Marie selby botanical gardens Volume 37 number 1 January–april 2010
News from the Plant Science Center Sarasota Sumi-e Society Exhibition New Specimens Take Root in the Gardens EarthBoxes now on Display in the Tropical Fruit Garden Rainforest Masks 2010 of the Borucan Indians of Costa Rica
Adiantum melanoleucum – The elegant “fragrant maidenhair fern” is one of the rarest of fern species in Florida.
Selby
tropical dispatch
Reconnecting to the Collection:
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Celebrates 35 Years
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arie Selby Botanical Gardens grew from a trust set up in 1970 by Marie Selby “for the establishment of a botanical garden and park in Sarasota County, Florida.” Mrs. Selby gave direction to guide the founders, suggesting only that the garden should contain “both indigenous and exotic trees, plants, flowers, and shrubs…developed in such esthetic and utilitarian manner as Trustees may determine from time to time and shall be made available for the enjoyment by the general public …” Fortunately for Sarasota and for plant lovers and scientists around the world, the advisory group established to set the organization’s direction determined that epiphytes (plants that grow upon other plants) would be the perfect niche for the new garden. Dr. James Strobel, Chairman of the University of Florida’s Ornamental Horticulture Department and planning coordinator for the new garden, applauded the choice: “This new garden will mean a great deal to Sarasota, which will become known worldwide as a botanical research center for the study of epiphytes. There just isn’t any such place developed elsewhere.” Thirty-five years later, thanks to these visionaries and to the staff, trustees, volunteers, and donors who embraced their vision, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is globally recognized as having the best collection of epiphytes in the world. The Gardens’ living collection includes a broad, well-documented representation of epiphytic plants. Selby’s herbarium collection of dried, pressed plants will celebrate the accessioning of its 100,000th specimen this year. The spirit collection (plants preserved in alcohol) is one of the best in the world, and a superb research library includes volumes dating back to the 18th century. Each of these irreplaceable collections contributes to Selby Gardens’ stellar reputation among people interested in this fascinating group of plants adapted to live among the treetops, their only available sustenance from rainwater, plant debris, and the air itself. As we move forward, our challenge and our opportunity is to continue to add to this wonderful collection and to help others learn to love and respect these plants and all they contribute to our lives. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is a global leader in the research and display of epiphytes. The future for programs, activities and events will center around all of the collections and gardens, and we will connect with our constituents in a way that is meaningful for their personal or professional development. We are delighted to count you among the people who help to make our Gardens grow. Enjoy this beautiful season, and we hope to see you in the Gardens soon.
Board of Trustees
Thomas B. Luzier, Esquire – Chair
Nora Johnson – Vice Chair Michael Saunders – Immediate Past Chair Pete Biegel – Treasurer Dr. Laurey Stryker – Secretary Bill Gamble Steve Hazeltine Elaine Meshad Carlyle Luer, M.D. – Trustee Emeritus Sue Scully – Associates President (ex-officio)
Chief Executive Officer Thomas Buchter
Chief Development Officer Ann Logan
Education
Marilynn Shelley
Events and Facilities Dan Johnson
Finance and Administration Bill Lewis
Horticulture
Mike McLaughlin
Marketing and Communications Tropical Dispatch Editor Debby Steele
Membership and Development Cynthia Dwyer
Research and Conservation David Benzing, Ph.D. John R. Clark, Ph.D. Bruce Holst Harry Luther
Volunteers and Grants Emily Lane
Welcome Center and The Garden Shop Amy Sullivan
Mission Statement
To further the understanding and appreciation of plant life, with emphasis on epiphytes, and to provide enjoyment to all who visit the Gardens.
Vision
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is the leader in the study, conservation, and display of epiphytes and their canopy habitats. Our collection of epiphytes is the best in the world. Our visitors see beautiful horticultural displays and learn from our educational programs. They take away with them a better understanding and greater appreciation of the natural world and the challenges it faces.
Program Sponsors
Selby Gardens programs are sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Division of Historical Resources, Division of Cultural Affairs, and paid for in part by Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax revenue.
Thomas Buchter, CEO Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
The Tropical Dispatch is a publication of the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. Please send address changes to Cynthia Dwyer, Membership and Development Coordinator, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 811 South Palm Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34236. E-mail cdywer@selby.org. Telephone: (941) 366-5731, ext. 229 2
printed on recycled paper
Cover: Billbergia eloiseae - This spectacular Amazonian bromeliad has been in our living collection since 1975, several years before being scientifically described. Photo by Bruce Holst Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
News
from the Plant Science Center Bruce K. Holst be doing in the near future. Studies of Bromeliads and Gesneriads are continuing strongly with the help of our world-renowned botanists. A top priority is to reinstate the orchid research and conservation program. BRUCE HOLST
The Center for Tropical Plant Science and Conservation had a busy year, and is working hard to continue the fine research and conservation efforts for which Selby Gardens is widely recognized. Following is a brief synopsis of some of our recent activities along with some things we will
Figure 1. John R. Clark is busy in this composite picture setting up, planning, and installing equipment in the new Plant Molecular Research Laboratory. Volunteer Jeanne Katzenstein (center) was instrumental in designing the layout for the lab.
