By Sue Phillips
A Literary & Botanical Celebration at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens hosted an unforgettable evening that seamlessly blended nature, history, and literature into a breathtaking cultural experience. Held across the iconic Historic Spanish Point campus, the event invited guests to step into a world of old-Florida charm, lush landscapes, and the timeless imagination of Robert Louis Stevenson, the beloved author whose works have inspired generations.
Against the backdrop of waving Spanish moss, banyan trees, and bayfront breezes, attendees explored the enchanting gardens—transformed for the evening into a living homage to Stevenson’s evocative storytelling. Pathways were softly illuminated, guiding guests through historic trails, vine-covered pergolas, and the remarkable architectural remnants that define this unique 30-acre outdoor museum.
The event opened with remarks recognizing Jennifer Rominiecki President & Chief Executive Officer of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, whose leadership continues to elevate Selby Gardens as a cultural and botanical landmark in Sarasota and beyond. Her vision for connecting literature, art, and horticulture helped shape this extraordinary night.
Final remarks were from Jennifer Rominiecki President & Chief Executive Officer of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens who welcomed the elite of Sarasota attendees who gathered along the waterfront, watching the sunset melt into the horizon—an idyllic reminder of Stevenson’s own love for nature, imagination, and the poetry of the world around
Guests savored curated scenes inspired by Stevenson’s poetic works—from A Child’s Garden of Verses to the adventurous spirit of Treasure Island. The event opens to the public this weekend with live readings, soft acoustic music, and subtle storytelling vignettes bringing the author’s words to life amid the whispering palms. Each garden alcove offered a moment of reflection, wonder, and sensory discovery.
Champagne, light bites, and aromatic botanical displays complemented the evening, honoring Selby Gardens’ dedication to botanical research, preservation, and immersive cultural programming.
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Marie Selby Botanical Gardens continues to lead Sarasota’s cultural landscape by presenting experiences that merge nature, history, and the arts, creating magical moments that linger long after the evening ends.
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MARIE SELBY BOTANICAL GARDENS PRESENTS
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON: A CHILD’S GARDEN OF VERSES
On View at Selby Gardens’ Historic Spanish Point campus
November 15, 2025, through August 30, 2026
October 27, 2025 – Sarasota, FL. | Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is pleased to present Robert Louis Stevenson: A Child’s Garden of Verses on view November 15, 2025, through August 30, 2026, at Selby Gardens’ Historic Spanish Point campus, located at 401 North Tamiami Trail, in Osprey.
This new exhibition celebrates childhood and the imagination of youth through the words and images of A Child’s Garden of Verses, the beloved book of poetry for children by the celebrated Scottish writer, Robert Louis Stevenson. The exhibition features photographs of pages from a vintage edition of the book, combining Stevenson’s poetry with illustrations by the notable American artist, Alexander Dobkin. Accompanying the photographs are simple interactives that draw their inspiration from Stevenson’s poems and enhance the visitor experience. An audio element enables visitors to hear the poems read by Selby Gardens’ Artist in Residence, Patti Smith.
“A Child’s Garden of Verses invites us to rediscover the wonder and imagination of youth,” said Jennifer Rominiecki, President & CEO of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. “Through the timeless words of Robert Louis Stevenson, the evocative illustrations of Alexander Dobkin, and the voice of Artist in Residence Patti Smith, this exhibition beautifully celebrates the innocence, curiosity, and creativity that connect childhood to the natural world—a spirit that is at the heart of Selby Gardens.”
Sponsored by A. Hamilton and Edith T. Gardener Fund at Gulf Coast Community Foundation
Presenting Sponsor of the Patti Smith Residency: Marianne & Bill McComb
About Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens provides 45 acres of bayfront sanctuaries connecting people with air plants of the world, native nature, and our regional history. Established by forward-thinking women of their time, Selby Gardens is composed of the 15-acre Downtown Sarasota campus and the 30-acre Historic Spanish Point campus in the Osprey area of Sarasota County, Florida. The Downtown Sarasota campus on Sarasota Bay is the only botanical garden in the world dedicated to the display and study of epiphytic orchids, bromeliads, gesneriads and ferns, and other tropical plants. There is a significant focus on botany, horticulture, education, historical preservation, and the environment. Selby Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota campus is the world’s first net positive energy botanical garden complex, generating more energy than it consumes. The Historic Spanish Point campus is located less than 10 miles south along Little Sarasota Bay. One of the largest preserves showcasing native Florida plants and active archaeology that is interpreted for and open to the public, it celebrates an archaeological record that encompasses approximately 5,000 years of Florida history. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is a Smithsonian Affiliate and is also accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Selby Gardens was selected for Time magazine’s annual list of the world’s greatest places 2024. For more information visit www.selby.org.
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