Thank you to the dozens of volunteers who showed up after the storm to help with cleanup.
In the wake of Hurricane Irma, it is our sincerest hope that all our members, volunteers and friends are safe and out of harm’s way. The aftermath of this type of storm can no doubt be extremely difficult, and our thoughts are with every family affected. Above all else, I’m so glad to report that all of our staff are safe and in the last week we have begun the process of returning Marie Selby Botanical Gardens to its regular, beautiful state so we can offer an oasis to everyone in search of sanctuary.
THE GROUNDS & FACILITIES
As expected, a number of trees and branches were down and there was a lot of debris to clear away, which is almost complete. I’m glad to share that many of the Gardens’ iconic trees loved by all held up nicely, including the Moreton Bay Fig, Banyans, Bo Tree, and Wedding Oak. We had some broken panes of glass and other structural damage in our Tropical Conservatory and roof leaks at multiple buildings. Our greenhouse collection, herbarium, and library are virtually unscathed.
We feel extremely lucky and grateful that the storm did not hit us with the magnitude that had been projected and are incredibly appreciative of the dozens of volunteers who have joined us, rakes in hand, to restore the property.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC & OFFERING HELP
The Gardens reopened to the public at 10 AM, Friday., Sept. 15. Now we are assessing how to best help our colleagues at other Florida botanical gardens (including Naples and Miami), as well as other cultural organizations in our hometown. We will keep you informed about our reopening here, and our Facebook page.
Thank you for your concern for Selby Gardens.
With heartfelt regards,
Jennifer O. Rominiecki
President & CEO, Selby Gardens