The Global Plants Initiative Project –

Facilitating the Study of Plant Taxonomy and the Understanding of

Life on Earthpage 3

Take a Walk with Me on the Rare Side!

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Walton Ranch Preservepage 4

Roraima-tepui, an Island in Time

page 5

Rainforest Masks 2012 of the Borucan Indians

of Costa Ricapage 13

Combinado Mask by Estaban Morales

botanical RESEaRcH iSSUE

Volume 39 Number 1

January - April 2012

2 Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

Botanical research is an important component of the Garden’s mission and

plays an indispensible role in conserving plant species. Plants are essential to life, yet one-third of plant species are threatened with survival.

Targeting our work in areas where threats to biodiversity are high, we help to create a baseline of information upon which future scientists and conservationists can build. Current projects include conducting

botanical inventories in Belize, Brazil, the Guianas, Venezuela, and here in Sarasota County at the Walton Ranch Preserve. We are conducting detailed taxonomic studies on plant groups rich in the epiphytic species of orchids, bromeliads, and gesneriads that Selby visitors love.

Here at the Garden, our botanical expertise is enriched by our living plant collection and a preserved-plant herbarium. In this issue, Bruce Holst will provide the story and photos behind his eventful inventory of rare species on Mount Roraima, a tepui in Venezuela. Laurie Birch will describe our work conducting botanical inventories at the Walton Ranch Preserve.

Selby Gardens is also involved in the Global Plants Initiative (GPI), which is in the process of digitizing some two million records of plant specimens from around the world and making them available to scholars in searchable form. The GPI network is bringing together content, tools and people dedicated to plant science in nearly 60 countries.

Selby Gardens research results are always shared with other scientists, decision-makers and the general public. I invite you to join me in supporting this important botanical research.

Cordially,

Thomas Buchter, CEOMarie Selby Botanical Gardens

The Tropical Dispatch is a publication of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. Please send address changes to Membership, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 811 South Palm Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34236. E-mail membership@selby.org. Telephone: (941) 366-5731, ext. 231.

Executive Office

Thomas Buchter Chief Executive Officer

Botany

Bruce Holst Director of Botany

Antonio Toscano de Brito, Ph.D. Research Botanist

Laurie Birch Plant Records Keeper and Conservation Program Assistant

Development

Ann Logan Chief Development Officer

Dan Johnson Private Events Associate

Keren Shani-Lifrak Special Events Associate

Cynthia Dwyer Membership and Development Coordinator

Emily Lane Manager of Volunteer Services and Grants

Cover: Bruce Holst stands next to a pool at the headwaters of the Río Aponguao. Roraima-tepui has portions of its 34 sq. km. summit in three countries, Guianas, Venezuela, and Brazil. Photograph by Elisabet Safont. Inset: Photograph by Marilynn Shelley

Marie Selby botanical GardenS

Visit Selby Gardens at www.selby.org

A Message from the CEO

Thank you to the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Trustees:

We would like to recognize four trustees who were appointed to the Board of Trustees in 2011: Cathy Layton, Alice Rau, Sandy Rederer, and Emily Walsh Parry. All of these trustees bring specialized experience and talents to guiding the future of our Gardens. We also would like to thank the trustees whose terms ended this year: Peter Biegel and Bill Gamble. Our former Chair, Nora Johnson has accepted a new position as Chair of the Children’s Rainforest Garden Campaign. We welcome our new chair, Dr. Laurey Stryker and are excited about her strong leadership capabilities.

Mission Statement

“To further the understanding and appreciation of plant life, with emphasis on epiphytes, and to provide enjoyment to all who visit the Gardens.”

Vision Statement

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is the leader in the study, conservation, and display of epiphytes and their canopy habitats. Our collection of epiphytes is the best in the world. Our visitors see beautiful horticultural displays and learn from our educational programs. They take away with them a better understanding and greater appreciation of the natural world and the challenges it faces.

Program Sponsors

Selby Gardens programs are sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and are paid for in part by Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax revenue.

Dr. Laurey Stryker Chair

Christopher N. Romine 1st Vice Chair

Cathy Layton 2nd Vice Chair

Wilson M. Jones Secretary

Stephen van C. Wilberding Treasurer

Nora Johnson Immediate Past Chair

Board of Trustees

Contributors

Stephen Hazeltine

Thomas B. Luzier, Esq.