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r. John R. Clark, Director of the Gesneriad Research Center (GRC), is continuing his efforts to develop the GRC and to conduct gesneriad research and conservation at Selby Gardens. The mission of the GRC is to increase and diffuse knowledge of the Gesneriaceae plant family through exploration, research, professional collaborations and education and to facilitate conservation initiatives that benefit gesneriads and the tropical ecosystems where they occur. Major funding for gesneriad-related activities at Selby Gardens comes from The Gesneriad Society and many friends of gesneriad research. This funding initiative has become a model for supporting and maintaining research programs at the Gardens. Planning is also underway for the first international World Gesneriad Research Conference that will be held at Selby Gardens in October 2010. This conference, dubbed WGRC 2010, will bring the world’s top Gesneriaceae scientists and conservationists together for a week of lectures and discussions. A major goal of WGRC 2010 is to propose a plan for worldwide collaborative research and to increase communication between
The Tropical Dispatch January–April 2010
international scientists, particularly students and young professionals. A grant proposal for major conference support was recently submitted to the National Science Foundation. Please contact Ann Logan, Chief Development Officer at Selby Gardens, for conference sponsorship opportunities.
dr. phil nelson
The Gesneriad Research Center
Mulford B. Foster Bromeliad Identification Center (BIC)
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arry Luther, Director of the Bromeliad Identification Center (BIC), along with colleague David Benzing published a book with Pineapple Press entitled Native Bromeliads of Florida. The book documents the 16 native Florida species plus two natural hybrids and includes an extensive introduction on bromeliad ecology and biology as well as many color and black and white plates. The Bromeliad Identification Center (BIC) also issued its biannual “Bromeliad Binomial List” in collaboration with the Bromeliad Society International. This authoritative list is referenced by the worldwide scientific community and is used by bromeliad enthusiasts as a spelling guide. Another article now in the works will provide the bromeliad community with updates on every bromeliad-related
Figure 2. Harry Luther and Karen Norton from the Bromeliad Identification Center are in the process of describing this Guzmania from southeastern Ecuador as a new species for science.
article in the past five years. Harry Luther and assistant Karen Norton also collaborated on the descriptions for science of a number of new Bromeliaceae species and are preparing several more. (Figure 2) 3
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n the Tropical Dispatch Winter 2009 issue, then-new staff member John R. Clark explained the importance of having a plant molecular research capability at Selby Gardens. Thanks to John’s initiative and hard work, the dream is becoming reality. With the award of a highly coveted Institute of Museum and Library Services grant, Selby Gardens is stepping into the 21st century of plant research. With additional, significant support from funds made available through the Gesneriad Research Center, a lab was constructed and became operational in late 2009. Watch for an article in the next Tropical Dispatch explaining the lab’s capabilities and inaugural projects. (Figure 1)
Expeditions and Collections
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Education and Publications
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ducational efforts through public lectures, publications, and oneon-one training of interns are key to disseminating the knowledge that we accumulate. This past year lecture opportunities took us around the world, literally, where we presented some 45 lectures to more than 1,800 individuals. Selby botanists contributed 25 popular and scientific articles and two major books: the Selby Gardens Illustrated Dictionary of Orchid Genera by Peg Alrich and Wes Higgins published by Cornell University Press, and the above-mentioned Native Bromeliads of Florida. Center botanists described eight new species for science this past year and continue to find new species not only in the field but existing in our own collection. We also continue to publish our scientific journal Selbyana for distribution to more than 200
scientific institutions and individuals in 40 countries around the world. We were fortunate to host three interns this past year: Dechen Lham from Bhutan, Julian Aguirre-Santoro from Colombia, (Figure 3) and Lee Amos from the United States.
Florida Native Plants, Inventory and Conservation
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ruce Holst and Laurie Birch have been working extensively with the Environmental Services Division of the Sarasota County government to conduct botanical inventories of environmentallysensitive public lands. They recently completed eight miles of transects through the Jordyn Parcel of Deer Prairie Creek Preserve, which has yielded an impressive plant list of more than 300 species, and will conduct another eight miles of transect on the same property from January to May of 2010. Volunteers continue to play a large role in the propagation efforts (Figure 4) of seven of the rarest plant species of Everglades National Park. The Horticulture department has been so successful at growing one fern species, Thelypteris reticulata, that it has become a challenge to make room for the rapidly growing plants. Plans are underway to conduct a large scale out-planting at the onset of the rainy season in 2010. Finally, we wish to acknowledge and thank our many volunteers who help with nearly all aspects of our operation. We also greatly appreciate the financial support from the many individuals and institutions listed regularly in the Tropical Dispatch. Thank you!
