it became a non-profit facility.  

Some views of the very old trees planted in about 1920.  Hard to get one entirely in a single photo. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Views of the point of land this garden is on and the bay along with downtown Sarasota. 

 

 

Employees were setting up butterflies and other displays for an upcoming exhibit.   

This is part of a new children's play area.  

There is also a little ice cream and hot and cold sandwich cafe in the house that Marie Selby lived in, and you can eat inside or outside on the patio.  I grabbed an ice cream bar and a cup of ice water, and just sat at an empty table inside for a few minutes to rest my feet and back.  

 

 

This year I happened to visit about a month earlier than two years ago.  This was very lucky, because it meant I was able to visit the annual orchid show, whereas two years ago I missed it entirely.  Much nicer if you can get in during that special show because the orchids, which I will be showing below were fantastic! Unfortunately, the display of carnivorous plants was closed because they are working on Phase 2 of their remodeling, and that part is now fenced off as under construction.  Will be completely finished in two years!