Selby Gardens is featured weekly on ABC7 News at Noon. Tune in Thursdays to see more informative segments like this one.
All this year we’re celebrating our 40th anniversary, and from now through mid-November, the founders of Selby Gardens are being honored in our historical exhibit, “Back to Our Roots.” Come take a tour and meet the people who built Selby Gardens and discovered many of the plants in our collection!
Marie Selby left her property to the community upon her death in 1971. Sarasota surgeon Dr. Carlyle Luer, who was also an avid botanist and counted Marie Selby as a patient, helped guide the creation of our botanical research garden as a member of the board of trustees. Dr. Luer has documented nearly 10,000 plant specimens for science and to this day is recognized as the leading authority on an orchid group known as the“pluerothallids.”
Dr. Luer was also instrumental in hiring Selby Gardens’ first executive director, Dr. Calaway Dodson, a former professor of botany at the University of Miami. Under the direction of these two men, and Assistant Director Kiat Tan, Marie Selby’s property was transformed into a world-class botanical garden. Together and with new staff and many volunteers, they helped build the Gardens’ living green wall, this conservatory, and even designed the original Selby Seal, which was used until 1986.
Throughout the exhibit you’ll meet other Selby scientists and the epiphytic plants – or air plants – that they studied. There’s Harry Luther, an internationally recognized bromeliad researcher; Dr. Michael Madison whose specialty was aroids; Dr. Hans Weihler who had a passion for gesneriads; and Dr. Kiat Tan, an orchid specialist.
Visitors also get an overview of the current staff who are keeping the rich tradition of botanical research growing at Selby Gardens. From expeditions in Florida, Central America and Brazil, Selby Gardens is a world leader in conservation, research and education. Come tour “Back to Our Roots”through November 15 and learn about the important work happening here. We’ll see you in the Gardens!