Alice Rau

Sandy Rederer

Michael Saunders

Emily Walsh Parry

Carlyle Luer, MD Trustee Emeritus

Allison Archbold Associates President (ex-Officio)

EducationJeannie Perales

Director of EducationMarilynn Shelley

Manager of Community Classes and Exhibits

FinanceBill Lewis

Chief Financial Officer

HorticultureMike McLaughlin

Director of HorticultureAngel Lara,

Greenhouse Manager

MarketingDiane Creasy

Director of Marketing/Editor of Tropical Dispatch

Barbara Kaminsky-Stern Executive Assistant/Editor’s

Assistant

RetailAmy Sullivan

Welcome Center and The Garden Shop Manager

3The Tropical Dispatch January–April 2012

The Global Plants Initiative Project – Facilitating the Study of Plant Taxonomy and

the Understanding of Life on Earth.Dr. AntonioToscano de Brito, Research Botanist

Taxonomy is the science of naming, describing, and classifying organisms and includes all animals,

microorganisms, and plants of the world. It provides the basic knowledge essential for understanding and conserving life on earth. The description and delimitation of species is a comparative exercise. New species can be reliably recognized only by reference to other closely related species. This is achieved after comparison with existing collections and especially, after comparison with its type specimen, the preserved plant specimen that is cited when a new species is described. A type specimen serves as the model that defines a particular species. It is usually preserved in a dried form, mounted on a sheet, and stored in a herbarium (which is a collection of dried pressed plant specimens along with their associated collection data). The vast majority of type specimens are not in the country in which they were collected, but scattered around the world. To study a type specimen, students and researchers must visit herbaria or request specimens on loan. This is not only time consuming and expensive but there is also a risk of damage and even loss in the mail. To tackle this problem an international collaborative program, The Global Plants

Type specimen of Lepanthes nivea Luer (Orchidaceae) preserved in the Selby Gardens Herbarium.

Initiative (GPI), was created. It is funded by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and aims to digitize and make available for students and researchers over 2 million records of plant type specimens from around the world. The GPI network currently includes more than 166 partner herbaria representing almost 60 countries. The output of GPI is presented through JSTOR Plant Science, an online environment that brings together content, tools, and people interested in plant science. The GPI not only repatriates data back to countries from which the type specimens originated, but within a fraction of the time and cost it would take to visit herbaria or loan specimens, type specimen data are made available to a wider audience. Through a grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Selby Gardens has joined the GPI network and is currently digitizing and creating a database for all its estimated 4,000 type specimen collections. Soon colleagues from around the world will be able to view our type specimens with a simple touch of a mouse or computer keyboard.

Take a Walk with Me on the Rare Side!Angel Lara, Greenhouse Manager

A three year old who cleans up his toys; a mother-in-law that isn’t opinionated; a jalopy truck

starting every morning; what do they have in common? These are all rare occurrences in my world. However, my day job is much more fulfilling. As Greenhouse Manager here at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, I encounter rarity everyday. I am entrusted with the care of a number of highly endangered plant specimens grown in only a few select botanical gardens in the world. Two of the rarest plants within our living collection are the beautiful Osa

pulchra and the orphan flower, Gasteranthus atratus.

Osa pulchraThis elegant species was first discovered in southwestern Costa Rica, shortly after the creation of the Corcovado National Park in 1975, the same year Selby Gardens was founded. Botanical surveys of the new park revealed a group of eight large shrubs in the upland forest that were unknown to science. Described in 1979, the new genus was named after the Osa Peninsula on which the park is located, and the species

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name means “beautiful” in Latin. Another small population was later discovered on the eastern coast of Costa Rica, but the future of the new species remained uncertain as natural reproduction was poor. A 1996 Missouri Botanical Garden expedition to the area yielded seven seedlings which were distributed amongst botanical gardens throughout the United States, and are the source of all cultivated specimens outside of Central America. In 2006, Selby Gardens received a specimen of Osa pulchra as a donation from the New York Botanical Garden. This monotypic genus (a genus that contains only one species) is in the coffee family and has shiny dark green leaves with pronounced veins, a common characteristic of the Rubiaceae family. Unusually large for the family, the pendulous flowers are fragrant, creamy-white, bell-shaped, and are dead-ringers for the flowers of the angel trumpet tree (a common ornamental in the tomato family). These unique and highly attractive characteristics make Osa pulchra a desirable candidate for future cultivation in greenhouses and tropical landscapes. Unfortunately they do not propagate from cuttings, and because of inbreeding do not grow easily from seed. A recent discovery of a population of this species in Panama may provide fresh genetic diversity that will enable horticulturists to successfully produce viable Osa pulchra seed.