BRUCE HOLST
ational and international expeditions remain important in our operations, as they provide the scientific world with critical information on plant distribution, classification, and conservation. During the past year we conducted expeditions to Bhutan, French Guiana, Guatemala, and the Solomon Islands. Through these trips we collected nearly 400 plants for Selby Gardens, 100 or so being living plants and the remaining preserved specimens for our herbarium and liquidpreserved collections. We look forward to conducting several more trips in 2010. Curation and management of the collections continue to be a high priority for our Center. Preserved botanical collections provide critical baseline information for much of our knowledge of plant nomenclature, distribution,
conservation, and classification. Selby Gardens currently maintains nearly 130,000 preserved research specimens, a seven-thousand volume library, and the data associated with our approximately 12,000 recorded living collections. Thanks to the efforts of the herbarium mounters, we are preparing to celebrate the accessioning of our 100,000th herbarium specimen in mid-March, 2010. While Selby Gardens’ Herbarium is modest in size (large herbaria contain upwards of 7 million specimens), it is world-renowned for its collection of epiphytic plants. The associated liquid-preserved collection is the second largest such collection in the world with 28,000 specimens.
Figure 3. Volunteer Carly Summers and Selby interns Dechen Lham and Julian Aguirre-Santoro enjoy the wilds of the Old Miakka Preserve in eastern Sarasota County.
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BRUCE HOLST
Molecular Program Becomes a Reality
Figure 4. All-volunteer effort: Elaine Foster (left) and Karen Schunk work to transfer young rare ferns from South Florida into fresh containers while longtime fern grower Pattie Clendenin (second from right) shows Marilyn Gulliford some special techniques. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
plants IN THE GARDENs
BRUCE HOLST
by Harry E. Luther, Curator of Living Collections Director, Mulford B. Foster Bromeliad Identification Center Photos by Dr. Phil Nelson
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ather than pick a family or genus to write about, I have decided to write about a number of odd, interesting, and mostly unrelated species from the Gardens living research collections. In the jargon of modern systematics and phylogenetics, I will cover a grade rather than a clade. Many tropical plants, epiphytes and more conventional ones, have features not often seen in temperate garden plants. These features nearly always are related to how the plants make a living and reproduce. From time to time, our specimen of Guzmania globosa is exhibited. The mucus covering the inflorescence is thought to protect the developing flowers and fruits from pathogens and herbivores in its pluvial forest home. The answer to the most frequently asked question is “it has virtually no taste.”
Guzmania elvallensis
Guzmania globosa
Oddities & Ends Encephalartos hybrid
Bulbophyllum phalaenopsis
Lecanopteris pumila The Tropical Dispatch January–April 2010
Amorphophallus gigas
A few other guzmanias also suffer from the nasal discharge syndrome. Many plants form relationships with ants, and ferns are no exception. The species of the tropical asian genus Lecanopteris house ants either within or beneath their large rhizomes. Flowers smell nice, right? Visitors who have crossed the “Wall of Stink” produced by our Bulbophyllum phalaenopsis and relatives may disagree. Any plant relying on flies or carrion beetles for pollen transport is apt to produce odd odors including cadaverous ones. Another example is Amorphophallus. The cones of cycads, are often conspicuous on the Gardens’ plants but none approach the size of the cones produced by a garden hybrid of Encephalartos munchii. This is a case where we know the mother but the father is a mystery for the time being. 5
mike mclaughlin
New Specimens Take Root in the Gardens
Garden Horticulturist David Troxell using a cordless drill and an auger to dig planting holes.
