Dr. Laurey Stryker, Sen. Nancy Detert, Emily Walsh and Cathy Layton celebrate the improvements made at Selby Gardens this year during a ceremonial ribbon cutting on Oct. 16.
On Oct. 16, Florida State Senator Nancy Detert (R-Venice) visited Marie Selby Botanical Gardens to review improvements recently made at the Gardens. The tour kicked off with a ceremonial reopening of the Gardens’ updated Welcome Center where Sen. Detert was joined by Dr. Laurey Stryker, Emily Walsh (chair) and Cathy Layton, all members of the Board of Trustees.
Thanks to Senator Detert’s efforts, Selby Gardens received a $500,000 appropriation from the Department of Education last year to help give guests the best experience possible while visiting. With that funding we’re able to provide guests a more immersive experience in the Gardens’ mission of education, research and conservation. These simple yet important changes include improvements in accessibility, such as the new doors leading to the conservatory.
The support from the State has also spurred on other changes enacted by our new President and CEO, Jennifer Rominiecki, thanks to support of the Department of Education and additional private sources.
- Handicap accessible doors at the Welcome Center and the redesign and renovation of Welcome Center and Shop interiors
- Audio Tour program that visitors can access via their cell phones; offered for families and adults in English and Spanish
- Improved Wayfinding Signage
- Priming of Conservatory and new Pergola
- Ann Goldstein Children’s Rainforest Garden: updated interactive exhibits, raised citrus edible gardening beds, transformation of the huts to represent the different layers in the rainforest
- Mangrove Walkway refurbishment
- New Exhibition in Selby House dedicated to Marie Selby