Gasteranthus atratusOne of my personal favorite specimens within our collection is the orphan flower, Gasteranthus atratus. This extremely rare and difficult to grow gesneriad (member of the African violet family, Gesneriaceae) was discovered in August of 1977 high in the mountains of western Ecuador by Selby Gardens researchers Dr. Calaway

Dodson and Dr. Michael Madison. Soon after its discovery this remarkable plant was described and named by another heavy hitter on the Selby Gardens research team, gesneriad expert Dr. Hans Wiehler. The exact origin of the unfortunate common name “orphan flower” is unknown. However, it most certainly refers to the destruction of the only two documented populations of Gasteranthus atratus within the western Ecuadorian forest. Bright yellow tubular flowers stand out against

its shiny, crinkly, dark mahogany colored leaves. While designing and creating our new gesneriad display in our Tropical Conservatory, I selected this plant as a focal point on the west waterfall. I found that it easily took hold and began to flourish and spread within the nooks and crannies of the wet rocks. Our intrepid research staff has been supplying us with rare and botanically

thrilling plant material for our living collection for more than three decades. We take pride in playing a crucial role in preserving these rare specimens for the future. On your next visit to Selby Gardens, be sure to stop by our Tropical Conservatory and learn about our many exciting and unusual plants with stories to tell. Each day I leave the gardens, hop in my old truck, drive home to my messy kids, yet I feel lucky.

Gasteranthus atratus

Gasteranthus atratus

Walton Ranch PreserveLaurie Birch, Plant Records Keeper and Conservation Program Assistant

Land acquisition along with conservation easements have become an important part of habitat

conservation planning in Sarasota County. Acquisition of existing ranch lands is essential in creating conservation corridors that link together environmentally sensitive lands throughout Sarasota County and beyond. The recent acquisition of the Walton Ranch, located in North Port, along with conservation easements on the adjacent Longino Ranch have linked the RV Griffin Preserve in DeSoto County to the Myakka River State Park. This link has created a vast conservation area comprising more than 100,000 acres, providing

watershed protection, public outdoor recreational opportunities, and critical habitat for native flora and fauna. Selby Gardens has been conducting botanical inventories on these lands for the past six years and has recently completed an inventory of the Walton Ranch Preserve. Our survey work at Walton Ranch required inventory of 16 transect miles through various habitats including basin and depression marshes, mesic and hydric hammocks, mesic flatwoods, and grazing pastures. The mesic and hydric hammocks showcase grand oaks supporting an abundance of epiphytes including the

Skyflower (Hydrolea corymbosa) is one of the many wildflowers growing within the depression marshes.

5The Tropical Dispatch January–April 2012

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Roraima-tepui, an Island in TimeBruce K. Holst, Director of Botany

Florida butterfly orchid (Encyclia tampensis) shoestring fern (Vittaria lineata), golden polypody (Phlebodium aureum), southern needle leaf (Tillandsia setacea), giant air plant (Tillandsia utriculata), resurrection fern (Pleopeltis polypodioides) and abundant Spanish moss (Tillandsia usenoides). The marshes contain a diverse array of wildflower species including milkworts (Polygala spp.), meadow beauty (Rhexia spp.), rosegentian (Sabatia spp.) and St. John’s wort (Hypericum spp.). These marshes contain some of the most interesting and beautiful carnivorous plants including sundews (Drosera capillaris) and three different species of bladderwort (Utricularia spp.). Sundews have tentacle-like glands that secrete a sticky sweet substance that functions to attract and capture insects. These glands also contain enzymes that aid in the digestion of insects providing additional nutrition to the plant. The bladderworts are commonly found in open water areas and capture organisms by means of bladder-like traps. These traps inflate when triggered by the motion of aquatic organisms, which are then sucked into the trap and slowly digested by the plant. In addition to the abundant plant life, Walton Ranch Preserve is home to many native animals including bobcats, deer, turkeys, and Sandhill Cranes. Wild hogs are also present but land managers are working to reduce their numbers through a trapping program. Although Walton Ranch is currently not open to the public, the adjacent T. Mabry Carlton, Jr. Memorial Reserve is open to the public and offers

plenty of recreational opportunities. For more information about Sarasota County preserves, visit the Sarasota County Natural Resources Department website: www.scgov.net/environmentalservices/NaturalResources

Bartram’s rosegentian (Sabatia decandra) provides beautiful splashes of color in the depression marshes

Epiphytes abound in the mesic and hydric hammocks of the Walton Ranch Preserve, with live oak tree branches covered with ferns, butterfly orchids, and bromeliads.

