Sarasota Florida: Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

If you are visiting the Sarasota area on Florida's gorgeous southwest gulf coast, check out the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. The beautiful compound is located right on Sarasota Bay. Special exhibits are held in the Selby mansion, which is a lovely, large home, but not ostentatious. Apparently the Selbys, though very rich, were quite down to earth and liked to live simply. Marie left the house and land to the state for the purpose of creating the gardens that are now there.

Trails meander through a variety of lush gardens and alongside the bay. In spring, there is a garden concert series on Sunday afternoons. We went on Sunday and were treated to the sounds of the Miami Jazz Project, and also enjoyed the exhibit of colorful Costa Rican rainforest masks.

Here is a LINK to the website: MARIE SELBY BOTANICAL GARDENS

Photos speak louder than words, so here are some that hopefully will give you an idea how lovely a place this is to spend the day.

The trail takes you along the bay....

Cool tree draped in moss....

Tropical flora....

The Costa Rican Rainforest Mask exhibit inside the Selby mansion. We entered the raffle to win one and I sure hope we do!!

The mansion...just a nice big house with a veranda...

Closer up...RVPainter thinks he lives here...he asked me to get him an iced tea....

That, my friends, is a pineapple. Yup.

A sweet little Buddha in the conservatory

More flora...

A koi pond....

And the concert on the great lawn. Plenty of sun, plenty of shade. And great food for reasonable prices in the cafe - the building in the background....