What a large agency to display bromeliads — in the world ’s largest IKEA bookcase .

Like a mess of northerners , I like awinter escape — preferably to Florida . While it ’s not always potential to get away , the past couple of winters my hubby and I have get a break from the Charles Percy Snow , ice and pothole in St. Paul to spend some prison term in Sarasota , Florida . Whenever we are here , we inflict theMarie Selby Botanical Gardens .

No matter where you go in the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens , Sarasota Bay is within view .

Bromeliads in a display case Marie Selby garden

What a great way to display bromeliads — in the world’s largest IKEA bookcase.

These garden lionize all thing Florida , with mountain of aboriginal plant , laurel wreath and brightly color annuals , all arrayed along the shores of Sarasota Bay . Viewing the gardens with sailboats and weewee behind them is a good part of the playfulness . The garden began as the estate of William and Marie Selby , who were among the residents flocking to Sarasota in the 1920s . Marie was the first cleaning lady to cross country by railway car ! She loved Sarasota and she and William ( a co - owner of the Selby Oil Co. ) built a Spanish - style home and grand gardens along the bay . When Marie die in 1971 , she require that the belongings become a botanic garden . The garden open in 1975 and specializes inepiphytes , organisms that live on the Earth’s surface of other plants .

orchid were in bloom throughout the conservatoire at the Marie Selby Gardens .

The gardens include a conservatoire , with a huge collection of bromeliads and orchidaceous plant , scores of Rhizophora mangle , ferns and , of course , aerophyte as well as a Brobdingnagian banyan tree diagram with a mounting structure nearby that is perfect for children ( and adult ) to rise on . one-year flowers are on showing around the garden and there is ample seating and winding course to make the visit make relaxed . The docent - led tours are instructive and give visitors gravid context for chitchat the garden .

View of Sarasota Bay from Selby Gardens

No matter where you go in the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Sarasota Bay is within view.

Many years , the garden hosts an exposition of a well - love artist ’s oeuvre that is link to horticulture . This year , the showing isAndy Warhol : Flowers in the Factoryand focuses on nature as an inspiration in the piece of work of many pop artists . Warhol - inspire work are displayed around the garden and the exhibit give viewing audience a stocky story of Warhol and his compatriots . A highlighting for me was the display of several prints calledFlowers , which Warhol created in 1964 . To make the print , he started with a exposure he consider inModern Photographymagazine ( hire by someone else ) . He discase out the detail and colors from the photo , then added more back , creating a fascinating serial of flowered prints . tone of Instagram !

The photographer who took the original photo , Patricia Caulfield , later action Warhol for copyright infraction . The interesting thing is , Warhol built his life history   on changing other iconic images , such as theCampbell Soup canandMarilyn Monroe .

If you are near Sarasota , the Marie Selby Botanic Gardens are well worth a sojourn .   Take the docent - result hitch and hold back by the cafe for a light lunch or a cup of coffee berry . It will make for a adorable twenty-four hour period in a metropolis that is quickly becoming my favorite Florida getaway .

Orchid at Marie Selby Gardens

Orchids were in bloom throughout the conservatory at the Marie Selby Gardens.

Yours truly enjoying the garden . I agree altogether with Warhol on the ravisher of our domain .

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Yours truly enjoying the gardens. I agree completely with Warhol on the beauty of our land.