The Eastern purple bladderwort (Utricularia purpurea) is one of the three species of carnivorous bladderworts found at the Preserve.

The unique mountains of the Guayana Shield region of northern South America have often been called islands in time,

referring to their nearly inaccessible table-mountain summits, some thousands of feet above the surrounding rainforest. The mountains, called tepuis by the local Amerindians, are home to a large number of plant species, including many bromeliads and orchids, found nowhere else in the world. With the prospect of a rapidly warming planet, there is great concern among scientists and conservationists that many of the species that grow on the summits are at extreme risk of extinction. On a typical mountain with

A cloud covered Roraima-tepui can be seen center right. continued on next page

6 Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

Roraima-tepuicontinued from previous page

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gradual slopes, some species are able to migrate up or down depending on environmental factors. However, on plateaus there is nowhere to migrate up, and the climate at the bases of the massifs far below is unsuitable for most of the summit species to grow. To better understand the potential for loss, it is important to conduct thorough modern botanical inventories to track species, which is precisely what Selby Gardens is assisting with on Roraima-tepui, the best-known of the tepuis. Botanical inventories provide some of the most important baseline information needed by land managers, conservationists, and biologists of all disciplines. Knowing a species’ distribution in nature is the first step in protecting it from extinction. I have conducted inventories on a number of other tepuis but never Roraima-tepui. I first learned of the table mountains in my youth through the book The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Doyle wrote of a team of explorers who ascend a mythical plateau where they face strange landscapes, warring peoples, and dinosaurs. I later learned that the story, movies, and TV series of this theme was actually based on a real mountain, Roraima-tepui. The strange landscape is true, with abundant and huge rock formations shaped like dinosaurs or hulking insects, and chasms so deep that their bottoms cannot be seen. Prior to our first trip in April 2011, we had to overcome a series of hurdles. Our camping gear got stuck in customs, so we borrowed gear from friends. The funds for the helicopter and supplies were caught up in red tape, so we all chipped in to cover the initial costs, and had to obtain numerous permits. These and other problems set us back nearly two weeks, but we were a committed group used to working our way past such problems that one often encounters when doing global fieldwork. Our team included Elisabet Safont, a young ecologist from Barcelona beginning her Ph.D. studies on the tepuis, and Yuribia Vivas and Shingo Nozawa, two experienced botanists from the National Herbarium in Caracas. We still did not have all of the pieces in place, but we decided to get on the road for the 2-day drive from Caracas to the town closest to the mountain, Sta. Elena de Uairén (the location of the helicopter). Finally, with nearly all of the

issues resolved, the day arrived to ascend the mountain, but the clouds were heavy that morning and threatened to postpone the trip. Every day that passed meant one less day on the mountain and further delays could jeopardize the entire trip. The pilot said that flying out that day was the only way to know if the tepui was accessible. Of course that meant we would be committing a portion of our funding and may not reach our destination. We decided to try. Half an hour later as we were approaching, we were distraught to see it completely enveloped in clouds. Luckily, the pilot was very experienced; he circled for about 15 more minutes until a small opening appeared and then dove in. We unloaded as quickly as possible and he managed to take off just as the skies closed again. We moved our gear into “Hotel Coati,” a known cave that opens up into a grotto and set up our tents.

We began exploring the same afternoon until we were so wet and chilled that we returned to our relatively dry grotto for a hot meal. We spent the next eight days with additional clothing layers, photographing and collecting small specimens of species that were unfamiliar. We also set up five plots, counted and identified every individual plant species in them. This helped us to establish an objective picture of the composition of the various vegetation types, which can then be compared with future studies to determine if there is change. The mountain is so large and difficult to traverse due to the extensive rock formations and deep crevices, that we were only able to explore a portion. Weather is also a major issue with blasting winds, frequent rain, and heavy fog. Visibility can drop to 10 feet instantly; you always need to know where you are in relation to the

The helicopter hurries to depart before the fog returns.