Blast of Color Brightens the Gardens by Mike McLaughlin, Director of Horticulture
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criticism of some tropical gardens is that they don’t have much color. Green is certainly a color, and tropical gardens weave textural contrast with bold foliage that their temperate counterparts cannot begin to approach. However, from observing photographers in the Gardens, I can appreciate that the subject that most often captures their attention is colorful flowers. Masses of flower color can be used to highlight design, lead the eye, and add an element of change to the landscape. Typically at Selby Gardens two plantings of annual color are installed, one in the fall and another in the spring. This year, thanks to a generous grant from the Linnie E. Dalbeck Memorial Foundation Trust, we have focused our resources on an improved fall planting, and Gardens Manager Lisa Wade and her horticulturists have delivered just that. Lisa asked her staff to draw out their proposed flower displays on a map. She then looked at these plans collectively to evaluate for overall continuity, color themes, and budget. Once designs were approved, Lisa ordered and arranged a delivery schedule with a commercial grower in Naples, FL, and planting dates were established. With more creative freedom, a comprehensive design process, and a tighter planting schedule, this year’s annual color installation is perhaps the most ambitious in Selby Gardens’ history. While often denigrated as a ubiquitous annual flower, cultivars of tropical Impatiens walleriana are some of the most dependable plants for continuous winter color in Florida gardens, and because of their price, they provide more “bang for the buck” than any other flower. Many of this year’s floral displays incorporate combinations of orange and violet Impatiens, planted in an attempt to fade gradually from one color to another. As more than 5,500 annual flowers grow and fill in, we hope that you will find the effect to be an impressive addition to the Gardens’ landscape. Watch us grow! 6
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ach spring and summer, the Gardens’ Horticulturists add new plants in the Gardens to expand our living collections and improve our landscapes. This past season an impressively diverse group of approximately 150 new plants were planted in the Gardens, and 75 epiphytes were mounted in trees. The planting process begins by creating a catalog of specimens available in the greenhouses and nurseries for planting. Director of Horticulture Mike McLaughlin then matches the most interesting and exciting plants to locations based on cultural requirements, interpretive themes, and aesthetics. Mike schedules a manageable number of plants each week for planting. Meticulous records are kept, the database is updated, and permanent tags are generated. All new plants are plotted and color-coded on a large map to help the horticulturists keep track of them in the months following planting, when they will need regular monitoring and care as they become established. While most of the specimens are small plants now, in time they will become major players in the landscape. Following is a list of some interesting specimens we have planted: Bambusa textilis var. gracilis Bulnesia arborea Calliandra schultzei ‘Rose Cascade’ Cassia fistula Crossopetalum ilicifolium Delonix decaryi Delonix elata Ensete ventricosum Euterpe oleracea Gardenia volkensii ssp. spathifolia Guihaia argyrata Kerriodoxa elegans Lebronnecia kokioides Licuala peltata var. sumawongii Napoleona imperialis See if you can find some of them on your next visit to the Gardens, and watch them develop in the years to come.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
mike mclaughlin
EarthBoxes now on display in the Tropical Fruit Garden
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EarthBoxes on display in the newly renovated Tropical Fruit Garden.
n display this winter in the newly renovated Tropical Fruit Garden are 12 EarthBoxes, showing a variety of crops including vegetables, fruits, and flowers. An EarthBox is a revolutionary growing system that automatically provides appropriate levels of moisture and nutrients to plants. Versatile EarthBoxes can be used for flower boxes, highly productive vegetable growing, or even tree crops. They are also an environmentally friendly choice for growing. Made out of 100% recycled, durable plastics, they grow robust, healthy plants using less water and fertilizer than traditional gardening methods or plant containers. EarthBoxes were invented and developed by Blake Whisenant, a Florida farmer whose family has been in agriculture for more than 100 years. Fortunately for Selby Gardens, the EarthBox Research Center is located in nearby Ellenton, Florida, and preplanted EarthBoxes are provided to Selby Gardens for display. This beneficial relationship began last fall when Whisenant generously sponsored the television gardening series Florida Homegrown. Hosted by Director of Horticulture Mike McLaughlin, this minuteand-a-half series is shown between regular programming and talks about various aspects of gardening. Aired on the popular Tampa public broadcasting station WUSF Channel 16, Florida Homegrown is watched by more than a half-million households every week, which is tremendous exposure for Selby Gardens. Whisenant has sponsored a second season of Florida Homegrown, which will be filmed this winter.
Loss of Veteran Horticulturist Saddens Staff
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ail McDaniel, a 15-year member of Selby Gardens’ horticulture team, passed away unexpectedly in early October, 2009, after being hospitalized with pneumonia. Popular for her gritty personality and willingness to share her extensive horticultural experience, she began her career at Selby Gardens in 1994. A former bookkeeper turned interior-scaper, Gail began as a volunteer in the Horticulture Department and soon landed a job working in the Gardens. As her passion and knowledge grew, she was promoted to a Greenhouse Collection Horticulturist position. It is for this role that she is best remembered, caring for an extremely diverse collection of rare epiphytic and terrestrial plants. The approximately 3,500 plants in her care included bromeliads, gesneriads, aroids, ferns, carnivorous plants, and everything else that wasn’t an orchid! She was also the queen of plant sales and faithfully cared for the Gardens’ cat, Yancey. Gail was a very passionate, caring person and led the annual staff donation to a local charity. She loved animals, books, movies, plants and family. Although a petite woman, Gail’s shoes will be extremely difficult to fill. She is missed greatly and remembered often. The Tropical Dispatch January–April 2010
Gail McDaniel with a fallen Brocchinia
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Selby Gardens Welcomes Ann Logan, Chief Development Officer
Ann Logan, Chief Development Officer
Sarasota Sumi-e Society Exhibition In the Historic Selby House January 30 – March 28, 2010
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riental Brush Painting is an intellectual and spiritual as well as an artistic pursuit. It is closely related to the ancient art of Chinese calligraphy. The brush strokes used to create a painting are based on the strokes used to produce the beautiful characters of Chinese writing. The painter’s goal is to use a few free-flowing, confident strokes to produce the essence of the landscape, flower, tree, or scene, not an exact copy. The exhibition will include excellent examples of various Oriental Brush Painting “schools.” Members have studied Chinese, Japanese, and Korean as well as contemporary styles. The Sarasota Chapter of the Sumi-e Society of America is a non-profit organization serving as a cultural bridge between Eastern and Western Art. The purpose of the Sumi-e Society is to foster and encourage the study and the appreciation of Oriental Brush Painting. The local society meets once a month in season and welcomes new members. Its website is www.sarasotasumi-e.org.
