Selby Gardens engaging in phased reopening after suffering damage from Hurricane Milton

Some facilities reopen this week

This is one example of the damage at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in downtown Sarasota following the strike by Hurricane Milton. Image courtesy Selby Gardens

In an Oct. 11 email to supporters of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens and the news media, President and CEO Jennifer Rominiecki reported that both the Gardens in downtown Sarasota and the Historic Spanish Point campus would have “to remain closed until further notice” because of damage inflicted on them by Hurricane Milton.

The following were some initial observations from both campuses, she noted:

Downtown Sarasota campus

  • Some power lines were down.
  • 20% of the new solar panels came loose and were damaged.
  • “New buildings appear in good condition.
  • “Historic structures appear in good condition.
  • “A portion of glass in the conservatory and in all greenhouses is broken — but the structures are still standing and the living collections are unharmed.
  • “Numerous downed trees (but not our Bunya Bunya, Banyans, or Moreton Bay Fig).
  • “Large quantities of debris.
  • “Several shipwrecked boats came ashore that are not ours.
  • “Damaged boardwalk in the Ann Goldstein Children’s Rainforest Garden.”
  • Storm surge effects similar to those produced by Hurricane Helene “(with docks and decks already damaged from that storm).”
A boat is visible next to the downed tree at the Selby Gardens Downtown Sarasota Campus in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton. Image courtesy Selby Gardens

Historic Spanish Point campus in Osprey

  • Power lines down.
  • Approximately 20 major trees were down, “blocking access/paths.
  • “Large quantities of debris
  • “Historic structures appear in good condition except a chimney of the White Cottage came down.
  • Some pathways were washed out.
  • “Cock’s Footbridge has major damage.”
  • Similar storm surge effects as those observed with Hurricane Helene (with docks and decks already damaged from that storm).

On its website, Selby Gardens was reporting on Oct. 17 that on Oct. 15, The Green Orchid by Michael’s on East reopened “for its usual hours, as will the other newly built areas of Phase One of our Master Plan and our Museum of Botany & the Arts in the historic Payne Mansion.”

On Oct. 17, the website added, the Tropical Conservatory would reopen, “so that everyone will be able to enjoy The Orchid Show 2024: PURPLE! in both the Conservatory and the Museum of Botany & the Arts in the Payne Mansion.”

The website explained, “We will be taking a phased approach on reopening the rest of the gardens as each area is cleared and safe for visitors; check selby.org and our social media channels (Facebook or Instagram) for further updates.”