The sun peeks through the fog and mist into our grotto camp.

Elisabet Safont (l) and Shingo Nozawa (r) await another meal from the best cook in camp, Yuribia Vivas, in our dry, well-equipped kitchen.

A solar panel provided electricity to power cameras and computers. The camp is located through the holes in wall behind.

7The Tropical Dispatch January–April 2012

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tcliffs and the camp. Fortunately we had no serious mishaps and the trip was a success.We found several species never before seen on the mountain and 135 of the 200 or so species that were previously known from the summit. In addition, we found at least one new orchid species and possibly a new species of fern. We were not alone on the mountain. Thousands of people trek to the summit each year, mostly by hiking two days from an Amerindian village near the base. We met and shared our grotto with visitors from as far away as Finland, Russia, and Brazil. An additional component of the project is to produce a guide to the plants on the summit for use by the Pemón porters. These guides know the mountain very well, but not the plants. Those that we spoke to expressed their eagerness to learn more about the flora in order to improve their interpretive skills. It is important that they know where the very rare species are

found to minimize disturbance to those areas. The tepui vegetation, much of it tucked away in protected areas of the rocks, is extremely fragile and easily damaged by foot traffic or by removal of wood for firewood. If you are interested in learning more about this fascinating mountain, please join me for a photographic adventure, on April 4, 2012 in the Great Room at Selby Gardens. See our website for more information.

Acknowledgments

Major funding for the trip was provided by the BBVA Foundation of Spain through a grant awarded to the Botanic Institute of Barcelona. Additional funding and logistical support were provided by the Botanic Institute Foundation of Venezuela, the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, and Priscilla Ruddiman.

Tufts of vegetation replete with sundews, bromeliads, orchids, and dozens of other species form directly on open rock. Yuribia, Shingo, and Elisabet inventory a forest of Bonnetia roraimae, a member of the tea family.

Roraima-tepui is not a place for those with a fear of height.

Lake Gladys is a notable feature of the summit. The impenetrable “great labyrinth” towers hundreds of feet in the distance.

Towering rock formations seem to gesture animatedly to one another.

8 Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

What is a Brand and why is it important? Bill Nissim wrote in

Guidestar about the importance of a Brand to a non-profit organization when he stated “an organization’s greatest asset is its Brand.” I agree that the Brand should tell the story of the organization’s commitment from the top down through the layers and facets of its mission. The Brand should tell the story of what an organization does best. Selby Gardens

Calling all nature lovers! Bring your Little Sprout to see the Gardens many critters. Learn about the animals that call Selby

Gardens their home and the plants that host them. Creatures are everywhere you look so open your eyes and ears to discover all the wild things at Selby Gardens. Sessions offer story-time, a lawn game, nature-themed arts & crafts, and a featured plant.

January 3 – Fishy Friends A favorite activity for Garden visitors of all ages is a visit to

the koi pond. Discover fun facts about our fishy friends such as how old they can get (sometimes over 100!). Feed the fish, make fun fish crafts, and learn about our special aquatic plants that also live in the koi pond.

February 7 – Friendly Florida Fiddlers Take a nature walk along the mangrove viewing platform to

see three kinds of native Florida mangroves. The mangroves are home to many critters including the spunky fiddler crab. Walk like a red mangrove, scurry like a crab while enjoying crabby stories, games, and crafts.

March 6 – Butterflies & Their Plants * In the butterfly garden Eat like a caterpillar and drink like a butterfly while visiting

our beautiful butterfly garden. Learn about the plants that butterflies need to survive and their special function in the Garden. Do you know the difference between a moth and a butterfly? Did you know that butterflies can see red, green, and yellow?

Little Sprouts’ Club: Garden Critters

April 3 – Jaguars, Sloths, Macaws…Oh My! The rainforest is teaming with exotic plants and animals.

Selby Gardens’ special collection of tropical plants comes largely from the rainforests of Central and South America. Visit the Rainforest mask exhibit in the mansion to look for delicately carved plants and animals of the jungle.

May 1 – Mud Pies! Each year, we wrap up the Little Sprout’s season with our

annual mud pie session. Wear old clothes and prepare to get messy!

First Tuesday of the month, from 10:30 to 11:30 am – Meet at the Banyan Trees unless otherwise indicated.* This program does not require reservations, is rain or shine, and is free to members or with adult admission.