Enjoy Tea Tasting in the Gardens’ Carriage House
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he Carriage House has a new look! It has been transformed into a tea tasting room by Local Coffee + Tea, where visitors are offered three samples of loose leaf tea at no charge. Guests can select from more than 35 unique teas, tisanes and tea accessories while learning about the origin, processing, preparation and health benefits of Camellia sinensis. For the perfect holiday or hostess gift, consider the “Celebrating Sarasota” collection of teas, which include Selby Select, Mote Beach Tea, Mable’s Rose Rooibos Tea, and the Van Wezel Anniversary Tea. On your next visit to the Gardens, come in and explore our selection of fine teas. Learn more at www.localcoffee.com.
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arie Selby Botanical Gardens is very excited to announce the appointment of Ann Logan as Chief Development Officer. Logan has a strong background in fundraising, recruitment, stewardship and cultivation efforts. She is a member of the Southwest Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). CEO Tom Buchter stated, “I believe that Ann’s experience and enthusiasm is a perfect match for the many challenges of maintaining current support and garnering new contributions for Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.” As Chief Development Officer, Logan is responsible for the planning, execution, and evaluation of all fundraising activities: individual, corporate, foundation, and government. She will be actively involved in the coordination of patron-centered events, including the annual Orchid Ball. Thoughtful gift planning can benefit you, the Gardens, and especially future generations. Logan can help with planned gifts, including major gifts, life income gifts, and estate gifts. She also will work with Selby Gardens’ Board of Trustees to facilitate various initiatives in support of the Gardens. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
Welcome Maggie and Sue to the Center for Environmental Education
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e are pleased to announce that two very capable women have joined the Center for Environmental Education as part-time employees. Maggie Minehardt is doing a fantastic job managing the pre-school Little Sprouts’ Club and Selby Seedlings programs. Maggie’s professional background is that of a school nurse and counselor with experience with special education students. She enjoys working with preschoolers and has been helping with the Little Sprouts group as a volunteer for three years. Sue King, a dedicated volunteer with Selby’s School Programs for nine years, is now managing that program. Her enthusiasm and wit have captured the attention of hundreds of students from various schools that have enjoyed field trips to the Gardens since September. Sue, a retired educator, taught children between the ages of 9 to 14 during her 30-year career. We are thrilled to have both of them on our team!
Maggie Minehardt and Sue King enjoy a moment in the new Selby Gardens Kid’s Corner.
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Megan Bovaird at the Little Sprouts’ Halloween Parade
Selby Seedlings exploring the “Rainforest.” The Tropical Dispatch January–April 2010
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ainforest Masks 2010 marks the 6th in what has become an annual exhibition and sale celebrating the art of the people of Boruca. The artists are master carvers from an indigenous reserve surrounded by rainforest located in the southeastern part of Costa Rica. From March 5 to April 16, 2010, Selby’s Museum of Botany and the Arts will showcase their unique and striking masks. Employing simple tools and traditions that have been passed down through generations, the artists create masks that are intricately painted and carved from native woods. Collectors and first-time viewers will be captivated by their colorful images. The history of the masks pre-dates the Spanish Conquest, when they were originally created and worn as an attempt to ward off the conquistadors from the Borucans’ precious lands. An annual festival known as “Juego de los Diablitos” or “Dance of the Little Devils” celebrates the historic effort to scare the unwelcomed invaders back to Spain. As history reveals, the forbidding images on the masks failed to keep the Spanish out of Costa Rica. However, the Borucan people were triumphant in keeping the Spanish from conquering their spirit. In recent years, a style of mask known as “Ecologico” has become a predominant theme. These ecological masks often include the face of a shaman or protector of the rainforest surrounded by vibrant and abundant images of tropical flora and fauna. The solemn face of the shaman mirrors the concern of the artists over the seemingly impossible task of preserving the precious natural resources depicted on the masks. The 2010 exhibit includes these beautiful Ecologico masks as well as vivacious Diablito and Combinado masks. The Combinados morph with admirable creativity from images of animals and plants into diablitos. A few traditional ceremony masks, like those still worn in their annual festival, are also represented.
