tropical dispatch may 2008

Marie selby botanical gardens

VoluMe 35nuMber 2

suMMer 2008 Selbytropical dispatch

Gongoraboracayanesis –

a contribution to Plant conservation

rubiaceae,the coffee Family

selby Wins big

selby gardensreceives Major

rare bookcollection

special articleexploring for

botanical gold in Venezuela’s lost

World

2 Marie selby botanical gardens

Dear Friends of the Gardens, Spring at Selby Gardens—the Orchid Ball, Plant & Garden Festival, the Asian Cultural Festival, Journey to Bhutan Dinner and our Garden Music Series—has been an unprecedented success. We set new attendance records, brought home awards from the World Orchid Conference and other shows, and earned acclaim in other arenas. We’re extremely grateful for your support during our busiest season of the year. It has been great to see so many of you at the Gardens’ programs and events.

As summer approaches, there is still plenty to enjoy at the Gardens. Our annual Mother’s Day Brunch will move indoors to take advantage of air conditioning and the terrific view from the Great Room by the Bay. On the evening of July 4, we will offer festive music, all-American food, and the best seat in town for Sarasota’s annual fireworks display. Our summer classes are always popular and there is a pull-out section in the Tropical Dispatch with a list of classes and other activities you may enjoy.

And as always, the grounds offer new surprises every day—orchids and bromeliads abloom in the oak trees, fragrantly flowering palm trees, butterflies wafting by on balmy breezes. If you are in Sarasota, please drop by for a dose of nature’s best medicine—a little time outdoors on a summer day in paradise. We continue to be very grateful for the ongoing support from our Gardens’ members and our wonderful volunteers. You truly make the Gardens grow! In the next issue of the Tropical Dispatch, there will be a report on our Selby Travelers April trip to Thailand and Bhutan. A lecture and slide show about the journey is also planned and you, our valued members and volunteers, will receive advance notification of this program. All of us at Selby look forward to seeing you in the Gardens soon.

Best wishes,

M. Jessica Ventimiglia Interim Executive Director and CEO

The Tropical Dispatch is a publication of the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. Please send address changes to Carol Montgomery, Membership Manager, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 811 South Palm Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34236. E-mail: [email protected]. Telephone: 941.366.5731, ext. 266

Marie Selby botanical GardenS

Board of Trustees Michael Saunders – Chair Janice L. Holly – Vice Chair Pete Biegel-Secretary C. Martin Cooper – Treasurer E. Boyer Chrisman Bill Gamble Steve Hazeltine Nora Johnson Thomas B. Luzier, Esq. Dr. Elaine Marieb Susan L. McLeod David R. Staats Dr. Laurey Stryker Carlyle Luer, MD – Trustee Emeritus Thomas B. Luzier, Esquire Barbara Frey – Associates President (ex-officio)

Interim Chief Executive Officer Jessica VentimigliaDevelopment Jean SellsEducation Donna KrabillEvents and Facilities Dan JohnsonFinance and Administration Bill LewisHorticulture Mike McLaughlinMarketing and Communications andDispatch Editor Debby SteeleMembership Carol MontgomeryResearch and Conservation David Benzing, Ph.D. Stig Dalström Bruce Holst Wesley E. Higgins, Ph.D. Harry LutherVolunteers Emily Lane

Mission StatementThe mission of The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is to understand and conserve tropical plants – with emphasis on epiphytes and their natural habitats – through programs of research, education and horticultural display that promote appreciation of plant life and provide enjoyment for all who visit the Gardens.

Program SponsorsSelby Gardens programs are sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Division of Historical Resources, Division of Cultural Affairs, Sarasota County Arts Council and Tourist Development Council.

Cover photo: Gongora boracayanesis. Photograph by Stig Dalström.printed on

recycled paper

3the tropical dispatch summer 2008

by Bruce K. Holst, Director of Plant Collections

Selby Gardens recently joined forces with Conservation International’s Rapid Assessment Program and the La Salle

Foundation of Venezuela to conduct an intensive biological and ecological survey of a southern Venezuelan river system threatened by gold and copper mining operations. This river system drains the Sierra de Lema, a mountain range that forms the northern flank of the “Lost World.” The Lost World was made famous by Arthur Conan Doyle in the late 1800s and is known for its spectacular table mountains, for Angel Falls, the highest waterfall in the world, and for thousands of plants found nowhere else on earth. With illegal gold mining rampant in the area and a proposed 2,400-foot deep open-pit gold and copper mine in the final stages of permitting, a team of 25 biologists from many different countries was assembled to conduct an assessment

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Exploring for Botanical Goldin Venezuela’s lost World

The typically quiet port on the Aymara River is bustling with gold fever.

A beautiful liana collected along the river banks (Norantea guianensis). Bruce Holst collects plants along the river.

The fern, Pterizonium reniforme, previously only known from high elevations, was found at an unusually low altitude along the Uey river.

continued on next page


of the region’s flora and fauna. I was invited to join Venezuelan botanists Angel Fernandez and Reina Gonto to conduct the botanical portion of the inventory. Other disciplines represented were herpetology, ornithology, mammalogy, entomology, limnology, geology, ichthyology, and the study of aquatic invertebrates. The support staff included cooks, a paramedic, local guides, security personnel, a coordinator of logistics, and a film team who captured our work for a future documentary. My route took me from Sarasota to Caracas and then by a domestic carrier to Puerto Ordaz situated along the immense Orinoco River. Another day of travel by car took us to the infamous Kilometer 88 gold mining region, which is the last place to purchase supplies before venturing into the heart of the Lost World. Near Km 88, we stayed one more night at the “Brisas del Cuyuní” gold mining camp operated by Gold Reserve, Inc., the company proposing the large open pit mine. Obtaining a permit from the Venezuelan Government for such a large project is not a simple matter. Many years of planning, enacting social and medical improvements in the community, and conducting environmental studies are required. To further compliance in the environmental arena of their operations, Brisas del Cuyuní entered into an agreement with Conservation International in 2006 to collaborate on environmental issues, including our