A Non-Profit Brand Perspective from Selby Gardens’ Director of Marketing, Diane Creasy

does many things well and delivers on its ‘Brand Promise’ by providing invaluable research to endangered plant species through identification and plant sharing with other institutions. The Gardens also provides education for adults and children and offers them an amazing outdoor environment to become one with nature. Our Brand belongs to the Sarasota community and the global botanical followers that appreciate the legacy Marie

Selby left for its members and visitors to enjoy year round. Our tag-line “We Invite You To Visit” echoes this sentiment. Tom Buchter, Selby Gardens CEO, invites us “to visit the Gardens over and over again, acquiring a better understanding of the world of tropical plants.” Once inside Selby Gardens you will gain a better appreciation for our consistent message and delivery on our ‘Brand Promise’ from all our staff and volunteers. See you in the Gardens!

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L ast spring, Selby Gardens introduced

The Chairman’s Circle to recognize donors who support the Gardens annually with gifts of $2,500 or more. These contributions support the activities that are the bedrock of Selby Gardens’ mission:

• Botanical research that adds to the body of knowledge about the world’s dwindling wild places.

• Education and interpretive programs that deepen our visitors’ understanding and appreciation of nature.

• Care and display of our unparalleled lush tropical foliage, making Selby Gardens one of Sarasota’s greatest escapes.

• Artistic expression – music, dance, visual arts, theater, and more – in one of our community’s most magnificent outdoor settings.

• Activities and programs that inspire children to become the future stewards of our planet.

811 South Palm Avenue • Sarasota, Florida 34236 • (941) 366-5731, ext. 229 • www.selby.org

Selby Gardens Chairman’s Circle Elite Donors Keep the Gardens Growing

Chairman’s Circle donors are offered opportunities for unique insider experiences. Last fall, members enjoyed a fascinating behind the scenes tour of the botanical research facilities, including the DNA lab and herbarium, and were treated to an exclusive preview our most popular fundraising event, Lights in Bloom. To learn how you can join this exclusive group of Selby Gardens supporters, contact Ann Logan at (941) 366-5731 ext. 266 or alogan@selby.org, or visit www.selby.org.

The Chairman’s Circle as of December 9, 2011:

The Marie Selby Gardens AssociatesMr. and Mrs. Thomas BuchterMrs. Pattie B. ClendeninMr. and Mrs. Martin W. FaustMr. and Mrs. Joel D. FedderMr. Charles HuiskingMr. and Mrs. William JohnsonMs. Cathy Layton and Mr. Pete RussellMr. and Mrs. Harry LeopoldMr. and Mrs. Douglas G. LoganMr. and Mrs. J. Richard MatsonMrs. Alice RauMr. Sanford Rederer and Ms. Joni SteinbergMr. and Mrs. Chris N. RomineMrs. Priscilla E. RuddimanMs. Michael SaundersMrs. Marjorie L. SchmielMrs. Elizabeth StewartDr. Laurey and Dr. Charles StrykerMrs. Margarete van AntwerpenMr. and Mrs. Gilbert WatersMs. Janet Wettlaufer and Mr. Donald MillerMr. and Mrs. Robert Zabelle

The Marie Selby Gardens AssociatesThe Marie Selby Gardens Associates

invite all members and friends to attend their exciting line-up of spring programs:

• Monday,January16: Selby’s own Addie Worth will provide

instruction on creating art with epiphytes, such as the tillandsia tapestry displayed outside the Welcome Center. Each attendee will have the opportunity to create his or her own piece of epiphyte art.

• Monday,February20: A lavender-themed luncheon features

Arlene Bobonich, M.D., a popular speaker at the Pennsylvania Lavender Festival. Dr. Bobonich will speak on the medicinal uses of lavender.

• Sunday,March4: The Associates will feature a March

High Tea and transform the first floor of the Christie Payne Mansion into a tea

Margarete van Antwerpen, Phil Delaney, Margaret Wise

room. Guests will have the opportunity to partake in tea and delectable edibles during this fundraiser.

• Thursday,April12: The Associates will hit the road for a

guided tour of the Naples Botanical Garden during its Zimbabwean sculpture exhibit. The Naples Botanical Garden features 170 acres of tropical gardens and restored natural habitats.

• Monday,May21: Luncheon featuring the Associates

own Ikebana Master, Sensei Gil Lee, providing a presentation on trends in floral design.