marilynn shelley
of the Borucan Indians of Costa Rica
Rainforest Masks 2010 marilynn shelley
Diablito Mask by Nidia Fernandez
Article and photography by Marilynn R. Shelley, Interim Director of the Center for Environmental Education
Small mask by Neftali Rojas Morales
As we have had the pleasure of getting to know many of the artists over the last six years, we have discovered that the masks also reflect the personalities of their makers. Returning to Selby this year are brothers Francisco and Neftali Rojas Morales. Francisco’s masks portray his thoughtful nature with much attention to detail and a playful sense of humor. Although Neftali was several years older than his brothers when he began making masks, he has quickly become a master carver due to his determination and natural talent. His smaller signature masks often contain as much detail as many of the larger masks. Over a dozen artists will contribute their talents and creations to the 2010 exhibit. Although their various and distinctive personalities reveal a diversity of styles, they all share in a strong love for their families, a serious concern for the future of their precious natural environment, and a true passion for Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
angela marie isaza
“Jardin Morado” batik by Angela Isaza
“ Batiks Botánicos - F lowers, P lants and Gardens for the Soul ” January 8 to February 23, 2010
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ngela Maria Isaza is an artist and architect who lives and works in Bogotá, Colombia. She has studied at Marymount College and the University of Virginia and is not a newcomer to Selby. Her large, expressive batiks representing orchids, bromeliads, heliconias and ferns have been exhibited and very well received at Selby Gardens on other occasions. She returns in January with a stunning new exhibit consisting mainly of batiks, a painting technique that originated in the East, using hot wax, dyes, and natural-fiber cloth. Also on display are some of her remarkable oil paintings and collages representing Isaza’s recent experiments with breaking down natural subjects into squares of color. The squares react to each other to form a whole picture, resembling pixels. Isaza’s interest in creating and exhibiting art lies mainly in promoting the value and beauty of fragile environments. The flora found in the tropical forests of the Andes Mountains of Colombia has been her primary inspiration. Florida´s native wild plants and flowers and the collections at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens also take center stage in her work.
Through her art, Isaza conveys the beauty of the natural world that surrounds us, bringing it closer to the observer by recalling the simple vision and wonder of a child and providing spiritual meaning to things that are taken for granted. Her quest is to promote peace, love, and understanding in our world, something she believes each of us can do wherever we are. Meet the artist at a reception on Sunday, January 10, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. in the Museum of Botany and the Arts. Please R.S.V.P. to (941) 366-5731, ext. 239. angela marie isaza
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creating and sharing these unique masks with Sarasota and the rest of the world. Join us for the exhibit opening reception on Thursday, March 4, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Museum of Botany and the Arts. For reservations please call 941-366-5731, ext. 239. Take advantage of an opportunity to see Francisco and Neftali demonstrate their carving and painting artistry during several “Meet the Artists” sessions in the Museum of Botany and the Arts on Saturdays and Sundays, March 6, 7, 13 & 14, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Spanish interpreters will be available to help translate your questions. On Thursday, March 11, from noon to 1:00 pm in Selby’s Cooley Theater, C.J. Shelley and I will present a travelogue of our trips to Costa Rica and Boruca. See images of colorful animals and verdant forests, learn more about the artists behind the masks, and hear stories from our adventures at a free lecture titled “The Road to Boruca and Beyond,” or “Killer Cows and the Quest for the Quetzals.”
“Zarcillejos Bellatlen” batik by Angela Marie Isaza
Borucan Mask by Neftali Roja Morales The Tropical Dispatch January–April 2010
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April 30 through June 6
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his spring the Museum of Botany and the Arts at the Gardens will be adorned with the work of many talented photographers. Our “Pearl” anniversary will showcase the splendor of Selby Gardens, Florida, and the tropical world. The theme this year will be “Focus on the Tropics.” We hope that our guests experience an appreciation of the beauty of our natural world and the challenges it faces. We also are turning back the clock and revisiting categories from years past. Awards include Best of Show as
well as First, Second and Third Place for each of six categories:
Selby Gardens. Deadline for receipt of photos with completed entry forms and fees is Wednesday, April 21, from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the Museum of Botany and the Arts. Join us in the Museum of Botany and the Arts for the opening reception on Friday, April 30, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. R.S.V.P to (941) 366-5731, ext. 239. marilynn shelley
Announcing the 3Oth Annual Juried Photographic Exhibition at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
Selby Gardens (color) Plant Life (color) Scenic (color) Animal Life (color) Black and White (in all categories) Manipulated Imaging (in all categories)
Photographers may see all rules and conditions by downloading an entry form from our website at www.selby.org. Entry forms are also available in the Welcome Center and the Mansion/Museum at
Volunteer Orientation Dates Make an Impact on Your World: Volunteer at the Gardens!