recent inventory. Our main target area was in and around the junction of the Uey and Cuyuní rivers, the area that will be affected by the proposed mine and which is being degraded by numerous illegal miners. There are no roads in the area, so our transportation was by river using four large dugout style canoes and in part via helicopter to establish a forward camp in the foothills of the Sierra de Lema. Our base camp was situated on a high bank, which in this area is critical to avoid the effects of the wildly fluctuating river levels. With approximately 23-feet of rainfall per year (compared with about 4-feet per year in Florida), the Cuyuní basin is one of the wettest in South America. Even though we were there in the “dry season,” it rained on average three times a day. The wet season must be a truly aquatic experience. Arriving at the muddy, makeshift port to begin our journey, we were surprised to find dozens of boats loading and unloading provisions. We learned that normally only one or two boats would be at the port on any single day, but gold fever was raging in the area, fueled by a new find high up the Cuyuní and by rapidly rising international gold prices. After arriving at base camp an hour upstream from the port and claiming our sleeping berths, we began work. Boats would depart and arrive at all times of day, well before dawn for the birders and late at night for the mammalogists. The ichthyologists impressed me with their willingness to jump into the murkiest of

botanical gold continued

Ichthyologists inventory a muddy creek. Carlos Lasso holds an electric eel.

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waters to ply their nets and would come up with a wide array of fishes (upon some of which we would later dine), and would occasionally even net a stingray or electric eel. The limnologists sampled fish tissues to be analyzed later for mercury contamination, a byproduct of the illegal miners. The kitchen was always open and the food good and filling. Our paramedic, Sol, earned her keep tending to numerous scrapes and cuts, and she also doctored one of our guides through a sting from a Tityus scorpion, known to be highly venomous. His evacuation by river in the middle of the night was a sobering experience, and the treatment that he received, including an unusual injection of scorpion anti-venom, may have saved his life. Only one other evacuation was required, this one by helicopter, when another scientist slipped on some rocks and dislocated his shoulder. We established two additional light camps, one at the furthest navigable point on the upper Uey an hour upstream from base camp, and another in a narrow canyon several thousand feet higher in the Sierra de Lema and only reached by helicopter. Late one stormy night at the upper Uey camp where five of us were working for several days, we noticed that our boat, previously tied far down on the rocky shore, was clanking about the shrubbery adjacent to our camp. Realizing we were about to be flooded


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izout, we quickly packed camp and headed downriver through heavy rain and swollen water, crashing through tree branches now at river level and with every headlamp turned on to help our captain navigate his way downstream to base camp. If there was any time that we were going to tip over on the trip, I was sure this was it, but our skilled pilot brought us safely back to the base camp. For 16 days we kept up a frantic pace. Botanically speaking, we found the area very rich in plant life and collected over 800 samples. One interesting discovery was the presence of several species, thought to be restricted to higher elevations of the table mountains, two thousand feet lower than previously recorded. Distribution information such as this will become increasingly helpful in our knowledge of how plants might be able to adapt to the effects of climate change. With literally thousands of specimens in hand, it was finally time to break camp and for me to head back to Caracas to prepare the plant specimens. Our results will be tallied and published later this year along with our conservation recommendations to the government. It is feasible that the

The scientific team.

upper Uey River can be added to the adjacent Canaima National Park or at least provide a sizeable buffer between the mining area and the park. While in Caracas, I learned that we had received a grant from the Wonken Foundation of Venezuela to support the next two years of work in the Sierra de Lema, including funds for more helicopter time into areas never before visited by biologists. We are, without a doubt, looking forward to that! Visit the “Research” area of the Selby

Gardens website to see an online slide show from the expedition and links to related information.

Acknowledgments. I wish to thank the staff of Brisas del Cuyuní for their excellent logistical support, Conservation International and the Fundación La Salle for inviting me to participate and for all that they do in the name of conservation, and especially Selby volunteer Marge Schmiel for her financial support.

Selby Gardens recently completed a collaboration with the Ringling College of Art and Design. Jennifer

Mumford Brady, Director, Ringling College Design Center, appointed Marcos Roman, a fourth year student majoring in Graphic and Interactive Communication, to work with Marie Selby Botanical Gardens on a design project for the

A Children’s Rainforest at Selby Gardens Completes Collaboration with Ringling College of Art and Design

Gardens’ new Children’s Rainforest. The Children’s Rainforest is a new initiative designed by renowned EDAW, Incorporated. Construction will be completed by Willis Smith Construction. Work is projected to begin in late 2008. Roman focused on a logo design. He developed presentation materials to be used for fundraising and other promotional

purposes. In addition, Ringling College illustration faculty member Don Brandes created a signature illustration which depicts the numerous recreational and educational components that have been designed to create enjoyment for children of all ages. The Ringling College Design Center Internship class provides students an opportunity to work on “real world” projects. This course gives students the chance to work on all phases of a project from the initial meeting with the client to final presentation and implementation. You will be able to view this new concept in the Children’s Rainforest Room upstairs in the Scully Room in the Payne Mansion. If you would like further information on the Children’s Rainforest or would like to set an appointment to view the renderings, please contact Susan McLeod at [email protected] or Jessica Ventimiglia at (941) 366-5731.


by Stig Dalström, CuratorOrchid Identification Center

In May, 2003, a group of botanists from Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, the University of Florida, and Lankester

Botanical Garden of the University of Costa Rica gathered in the Boracayán Wildlife Refuge. This reserve is privately owned and lovingly managed by Ann Patton and John Bender. It covers 5,000 acres of original rainforest mixed with secondary forest and is situated on a ledge of the Fila Costeña Norte in southern Costa Rica, with a magnificent view of the Pacific beaches and coral reefs three-thousand feet below. We were invited by the generous owners of Boracayán to do an inventory survey of the epiphytic plants in the reserve, including orchids, bromeliads and gesneriads. This promised to be a very exciting project since this area is well known for its biodiversity, but is also poorly explored scientifically. After a week of strenuous fieldwork, trudging up and down slippery trails, carrying large sacks filled with plants, and carefully avoiding highly-venomous pit vipers we assembled an impressive first-round pile of specimens, both living and preserved. It was then time to return to our institutions and begin the slow and meticulous work of identifying our finds.