Reservations for the March High Tea on March 4 can be made at www.selby.org or at the Welcome Center beginning February 2. For reservations, contact Diane at (941) 544-4852 or email associates@selby.org.

10 Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

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The Botany, Education, and Marketing departments developed a new exhibit in the Welcome Center.

This exhibit was built upon a redwood wall donated to Selby Gardens by Stottlemyer and Shoemaker Lumber Company. This exhibit explains the overall mission of Selby Gardens as it relates to botany and conservation. Please come and see this very informative new exhibit, designed by Boost Studio and built by Design Marketing Group.

The NEW Research and Conservation Exhibit in

the Welcome Center

From April 27 through June 3, 2012, the Museum

of Botany and the Arts will be adorned with the work of many talented photographers. Cash prizes will be awarded to Best In Show as well as First, Second, and Third Place for each of six categories. Please join us in the Museum of Botany and the Arts for the Opening Reception on Thursday, April 26, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. RSVP to (941) 366-5731, ext. 239. Photos will be received, from 1 to 6 pm on Monday, April 16, in the Museum of Botany and the Arts. Deadline for mailed photos is April 9th. Photographers may see all rules and regulations by downloading an entry form from our website at www.selby.org. Entry forms are also available in the Welcome Center and the Mansion/Museum.

Announcing the 32nd Annual Juried Photographic Exhibition

Last year’s Best In Show winner, “Cattle Egret with a Big Stick,” by Troy Lim

Be sure to attend the Plant and Garden Festival from 10 am to

5 pm on February 25 and 26, 2012. Members can enter at 9 am on Saturday for the best selection of plants to purchase. Over 40 hand-picked vendors will be setting up booths to offer serious gardeners the latest plants, supplies, and garden art. The “Selby Marketplace” will be selling a wide assortment of unusual specimens, including propagations of our own unique plant collections. Education is an important aspect of this event, and gardening questions will be answered by staff, Master Gardeners, plant societies, and vendors. Informative demonstrations over the weekend will include gardening, cooking, and woodturning. Our Kids’ Corner will introduce the next generation of gardeners to planting and growing through potting activities. We will also invite guests to help create a botanical art piece. There will be live music throughout the day. Members, members’ guests, and new visitors will equally enjoy this festival.

The 37th Annual Plant and Garden FestivalFebruary 25 and 26, 2012 from 10 am to 5 pm

11The Tropical Dispatch January–April 2012

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Almost a year ago, we began a conversation with s/ART/q,

a dynamic circle of Sarasota-based artists formed in 2008, to create an art exhibition based on our plant collections. Contemporary artists often bring awareness to esoteric subjects in fresh ways. By inviting them into the behind-the-scenes aspects of our collections such as our non-public greenhouses, the herbarium and spirit collections, and our botanical library, a collaboration was born. s/ART/q: Avant Garden will open in the Museum of Botany and the Arts on January 12 and continues through February 20, 2012. A public opening is scheduled for Friday, January 13, 2012 from 7 to 9 pm. The thirteen members of s/ART/q have become artists in residence; observing and

s/ART/q: Avant GardenJeannie Perales, Director of Education

Front row from left to right: Daniel Perales, Jen Nugent. Middle row from left to right: Tom Stephens, Sabrina Small, Joseph Arnegger, Tim Jaeger. Back row from left to right: Nathan Skiles, Jeff Schwartz, Ariana Franco, Daniel Miller, Amy Miller, Brian Haverlock, Steve Strenk

studying the botanical collections while gathering knowledge and inspiration from their experiences to make original works

of art. Through this collaboration with s/ART/q, art and science will be presented as expressions of human creativity and the desire to understand and interpret the world around us. The artists will display their works of art, bringing awareness to rarely seen aspects of the Gardens and its Collections. Public programming will be offered with an opening reception, tours, and a film featuring interviews with the artists. A free panel discussion moderated by the Ringling Museum of Art’s Associate Curator for Modern & Contemporary Art, Dr. Matthew McLendon, along with the artists of s/ART/q, will be presented on Tuesday, January 24th from 6 to

7:30 pm in the Great Room by the Bay. For more information, visit www.selby.org.

