Selby Gardens Phase 1 work nears completion

In the early 1900s, Palm Avenue was among the first streets paved with blocks, the western terminus cutting a swath through what would later become Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. 

A key component of Phase 1 of the master plan to renovate and enhance the gardens’ experience, those blocks — known as the historic Augusta Blocks — were removed to protect them from heavy construction equipment and activity. As work nears completion those blocks are back in place, but Palm Avenue is no longer a street. It is now a centerpiece pedestrian walkway forming a tranquil transition into the center of the 15-acre property.

“We've now put back all of the historic Augusta Blocks down to make a pedestrian-only thoroughfare through the heart of the gardens,” said Selby Gardens President and CEO Jennifer Rominiecki. “All those blocks are back down and they look smashing, so there's just this wonderful thoroughfare through the heart of the property now.”

Photo by Andrew Warfield

Visitors will follow that pedestrian pathway past the recently completed lily pond punctuated by the signature banyan tree to the new welcome center located between the parking deck — which includes a full-service restaurant and gift shop — and the new botanical research center building. From there, the urban oasis along Sarasota Bay is theirs to enjoy.

Originally planned to be completed in October, an event to mark the completion of Phase 1 will occur in November or December.

“It is really progressing now," Rominiecki said. "Every day you can see the progress and it's just really coming together beautifully. In addition to the welcome center taking shape, the research center is progressing. A lot of major trees have now been planted around the multi-use recreational trail, so there's just a lot of action here.”

The entire Selby Gardens master plan will occur over three phases at a total investment of $72 million, all from private donations and grants. The gardens launched a $92 million capital campaign in October 2021 to pay for the work and establish a $20 million endowment. More than $57 million has been raised with $51.6 million directed to Phase 1.

Selby Gardens is among the region's primary attractions, drawing approximately 230,000 visitors per year. 

Phase 1 work includes sustainability features such as an 84-by-40-foot stormwater vault, which will collect all water running onto the site and filter out impurities before being emptied into Sarasota Bay. Atop the parking deck is a 50,000-square-foot solar array that will make Selby Gardens energy net-positive, generating more electricity than it consumes. The new restaurant will have a rooftop garden that will help supply food for the kitchen.

With the bulk of the master plan completed in Phase 1, Phase 2 will be concentrated on the glass houses for the gardens’ living collections and an indoor-outdoor learning pavilion for education programs. Phase 3 will unify the pathways throughout the entire footprint, repair dockage and seawalls, and renovate Payne Mansion, which serves as the museum building.

What about the holiday lights?

The annual holiday lights show at Selby Gardens will go on even as finishing touches are applied. The show has earned accolades nationally, with “Lights in Bloom” ranked sixth-best botanical garden holiday lights in the country in USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice competition.

"Lights in Bloom will be in the gardens, as they are every year,” Rominiecki said. “We’re not sure yet when our opening ceremonies will occur before we open Lights in Bloom, but either way we are absolutely going on with the show.”

Image courtesy of Cliff Roles

This year’s show will be open on select nights Dec. 8-Jan. 3. In addition to millions of lights throughout the gardens, guests can enjoy games and activities with food and drinks available for purchase. Options include early admission each night and a special all-inclusive package on Dec. 23.

Tickets will on sale first to members in early November. Details will be posted at Selby.org.