The following year, a small orchid seedling was discovered growing among the pseudobulbs of a Lycaste orchid in the collection at Selby Gardens. Since the Lycaste originated in Boracayán,

so did the seedling of what appeared to be a different species. Our orchid horticulturist, Angel Lara, replanted the seedling in a wooden basket because he suspected it to be a Gongora (which has pendent inflorescences). The plant finally flowered in 2006, and flowers were identified by the Orchid Identification Center (OIC). After much searching in available literature, it was concluded that our Gongora represented a species that was known in cultivation under a misapplied name and that it actually did not have a valid scientific name. An international collaboration was then initiated between Selby Gardens’ orchid specialists and Rudolf Jenny, a Swiss taxonomist who specializes in Gongora studies and who became very enthusiastic about finally naming the Costa Rican species. The name of choice was Gongora boracayanensis, after the area of origin, and in honor of Ann Patton and John Bender’s passion for orchid conservation in Costa Rica. The official name was published in our flagship scientific journal Selbyana 28(2): 2007. Only a few days after the publication, the OIC received an email message from an excited German botanist contracted by the Panamanian government to do a rapid assessment of the flora in an area soon to be flooded by a hydroelectric power station dam. The botanist, Stefan Laube, was very pleased to find a name for a plant he had recently collected but suspected never would be properly identified, since Gongora orchids are notoriously difficult to understand and classify taxonomically. He suddenly and serendipitously had a positive identification and a scientific name, and he could add a species new to Panama as well as to the list of threatened plants and animals in the area. This is a wonderful example of how Selby Gardens’ staff contributes to international projects and conservation-oriented efforts worldwide. With your help we can do more!

Gongora boracayanesis

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Gongora boracayanesisA ContrIbutIon to PlAnt ConServAtIon

John bender on lookout.

Bothrops species


Lindenia rivalis

Hoffmania bullata

Hamelia nodosa

Rubiaceae | THE CoFFEE FAMILyby Harry E. Luther, Curator, Living Collections; Director, Bromeliad Identification Center

Photography by Dr. Phil Nelson

T he Rubiaceae, one of the most species rich (over 6,000) of tropical plant families includes a number of consumer commodities: Coffee,

Gardenia, Quinine, Pentas, Ixora and Noni. Many additional members can be found at Selby Gardens, including a few ant epiphytes (i.e. Myrmecodia and Hydnophytum), and hemi-epiphytic shrubs (Hillia). A number of uncommon ornamental genera are also present. Species of Hoffmania are beautiful understory

sub-shrubs. Manettia are mostly-herbaceous, twining plants, including Manettia cordifolia, a Selby membership-distribution plant in 2007. Lindenia rivalis is a rheophytic shrub from Belize that is surprisingly successful as a conventional landscape specimen. The genus Hamelia, with a species native to Florida, includes at least a dozen or more tropical species such as the Mexican Hamelia nodosa.

plantsIn tHe GArDen

Manettia cordifolia ‘John esley’

Hydnophytum mesleyanum

rainforest Masks 2008 of the Borucan indians of costa rica

Rainforest Masks Exhibition

“rainforest Masks 2008” celebrated the fourth in a series of exhibitions in the Museum of Botany & the Arts at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in March and

April, 2008. The success of these exhibits at the Gardens has allowed Lauren Jawer of Mariposa Indigenous Art to help with the purchase of a twelve-acre farm within the Borucan reserve. This property is in the name of the Borucan people and is designated for the sustainable growing of balsa wood and other natural resources upon which the artisans are so dependent. Rainforest Masks 2009 is scheduled to open at the Gardens in March, 2009.


SELBy Wins BigMike McLaughlin, Director of Horticulture

The Selby Gardens Horticulture Department had another spectacular year on the orchid show circuit! Display House Horticulturist Jennie Ness designed our “Worldwide Orchids” exhibit, which won an American Orchid Society award for

The Most Outstanding Orchid Exhibit, many First Place ribbons, and a Best in Show Trophy for an Educational Exhibit at the World Orchid Conference. Loyal and talented volunteers Joan Irwin, Richard Cardozo, and Karen Stewart helped to set up our exhibit at five shows around the State: Manatee, Sarasota, Miami, Englewood, and Orlando. Orchid Collection Horticulturist Angel Lara and his skilled crew of volunteers grew the spectacular orchid specimens that won 11 trophies and 48 ribbons! Participation in these orchid shows not only allows us to publicize Selby Gardens and display our fascinating specimens to a wider audience, but it also helps us to further our mission of educating the public about epiphytes and the crucial role of plants in our world. None of this would have been possible without the continued generous support of the Marie Selby Gardens Associates, a volunteer service organization that entirely funded our participation in this year’s orchid shows. Thank you, Associates!

