Marie Selby Botanical Gardens recently placed third in the USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards Contest for The best Botanical Garden in the United States.
Chosen by a panel of experts, Selby was placed on a shortlist of 20 gardens from across the country, with the final ranking of the top 10 decided by public vote.
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables, which placed one spot higher than Selby at number two on the list, was the only other Florida garden to make the top 10.
“We want to thank the Sarasota community and the supporters of Selby Gardens for voting for us! Thanks to you, Selby Gardens is receiving national recognition, and we can continue to widely showcase our mission of providing Bayfront sanctuaries that connect people with plants ‘air of the world, native nature and our regional history,” said Selby President and CEO Jennifer Rominiecki.
The recognition comes after a few months for Selby, who opened the first phase of its redesign master plan in January.
The first phase includes a four-story parking structure above with solar panels; a rooftop garden that provides food for the new Green Orchid restaurant; expanded administrative and research facilities; and a new open-air welcome center where patrons begin their visits.
That much-anticipated Green Orchid restaurant, operated by Sarasota Mainstay fine-dining and Selby Gardens longtime food purveyor Michael’s in East, opened earlier this month.
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