Peaceful and many shaded paths. Very nice children's area. If you are really into plants then $26 for admission may be well worth it. Bring your water.
See other reviews from this trip:
Sarasota, FL: The John and Mabel Ringling Mansion ("Ca'd'Zan”), The Ringling Circus Museum.
Venice, FL: Crow’s Nest, Sharky’s on the Pier
Key West, FL: The Hogfish Grill (on next-door Stock Island), Ernest Hemingway House, Harry Truman’s Little White House, Trolley Tour, Key West First Legal Rum Distillery, The Lobster Shack, Hot Tin Roof, Santa Maria Suites
Key Largo, FL: Holiday Inn, Skipper’s Dockside Restaurant, Key Largo Princess II Glass Bottom Boat Tour
Ft. Myers, FL: Edison/Ford Winter Estates
Punta Gorda: Laishley’s Crab House
Very nice parking garage and entrance is impressive, but gardens are repetitive with the overuse of Ficus, staghorn ferns, air plants, and bromliads. Large research building is only accessable by patrons for restrooms and amateurish video with little information about what research is accomplished in this massive "research" building. We have been to several Botanical Garden in the US and other countries, and this is definitely not one of the best. It is definitely no worth $26 entry fee.
OMG :-)) from the parking lot with the flowers strung along the walls, everything is beautiful. You walk in the middle of a amazing nature, beautiful and magical trees. Flowers, birds, cactus, orchids, palms, bonsai…
The majestic banyan trees are amazing.
The atmosphere is so quiet.
You have scenic view of Sarasota Bay.
Morning or late afternoon activity is a good idea because of the heat 90° (May 7th)
I’ve been a member of Selby Gardens for years, and despite the new facility, I will not renew my membership. It’s a lovely garden, impressive resource, and facilities are perfectly adequate (although the restaurants are lame) - but the volunteers who work there are so miserable and rude, I just can’t take it. For years, every time I’ve visited, I feel like I’m a trespasser (even though I’m a member). I’m ignored, interrogated for multiple forms of ID, then man-splained the gardens (again, I’m a member! I don’t need to be told where to enter!).
Worse, I live in the area. I was walking my dog around the block and paused outside the entrance to admire the wall garden, as I often do — it’s lovely! A volunteer from the entry desk came outside, where I was standing on the sidewalk with absolutely no intention of going into the garden - because my dog was with me and they’re not allowed - when the volunteer came out of the building to scream at me that YOU AND YOUR DOG CANNOT COME IN! NO DOGS! YOU CANNOT COME IN! YOU NEED TO GO!!!!!
I explained I was a member and knew dogs can’t go in, I was just pausing outside. She told me to move along & by then another sneering volunteer had come out & echoed her. Again, I live in the area, I’m not a vagrant - and honestly, I don’t think vagrants deserve such treatment, let alone members!
I was still on the fence about whether to renew my membership or not and decided to give the Garden the benefit of the doubt. I called to ask a question - but it’s impossible to reach a human. I left messages. And did it again. And again. And again. Finally got a call back - to voicemail - by a volunteer who said they could t answer my question, and to call back.
No thanks, Selby. Wish you well - but frankly, you made me feel like an unwanted loser instead of a valued visitor & local, let alone a member.
What a great experience touring the site. All native vegetation and history. Easy walking trails and the Clyde Butcher nature photos were a plus. So peaceful.