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Manatee orchid festival(oct 27-28, 2007)

trophies• MostMeritoriousSpeciesTrophyfor

Bulbophyllum hashimotoi ‘Interlaken’• AllOtherGeneraTrophyforBulbophyllum

hashimotoi ‘Interlaken’• MostMeritoriousSpecimenPlantinFlower

Trophy for Bulbophyllum hashimotoi ‘Interlaken’First Place Ribbons• Bulbophyllum hashimotoi ‘Interlaken’ CHM/

AOS (Genera other than above)• Oncidium pardothyrsus (Oncidium species and

hybrids)Third Place Ribbon• Pleurothallis loranthophyllum (Genera other

than above)sarasota orchid society show

(January 4-6, 2008)Trophies• AOSShowTrophyfortheMostOutstanding

Orchid Exhibit• MostOutstandingPlantofMiscellaneous

Genera Award for Bulbophyllum blumei• BestOncidiumofShowTrophyforOncidium

hyphaematicum• BestMiniatureofShowTrophyforCadetia

ceratostyloidesFirst Place Ribbons• EducationalExhibit• Angraecum eburneum (Angraecum species)• Bulbophyllum blumei (Bulbophyllum species)• Cattleya trianae (Cattleya 5” flowers species) • Dendrobium Roy Tokunago (Dendrobium

hybrid)• Epidendrum ciliare (Epidendrum species)• Holcoglossum wangii (Genera other than above)• Maxillaria splendens ‘Selby’ CBR/CCE/AOS

(Maxillaria species)• Myoxanthus exasperatus (Pleurothallis species)• Oncidium hyphaematicum (Oncidium species)• Paphiopedilum spicerianum ‘Marshall’

(Paphiopedilum species)• Prosthechea garciana (Prosthechea species) • Psychillis krugii (Broughtonia species)

Second Place Ribbons • Cadetia ceratostyloides (Genera other than

above)• Dendrobium goldschmidtianum (Dendrobium

species other than above) • Pleurothallis powelli (Pleurothallis species) Third Place Ribbons• Paphiopedilum venustum ‘album’ Marie Selby

(Paphiopedilum species)• Platystele stenostachya (Pleurothallis species)

World orchid conference (Miami, January 23-27, 2008)

Trophies• BestinShowTrophyforEducationalExhibit-

100 square feet, “Worldwide Orchids”• BestinClassTrophy–CymbidiinaeforAnsellia

africana ‘Yellow Fountain’• BronzeMedalforMaxillaria porphyrosteleFirst Place Ribbons• Ansellia africana ‘Yellow Fountain’ (Ansellia

species and hybrids)• Ida nana (Lycaste species large flowered greater

than 7.5 cm)• Tuberolabium kotoense (Aerides species and

hybrids) Second Place Ribbons• Dendrobium jonesii (Dendrobium species,

Dendrocoryne section)• Maxillaria porphyrostele (Maxillaria species and

hybrids)• Myrmecolaelia fuchsii (Schomburgkia and

Myrmecophila hybrids)Third Place Ribbons• Encyclia angustifolia (Encyclia species) • Pleurothallis racemiflora (Pleurothallidinae-any

other species)englewood area orchid show

(March 21-22, 2008)Trophies• BestCymbidiumofShow–forCymbidium

madidum• BestotherthanGenera–forBulbophyllum

purpureorhachis

First Place Ribbons• OpenClassExhibit• Ascocentrum ampullaceum (Ascocentrum

species)• Bulbophyllum purpureorhachis (Bulbophyllum

and Cirrhopetalum -species and hybrids)• Cleisostoma teretifolium (Ascocentrum

species other than above class)• Cymbidium madidum (Cymbidium species)• Galeandra minax (Cymbidium allied Genera)• Maxillaria coccinea (Maxillaria species)• Schombodiacrium Raspberry (Cattleya hybrids

other than class)Second Place Ribbons• Encyclia alata (Encyclia species)• Eria pubescens (Genera other than above

species)• Renanthera coccinea (Renanthera species)• Trigonidium egertonianum (Maxillarieae tribe)Third Place Ribbons• Chelyorchis ampliata (Oncidium species and

hybrids)• Ornithocephalus bicornis (Maxillarieae tribe)

central florida orchid society show (orlando, april 5-6, 2008)

Trophies• BestCymbidiumofShow–forCymbidium

madidumFirst Place Ribbons• BestEducationalExhibit• Coelogyne nitida (Other Orchid Species not

included above)• Cymbidium madidum (Cymbidium Alliance /

species)Second Place Ribbons• Aeranthes Grandiose (Other Vanda Alliance

species and hybrids, Angraecoid)• Dendrobium signatum (Dendrobium species

other section)• Encyclia bractescens (Encyclia species)• Encyclia edithiana (Encyclia species)

2008 Plant show awards

the Board of Trustees of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is

pleased to announce the selection of Kittleman & Associates, LLC, as the search firm for identifying a CEO for the Gardens. Kittleman &

Associates, LLC, is the nation’s first executive search firm dedicated exclusively to serving nonprofit organizations and institutions. Kittleman’s team will work along with the Selby Gardens search committee chaired by Trustee Thomas Luzier, a shareholder with the law firm of Dunlap & Moran, P.A. According to Luzier, “A talented group has been assembled to present to the Board of Directors of Selby Gardens the most qualified candidates to lead the Gardens to the next level of success.” The Search Committee plans to conclude its work and name a new CEO by the third quarter of this year. Luzier went on to say, “We are very excited about the potential candidates we will attract, and initial interest in the position has been great. As an

institution on the cusp of several significant initiatives, this search presents a great opportunity to add further depth to the Gardens’ already qualified, dynamic staff and to enhance the growth and sustainability of the institution.” The Search Committee consists of the following members:Thomas Luzier, Chair - Dunlap & Moran, P.A.Peter L. Biegel, Trustee, Senior Vice President/Senior Banking

Officer - Northern Trust Bank of FloridaIlene Denton, Managing Editor - Sarasota MagazineNora Johnson, Trustee - Associate with Michael Saunders &

CompanyCharles Murphy, President - The Bank of CommerceLaurey Stryker, Trustee, former President–USF-Sarasota/ManateeMichael Saunders, Chair of the Board of Trustees and CEO–

Michael Saunders & Company, serves as an ex officio on this committee.