Last year’s Best of Show Winner “White Cattleya Orchid” by Phil Jensen
In Memoriam
Mary Jane Fabik
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olunteers make an incredibly important difference at Selby Gardens. Last year, volunteers contributed time valued at nearly $1 million and added the equivalent of more than 20 full-time workers to the Selby Gardens staff. We have a wealth of volunteer opportunities for people with a wide variety of interests, skills, and schedules. To learn more about volunteering at the Gardens, please join us at one of our no-obligation volunteer orientations: Monday, January 11, 2010 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 16, 2010 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 17, 2010 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Thursday, April 15, 2010 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. All orientations are held in the Scully Room upstairs in the Mansion. Attendees hear from the heads of Selby’s Horticulture, Education, and Research departments and enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour. Call Emily Lane at (941) 366-5731, extension 267 or email elane@ selby.org for details 12
Annual Volunteer Recognition Event Wednesday, March 10, 2010 5:30 p.m. Great Room by the Bay Volunteers wear a lot of different and important hats at Selby Gardens. Those who contributed at least 25 hours during 2009 are invited to this fun and festive celebration. Gardens Staff will present awards based on number of hours contributed, years of service, and the President’s Volunteer Service Award, a national recognition.
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ary Jane Fabik, a longtime and extremely dedicated Gardens volunteer, died November 1, 2009. A member of Selby Gardens since 1976, Mary Jane began volunteering in 1980. Over the course of 29 years, she contributed more than 12,000 hours of her time—usually two to three days each week—to help the Center for Tropical Plant Science and Conservation keep its vast and irreplaceable collection of resources organized. Mary Jane was a quiet, intelligent lady with a great sense of humor. She will be deeply missed at the Gardens. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
sally gulmy photography
Asian Cultural Festival at the Gardens
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sally gulmy photography
Taiko Drummers
Lion Dance by Tang Martial Arts Center
elby Gardens will present the fourth annual Asian Cultural Festival on February 27 and 28. The Sarasota Ikebana International, Sho-Fu Bonsai, and Sumi-e societies will again share the exotic sights, sounds and smells of the Orient with our visitors. The festivities will begin on Saturday, February 27, with opening ceremonies at 10:30 a.m., including performances by taiko drummers and a lion dance by the Tang Martial Arts Center. Visitors will enjoy stunning ikebana flower arrangements, bonsai displays, and sumi-e ink paintings. Scheduled demonstrations of origami paper folding, bonsai cultivation, and Chinese brush painting will occur throughout the weekend. A diverse variety of Asian foods will be available for purchase from area restaurants.
2O1O Plant and Garden Festival | Sarasota’s Original Plant Fair
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n its 35th consecutive year, the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens popular annual Plant and Garden Festival is set for Saturday and Sunday, March 20 and 21, 2010, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the South Lawn of the Gardens. Members will enter at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday for first pick of the finest plants. Non-members pay only halfprice admission for the weekend. This collector’s choice plant fair will offer thousands of unique tropical plants from hand-picked vendors from around the state, as well as Selby Gardens’ own unique plants for purchase. Orchids, ferns, native plants, palms, succulents, fruiting plants – you name it, you will find it at the Plant and Garden Festival! High quality, hand-made garden art and gardening products will also be well-represented by our vendors. Don’t forget to explore great finds in The Garden Shop. Enjoy the tropical beauty of the Gardens while learning from horticulture demonstrations on how to grow and care for your The Tropical Dispatch January–April 2010
plants. Festive music and good food make this event a delightful way to spend a day. Last year’s festival was a huge success, and we are excitedly putting plans into action for an even better event this year. Bring a wagon to haul away all of the plants and gardening items you won’t be able to live without! Proceeds from the Plant and Garden Festival benefit Selby Gardens’ programs of research, education, and horticultural display.
Thousands of unique plants for your landscape pleasure.
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4th Annual Mother’s Day Brunch May 9, 2010
Save the Date 29th Annual Orchid Ball “Bollywood” March 27, 2010
Selby Gardens again offers free admission to all Moms on Mother’s Day, May 9, 2010. Mothers and grandmothers will enter the Gardens at no cost throughout the day.
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arie Selby Botanical Gardens will again host “Sarasota’s most beautiful party,” the Orchid Ball, on Saturday, March 27, 2010. Emily Walsh Parry and Karin Parry Leereveld, Cochairs for the 29th Annual Orchid Ball, are pleased to announce this year’s theme,“Bollywood.” The evening begins with hors d’oeuvres and cocktails at 6:30 p.m. followed by a sumptuous catered dinner, live auction, and dancing under the stars. The Orchid Ball provides substantial revenue towards the pursuit of Selby Gardens’ vital mission: to further the understanding and appreciation of plant life, with emphasis on epiphytes, and to provide enjoyment for all who visit the Gardens. Tickets are $250 per person and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Table sponsorships are also available. Please contact Cynthia Dwyer at (941) 366-5731, extension 229, for further information.