For further information contact Thomas Luzier at (941) 309-1336 or email [email protected].

selby Gardens’ Board of directors

announces ceo search committee


selby gardens’ Horticulture team

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too often as gardeners, we forget that part of our job is planning for

the future of the plants we care for. We are pressured by a culture of instant gratification. Landscape companies are under the gun to produce spectacular displays overnight. We often forget that part of why we garden is the pleasure of watching a little seedling mature into a magnificent specimen that our children’s children will enjoy in years to come.

This revelation came to me while reading an article titled “A Thousand Years” in the horticulture trade journal Greenhouse Grower. The author, Dr. Will Carlson, was impressed when he toured the 265-acre Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University. The Arboretum was established in 1883 and has a thousand year lease with the city of Boston for one dollar a year and the option to renew for another thousand years at the end of that period. The manager, Thomas Ward, is in charge of thousands of specimens. He knows where every tree is located and when it became part of the collection. Thomas said, “There is still a lot of work to be done, and I only have 13 gardeners, but every night when I go home I can sleep

well because I know we have 760 years to make the garden perfect.” The Arboretum houses an extensive bonsai collection. The oldest bonsai tree in the collection is more than 240 years old. When training their bonsai, the gardeners sketch what they want a tree to look like in five years and trim and wire branches accordingly. “Talk about long- range planning,” remarked Dr. Carlson. It’s estimated that over the lifetime of one of the older bonsai trees, a succession of

six to ten different gardeners will be responsible for keeping it healthy and growing. Here at Selby, we plan our gardens carefully, and when placing plants in the gardens we have to consider their maximum growth potential. Many times people ask why some of our plant material is planted away from paths and spaced far apart. We have to explain that those little plants will some day, with a great deal of care and patience, be towering trees or massive specimens. The Selby Gardens Horticulture Department owes a huge debt to the gardeners that have preceded us.

When the large banyans that sit in front of the Selby House were originally planted, I’m sure these trees didn’t look like much. Marie Selby had an appreciation for what magnificent specimens that they would become. Mrs. Selby’s Gardener, Grover Yancey, planted and tended these trees most of his adult life. He was still working here in the early 1990’s. When we as gardeners plant a garden, we need to think not only about the garden’s appearance in the short term but also what it will look like when it reaches maturity. Long-range planning is critical in botanical garden display. Here at Selby Gardens, our horticulture staff is dedicated to the care of our collections and producing superior displays, and our successors will continue to do so.

Linda Bush Nominated as President of the

Selby Gardens Associates

She drives a red Mustang convertible and participates in Jazzercise religiously,

but she doesn’t own a computer (she plans to buy one soon). Her Tennessee drawl is thick, but there’s no molasses in this lady’s delivery—she’s quick, to the point, and calls it like she sees it. “Cute as a bug!” is a frequent comment when someone mentions Selby Gardens Associates Board member Linda Bush. A relatively new member (her first meeting was the October, 2006, Tea), Linda jumped right into the fray by helping with the Taste of the Tropics fundraiser in Spring, 2007. “Next thing I knew, I was asked to be on the Board,” says Linda. She brought with her an infectious energy and a can-do attitude that has had her involved in activities from the recent Journey to Bhutan dinner to a working pizza lunch and brainstorming session to help chart the group’s future. The Associates have recently undergone a year-long re-examination of their raison d’etre and organizational structure. The result is a renewed sense of purpose and a buzz of excitement and interest that continues to build. Linda Bush has been nominated for the position of President on the 2008/2009 Associates Board. The full slate of nominees was presented at the April meeting and will be voted on at the group’s Annual Meeting on May 12, 11:30 a.m., in the Great Room by the Bay. Attendees will also hear about next year’s program schedule. To RSVP or for more information, call Nicole Duke at (941) 378-2214 by May 7.

Gardening with the Future in Mindby Lisa Wade, Grounds Manager

create your legacy- become a selby gardens legacy society Member

There are many creative and flexible ways to make a planned gift to the Gardens. Tax laws can help you accomplish multiple goals with your assets and enable

you to give more. Jean Sells, Director of Development at the Gardens, would be pleased to meet with you, answer questions and share details of how your legacy gift can benefit both you and the Gardens. For information please contact Jean at (941) 366-5731, ext. 227.


Selby Gardens receives Major rare book Collection

A remarkable addition to Selby’s research library

The R.H. Gore and Lorena Gore Family Trust has donated the Gore Orchidology Collection of books to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. This

gift of 216 rare orchid books is a remarkable addition to Selby’s research library. The new collection includes the Imperial Edition of Reichenbachia (1888-1894), one of 100 copies signed by the author Henry Conrad Frederick Sander. Reichenbachia features life-sized orchid illustrations painted by seven different artists and accompanied by descriptions in both English and German. The Selby Research Library is a specialized botanical library focusing on tropical plants, especially epiphytes. The library houses approximately 7,000

volumes, including a rare book collection dating to the late 1700s, 14,000 issues of scientific journals, 2,500 microfiches of early botanical references and herbaria, a photographic slide collection, an illustration file, a map file, and the Gardens’ historical archives. This collection’s strengths include plant systematics, floristics, horticulture, morphology, ecology, economic botany, and evolution. Robert H. Gore, who started life on a Kentucky tobacco farm, rose to become a publisher, patron, patriarch, and one of Florida’s wealthiest men. A Broward County-based real estate developer, Gore was also owner of the Fort Lauderdale News and served as governor of Puerto Rico (1933-1934). R.H. Gore’s legacy lives on through his Gore Family Memorial Foundation Trust and the Gore Orchidology Collection.

Laeliocattleya Phoebe

r. H. gore sr.

billy and nora Johnson

adrienne Vittadini, guest of Honor

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens once again

hosted the ultimate event of Sarasota’s black tie season, the Orchid Ball, on Saturday, April 5, 2008. Nora Johnson chaired the event for the second year in a row. Despite wet and windy weather, everyone enjoyed the evening. It began with hors d’oeuvres and cocktails at 6:30 p.m. followed by a sumptuous catered dinner by Michael’s On East, live auction, and dancing under the stars to the music of Mainstream. The Orchid Ball provides substantial revenue towards the pursuit of Selby Gardens’ vital mission: to understand and conserve tropical plants—with emphasis on epiphytes and their natural habitats—through programs of research, education and horticultural display that promote appreciation of plant life and provide enjoyment for all who visit the Gardens. Many thanks to our Sponsors, Patrons, the Selby Staff, and the Orchid Ball Committee.

27TH ANNUAL oRCHID BALL

In the Pink

Annual Fund Giving now

online

the Gardens is pleased to announce that Selby members and friends can now make

donations online. Go to our website and click on Get Involved, then click on Annual Appeal, and lastly, click on Click Here to Donate. The process is very simple, and you will receive an immediate electronic acknowledgment

followed by a hard copy from the Development Office. Annual Appeal donors help us maintain the Gardens and provide support for Selby’s future sustainability. If you have questions, please contact Jean Sells, Director of Development, (941) 366-5731, ext. 227.


Marie Selby Botanical Gardens recognized more than 400 volunteers who contributed nearly 40,000 hours of time during 2007 at a reception

and ceremony on Monday evening, April 7, in the Great Room by the Bay. Themed “Celebrate Selby’s Stars,” the

Gorgeous setting for the Selby

Stars to celebrate

hours of volunteer

service.

400 VolunteersSELBy GARDENS RECoGNIzES MoRE THAN

event featured Academy Awards décor, red carpet entry and centerpieces built on film reels. Five volunteers, all of whom report to the Center for Tropical Plant Science and Conservation, received special thanks for volunteering at least 500 hours during 2007: Dr. Philip Nelson–501 hours; Susan “Su” Potter–519 hours; Zita Kasza–565 hours; Mary Jane Fabik–704 hours; and Priscilla “Pep” Ruddiman–1,041 hours. For the first time, more than 150 Gardens volunteers received the President’s Volunteer Service Award. This special recognition, which includes a pin, a certificate, and a letter of thanks on White House stationery, is awarded to volunteers who donate at least 100 hours of their time (50 hours for youth volunteers) to assist a not-for-profit organization (see below for a list of those who received this special recognition).

Marge AlbrechtPic Bailey

Joyce BakerFlorence BennettJacqueline Berns

Kay BrunsEdward CarlMary Caro

Tony CastellanoGloria Cervoni

Bob ChaseCarol CollierFern Costello

Richard CowanJoyce De MariaLeland DesmonTheda Donovan

Jill DrakeBettie Dzury

James EdmundsonBarbara EksterHelene EnnisElaine FosterJoe Fouraker

Josephine FranzCarolyn Georgopolis

Phyllis GibsonTom Giles

Alan GoldbergFrank Golder

Marilyn GullifordMaureen Hager

Brian HaydenVernon Headley

Linda HellerKathy Higgins

Diane HochmanBillie Hultin

Janice IversenVivienne Jefferies

Jeffrey JonesMarie JonesCarol Kast

Jeanne KatzensteinElly Keeffe

Joseph KellyPhyllis Kelly

James KennedyKeith KirschnickRobert La Roe

Tony LagunovichLinda LestockNancy Levine

Sally LynchJean Maier

Gretchen MandellSue MartindaleDoris McColgan

Melissa McDowellHannah McKenrick

Bruce McLeanMargaret McLellan

Joseph MeolaMonty Miller

Evelyn MinkEleanor H. Moone

Cathy NemethGinny o’DohertyMarjorie PflaumWendy Poelke

Thomas RaboneJudy Reskow

Marilyn RheingoldMonica RiersonRobert Ripley

Judy RobertsonWesley RouseLouanne Roy

Nancy RutledgeTerri SchlosbergPamela ScothornW. W. ScothornCarol Seiersen

Rose Marie SetteBarbara Shafer-Hockett

Joan ShaverAnne Spindel

Barbara StaffordKaren StewartLaurie Stoner

Rosanna StraussTerri Tumlin

Eleanor WatsonPaul Welty

Peter WilsonJames Wolfson

Frederic BigioRichard CardozoSharon Carpenter

Patricia CaseLouis Colombo

Ella DeprezNicole Duke

Ann EsworthyPatricia Evans

Barbara FeinbergSharon Rae Giles

Jean GlynnKay Hale

Ruth HartmanHeather HillJoan Irwin

Ted KelloggSue King

Ken LucasPat MacLeod

Judith McChesneyJoanne MillerDon Nardone

Robert NormandieDan ReskowSusan ScullyVictoria Shea

Robert ValoppiRobin Valverde

Jetty zarfosWolfe zucker

Marie selby Botanical Gardens, inc.President’s Volunteer service award Winners | January 1 to december 31, 2007

Bronze AwardCRITERIA: Ages 5-14 50-74 hours Ages 15-25 100-174 hours Ages 26 and above 100-249 hours

Silver AwardCRITERIA: Ages 5-14 75-99 hours Ages 15-25 175-249 hours Ages 26 and above 250-499 hours

Gold AwardCRITERIA: Ages 5-14 100+ hours Ages 15-25 250+ hours Ages 26 and above 500+ hours