2010 Orchid Ball Committee Orchid Ball Co-Chairs: Karin Parry Leereveld & Emily Walsh Parry Victoria Baga Donna Jernigan Baker Sylvia Barber Fabiola Beckmann Beth Bobb Marjorie Broughton Shannon Collins Katie Cornell Knickole Barger Curtis Terry Damm Ann Davy Leibe Gamble Ann Garberding Stephanie Finnan Hannum Mimi Hernandez Terri Horne Rebecca Blitz Icely Pauline Joerger
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Nora Johnson Stephanie Kost Allison Luzier Cornelia Matson Giovanna McGrath Chris McKee Rosemarie McKee Alex Miller Ana Molinari Lynn Morris Alyssa Nohren Jackie Rogers Kristiana Serbin Amie Swan Nikki Taylor Margarete van Antwerpen Lisa Walsh
he Gardens also will host the fourth annual Mother’s Day Brunch, a ticketed event, in the Great Room overlooking Sarasota Bay. Three seatings will be offered: 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 1:30 p.m. Michael’s On East will cater the brunch. Prices for the brunch are $45.00 for non-member adults and $35.00 for adults who are members of Selby Gardens. Tickets for ages 6–12 are $18.00, and children under the age of five eat free. The brunch ticket price includes Brunch, Gardens admission, and Selby’s Spring Music Series featuring live music under the banyans from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Tickets for the brunch can be purchased at Selby Gardens’ Welcome Center, located at 900 South Palm Avenue, Sarasota, Florida, or on-line at www.selby.org beginning April 15, 2010. Free on-site parking is limited. Additional parking is available at the Senior Friendship Center on Brother Geenen Way, and a shuttle service will be provided. The Garden Shop will offer numerous specials especially chosen for Moms from April 2 through April 9, 2010. Stop in and shop early!
Grants received $23,550 The Community Foundation
of Sarasota County for upgrading our rental facilities and equipment $90,863 Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice for building fundraising capacity $133,025 Institute of Museum and Library Services for the new Molecular Research Program
Thank you! Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
Selby Associates
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he Associates are members of Selby Gardens who formed the original volunteer group in 1980. They are a hundred members strong and, 30 years later, still support the mission of the Gardens. From October to the annual meeting in May, they have monthly meetings, special programs, and fundraising events to assist Selby endeavors. Members of the Gardens are welcome to become Selby Associates members. Please contact Sharon Giles for further information at (941) 355-8071, tdgpud8@msn.com, or e-mail Pat Knasiak at rknasiak@comcast.net.
Upcoming Associates Meetings Monday, January 18 – 11:30 a.m. – Great Room by the Bay Sheila Sadler - Life in the Payne Mansion Monday, February 15 – 11:30 a.m. – Great Room by the Bay Gil Lee – Ikebana Demonstration Tuesday, February 23 Bok Tower Field Trip Non-members welcome, call (941) 355-8071 for information. Monday, March 15 – 11:30 a.m. – Great Room by the Bay Jeanne Dubi – The Birds of Southwest Florida Monday, April 19 – 11:30 a.m. – Great Room by the Bay To Be Announced Monday, May 17 – 11:30 a.m. – Great Room by the Bay Annual Meeting – The Scents of the Gardens
Summer Camp Lookout 2010 For Nature Lovers - Ages 6 to 11
Member Tuition: $185 Non-Member: $200
Certified Teachers - 20 Students per class
Special: Save $40 by registering for all four sessions!
Bring lunch, afternoon snack provided.
Member: $700 Non-member $760
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Each session is filled with information, crafts, inside and outside activities, and special guests! Student presentation each Friday at 3:00 p.m.
Kids love Summer Camp Lookout!
2010 Dates: Session 1: June 7-11, 2010 Session 2: June 14-18, 2010 Session 3: June 21-25, 2010 Session 4: June 28–July 2, 2010 For more information contact: Marilynn Shelley 811 South Palm Ave. Sarasota, FL 34236 941-366-5731 ext. 239 or register online at www.selby.org
The Tropical Dispatch January–April 2010
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Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 509 Manasota, Florida
811 South Palm Avenue Sarasota, Florida 34236 www.selby.org
We specialize in plant arrangements for all occasions! esigned
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he Garden Shop at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is a plant lover’s paradise. Here you will find Sarasota’s finest orchids, bromeliads, and tropical plants. We can assist you with best-in-bloom purchase recommendations and ongoing, quality care consultations. You will find convenient parking, and you can visit The Garden Shop from Palm Avenue without going through the Welcome Center or paying admission. Call 941.366.5731, extension 322 to place your order today. Tropical Dispatch is printed on 100% recycled paper, and Class/Lecture/Exhibits insert on 10% recycled paper, with vegetable-based ink.