Mary Jane FabikTaylor Johnson

zita KaszaFoster KrabillAlicia Miller

Rebecca MillerPhilip NelsonSusan Potter

Priscilla “Pep” Ruddiman


there’s a Place for You at selby Gardensby Emily Lane, Volunteer Manager

What makes you tick? Whether it is working with scientists and

conservationists, teaching children about the natural world, getting dirt under your fingernails, or playing a role in a fun event, there is a place for everyone on the Selby Gardens volunteer corps. Gardens volunteers enjoy special benefits including free admission to the Gardens, discounts in Gardens shops and on memberships, and special learning opportunities. We also keep you informed of what is happening at one of Sarasota’s most exciting and dynamic nonprofit organizations. If you would like to learn more about volunteering, or if you are interested in becoming better informed about the Gardens’ mission and activities, please join us at a volunteer orientation on one of these dates:

• Thursday, June 19, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Scully Conference Room, upstairs in the Mansion

• Friday, July 18, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Scully Conference Room, upstairs in the Mansion

• Monday, August 25, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Scully Conference Room, upstairs in the Mansion

• Tuesday, September 16, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Scully Conference Room, upstairs in the Mansion

• Saturday, October 11, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Scully Conference Room, upstairs in the Mansion

• Wednesday, November 12, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Scully Conference Room, upstairs in the Mansion

Please RSVP to Emily Lane at (941) 366-5731 ext. 267 or e-mail [email protected]. Attendees should dress comfortably, as the orientation includes a behind-the-scenes tour of the Gardens.

Have you visited the tea tasting room at Selby Gardens yet? Everyday starting at noon in the Payne Mansion,

you can sample a variety of premium loose-leaf teas provided by Local Coffee + Tea. You will find a selection of teas and accessories as well as learn about where the teas come from, how they are processed, and the many health benefits associated with the world’s second most popular beverage after water. Be sure to try Selby Select, a celebration of rooibos and ripe, juicy oranges. Gorgeous in the cup and in the tin, this naturally caffeine-free blend requires no added sugar and is very special hot or iced. The tea tasting room has been a very popular spot and offers one more unique experience to enjoy at the Gardens. Learn more at www.localcoffee.com or call (941)366-5731

Don’t Forget to use Yourreciprocal benefits!

As a Member of the Gardens, you can visit Selby any day—but are you using your reciprocal benefits?

Summer vacations are a great opportunity to see some of the more than 200 gardens across the United States that participate in the American Horticultural Society’s reciprocal admission program. For a full list, visit http://www.ahs.org/events/reciprocal_events.htm. Selby’s Membership department has arranged additional reciprocal privileges at other attractions in Florida for our Members. Mark your calendars to visit the following attractions:• SouthwestFloridaHolocaustMuseum,St.Petersburg

– May• MOSI(MuseumofScience&Industry),Tampa–

August and February• FloridaAquarium,Tampa–OctoberandNovember• GWIZ(GulfcoastWonder&ImaginationZone),

Sarasota – April• HistoricBokSanctuary,LakeWales–50%off

admission year-round

Celebrate Mother’s Day in the Gardens

the Gardens will host the third annual Mother’s Day Brunch on May 11, 2008. The brunch will be held

in the Great Room overlooking Sarasota Bay. There will be three seatings, at 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Michael’s On East will cater the brunch. Tickets for the event can be purchased at Selby Gardens Welcome Center, located at 900 South Palm Avenue, Sarasota, Florida, or online at www.selby.org. The Brunch tickets are $45.00 for non-member adults and $35.00 for adults who are members. Youth tickets – ages 6-12 are $18.00 and children under the age of 5 dine free. Banyan Treasures and The Garden Shop will offer numerous specials especially chosen for Moms from May 7 through May 13. Stop in and shop early!


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Selby Gardens hosted the third annual Asian Cultural Festival on February 24 and 25. The Sarasota Ikebana International, Bonsai, and Sumi-e Societies brought the sights, sounds

and smells of the Orient to our visitors. The festivities began on Saturday the 24th with opening ceremonies at 10:00 a.m., including performances by taiko drummers, a lion dance by the Tang Martial Arts Center, displays of ikebana flower arrangements, bonsai and sumi-e ink paintings. Guests enjoyed demonstrations on origami paper folding, bonsai cultivation, Chinese brush painting, and dined on Asian food from area restaurants.

In conjunction with the third annual Asian Cultural Festival on February 23, the Selby Gardens Associates hosted a dinner to honor Bhutan’s Consul General to the United Nations, Sangey Rinchen.

This visit from a high Bhutanese official is one outcome of a relationship formed thanks to the efforts of several Gardens supporters, including Preston Scott, Executive Director of World Foundation for Environment and Development, who is coordinating Bhutan’s activities as the featured nation at the 2008 Smithsonian Folklife Festival. In June, 2007, Dr. Ugyen Tshewang, then-Program Director for the Bhutan National Biodiversity Centre, visited the Gardens to study Selby’s facilities, forge a link between Selby and the Biodiversity Centre, and investigate potential collaborations between the two institutions. The Gardens also organized a trip to Bhutan in April which allowed a small group of visitors to enter the mountainous, ecologically-rich nation situated between China and India. Bhutan, which has become a hot ecotourism destination, has adopted a constitutionmandating that 60% of its landarea must be forested. The constitution has frequently been cited for its emphasis on the pursuit of “Gross National Happiness.” Michael’s On East provided attendees with delicious Asian food. The Ikebana Society designed centerpieces for the tables, and the Associates created a gorgeous ambience for the evening. Kudos to the Associates on a wonderful, entertaining, and educational evening.

Martha Mascia-Strickler, Linda Bush, Pat Edmonds

Lion Dance by Tang Martial Arts Center

Taiko Drummers

L to R: Martha Mascia-Strickler, Jessica Ventimiglia, Michael Saunders, Phintsho zonmon, Sangey Rinchen, Barbara Frey, Pat Edmonds, Linda Bush

Selby Gardens Associates Host Dinner to Honor

Bhutan’s Consul General, Sangey Rinchen

asian cultural FestiVal at tHe gardens

Wow, record-breaking crowds attended Selby’s 2008 Plant and Garden Festival. The festival

was held on March 8 and 9 and offered thousands of unique tropical plants from numerous vendors, as well as select exquisite Selby Gardens plants. This year’s event was packed with unique horticulture displays and demonstrations on how to transplant and care for your plants. “The wind howled all day on Saturday, but our faithful Members shopped anyway,” said Mike McLaughlin, Director of Horticulture. “The weather was much better on Sunday, and we were thrilled with the strong turnout. With more vendors this year than in recent years, and even stronger attendance, we have the momentum for the best-ever Plant and Garden Festival in 2009! I’m looking forward to it.”

2008 Plant and Garden festiValColleCtor’S ChoiCe PlAnt FAir


Session 1 June 2-6 Director’s Camp Session 2 June 9-13 Art of Nature Session 3 June 16-20 GREEN Kids Session 4 June 23-27 Planet of Plants Session 5 June 30 – July 3 Writer’s Workshop

Summer Camp Lookout 2008 For nature lovers ages: 6 to 11 8 certified teachers - 20 students per class bring lunch, afternoon snack provided. M time: 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Member tuition: $200 non-Member: $215

each session is filled with information, crafts, inside and outside activities, and special guests!student presentation each Friday at 3:00 p.m.

tuition due at registration. Full refund within 7 days of the beginning of camp minus $25 administrative fee. confirmation package to follow. Forms also available at www.selby.org.

session 1: director’s camp (limited to 10 students)June 2-6 ages: 8-12 neW!Member: $950 non-Member: $990 (proceeds benefit the center for environmental education)

This rare opportunity allows only 10 students to spend the week with Selby’s Education Director, Donna Krabill, for an incredible week in the Gardens. Students will receive hands-on experiences in research and horticulture, work with the poison dart frogs, and get involved in great creative projects. Meet special guests and enjoy this highly personalized educational experience. Don’t tell the kids, but FCAT science standards are imbedded in this immersion experience.

session 2: art of natureJune 9-13, 2008 ages 6-11Member $200 non-Member $215 Children will create a portfolio of wonderful pieces inspired by nature, including nature printing, natural sculptures, wreathes, painting and other great arts and craft activities.

session 3: Green kids June 16-20, 2008 ages 6-11 neW! Member $200 non-Member $215 Turn your kids GREEN, and they will be the envy of the neighborhood with the new skills and knowledge they develop through fun activities, games and projects during this week of GREEN fun! They can even participate in a coastal clean up along our bayfront. Topics include gardening, water, energy, recycling, composting and much more!

session 4: Planet of PlantsJune 23 -27, 2008 ages 6-11 neW! Member $200 non-Member $215 Travel the world at Selby Gardens to explore crazy plants from around the globe. Kids will examine orchids, carnivorous plants, and other really cool plants to gain a better understanding of the important role of plants to the planet. Students will use microscopes and plant presses, visit the greenhouses and research center, use the potting bench, and get good and dirty!

Student Name_________________________________________ Age_____ M___ F ___Parent Name _____________________________________________________________ Address_________________________________City_______________ Zip ___________Phone #1_____________________________Phone #2 ____________________________Email: __________________________________________________________________ Payment method: 1. Check Number: _______________ 2. MC/VISA/AE/Disc. # ___________________________________exp. ____________List allergies: ______________________________________________________________Medical Issues: ____________________________________________________________Emergency Contact: ___________________________Phone: _______________________

Please use separate registration form for each student.Are you a member? Yes _____ No______

t-shirt sizen Child Small n Child Medium n Child Large n Adult Smalln Adult Medium

office use onlyAccess: _________________ # _________________Fee processed ____________Info mailed _____________ Forms received ___________

Member Price non-Member Price

total due

$

session 5: Writer’s Workshop June 30–July 3, 2008 (4 days only) ages 8-11 neW! limited to 15 students per class. Member $200 non-Member $215 Using the Gardens as inspiration, campers will practice descriptive writing, creating poetry and short stories. Students will also illustrate their work through various forms of media.

To register contact:Donna Krabill 811 South Palm Ave. Sarasota, FL 34236 941-366-5731 ext. 237FAX 366-9807 or registeronline at www.selby.org

811 SOUTH PALM AVENUESARASOTA, FLORIDA 34236

WWW.SELBY.ORG

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Tropical Dispatches are printed on 30% post-consumer recycled paper with soy-based ink.

the Garden Shop, a plant lover’s paradise, offers some of Sarasota’s finest

orchids, bromeliads, and tropical plants. Our world class plant experts will

assist you with best-in-bloom purchase recommendations

and ongoing, quality care consultation. The Shop features

traditional and contemporary containers and garden

accessories. Banyan Treasures offers a creative mix of

inspired home décor, jewelry, and gift ideas based on the

fusion of art and nature.

The versatile Selby Gardens gift card can be applied

toward purchases at the Garden Shop and Banyan Treasures,

community classes, special events or membership. A free

decorative gift card box is provided for each card purchase

of $25 or more. These gift cards make great corporate

incentive and hospitality gifts, wedding party gifts, client

gifts, and more! For volume purchase discounts please

call (941) 366-5731, ext. 235. Store hours are 10:00 a.m.

to 5:00 p.m. seven days a week. Call (941) 366-5731, ext. 242 for the Garden

Shop and extension 258 for Banyan Treasures for further information.

Shop in the GARDENS!

Gift Card

900 South Palm AvenueSarasota, Florida 34236www.selby.org - 941.366.5731

Gift cards are available online and in the shops!

tropical dispatch may 2008

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ceothe tropical dispatch