Joe and Rogene Maher loved talking about plants with Kevin Walker,

who worked weekends for many years in Selby Gardens. “He was so knowledgeable, and he liked to be at the Gardens – it wasn’t just a job. If it wasn’t too busy, he’d jump right off his stool and say, ‘I gotta show you this!’ and he’d take us out to see some fascinating plant.” Kevin has since passed away, but Joe and Rogene are still frequent visitors—and they recently decided to include Selby Gardens in their wills. Joe and Rogene agree that this bequest is a gift from their hearts. When they thought about the places that mattered most to them, Selby Gardens was the one they wanted to remember in their wills. “It’s a jewel in the middle of the city,” says Joe. The Mahers are now Founding Members of the Marie Selby Legacy Society, which recognized them—along with Marie Selby and many other legacy donors—at its first annual luncheon last Fall. Becoming a member is easy: just let us know that you plan to make a future gift

to Selby Gardens. You can do so in your will, through an insurance policy or retirement plan, or using more modern mechanisms, some of which pay an instant return on your investment in the Gardens. If you would like to know more about planned gifts to Selby Gardens, contact Ann Logan at (941) 366-5731 ext. 266 or email alogan@selby.org.

Legacy Society

Elaine BardMary P. Bogan*Kimie I. Bond*Thomas BuchterAlvin S. Burrows*Pattie ClendeninLinnie E. Dalbeck*Joanne Dowell*Mary Jane Fabik*Helen Falkner*Viola Herzog*Wilma “Billie” HultinAnna-Mae Jacobsen

Nora JohnsonEmily Chalker LaneAnn LoganJoe and Rogene MaherWilda Q. MeierJesus Menendez*Jane Minshall*Marcia Moore*William R. Mote*Ernest Ogram*Eugene and Karen OttoHelen Pelot*Hermelinda Romero

Priscilla “Pep” RuddimanVirginia S. Salomon*John Savage*Virginia Schaaf*Marie Minshall Selby*Paul Service*Ione Shriver*Nellie D. Sleeth*Lydie Strobridge*Frances G. Van Gorder*Seymore “Sy” White*Scott Woods*

*Deceased donors

Note: If you have made provisions for a future gift to Selby Gardens and are not listed here, please let us know so that we may recognize you for your generosity by calling Ann Logan at (941) 366-5731 ext. 266 or emailing alogan@selby.org.

LegacySocietyMembersasof11/14/2011:

Joe and Rogene Maher

12 Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

7th Annual Mother’s Day Brunch

On Sunday, May 13, 2012, three wonderful brunch seatings are available: 10 am, 11:30 am, and 1 pm. Our 7th annual Mother’s Day Brunch will be

catered by Michael’s On East in the Great Room by the Bay. You may reserve seats at the Selby Gardens Welcome Center and online starting April 12th. $48 for non-member adults; $38 for members; $18 for children (4–11); children 3 and under are free. Enjoy a delightful meal and live music during brunch, then take Mom on a stroll through our magnificent Gardens. Your brunch reservation includes access to the final Sunday of our popular Garden Music Series, from 1 to 3 pm.

Make your reservations today for the most decadent Orchid Ball yet! This

year, Selby Gardens’ signature fundraiser under the Banyans will recreate the look and feel of the 18th century French court, dripping with elegance and featuring over-the-top décor. The event, one of the highlights of Sarasota’s social season, will take place in a lavishly-decorated tent on Selby Gardens’ Great Lawn. Guests at recent Orchid Balls have gone to great lengths to dress to fit the theme, and this year will be no exception. Chair Kristiana Serbin and her committee are planning their own elaborate costumes, coiffures, and jewelry. They’ve also arranged some very special surprises from the Court of Louis XVI intended to wow even the most sophisticated partygoers. Those lucky enough to snag a ticket will enjoy sumptuous French cuisine catered by Michael’s On East and dancing to music by Anthony DeLeon Orchestra. Fabulous live and silent auctions will feature a variety of select items, including

31st Annual Orchid Ball: An Evening at Versailles

ChairKristiana SerbinCo-ChairSheryl VieiraCommitteeMichelle Matteoli AdamsVictoria BagaDonna Jernigan BakerSylvia BarberMonica BarthBeth BobbRoger Capote

Katie CornellKnickole Barger CurtisTutti Del MonteBethany Saputo DuggerAnn GarberdingMimi HernandezLaura HopePauline JoergerNora JohnsonDeb KnowlesStephanie KostRobyn LaPorta

Nicole ManciniCornelia MatsonEmily Walsh ParryMeredith Nimz PiazzaSally SchuleTayana SharoubimPenny ShuffVictoria StultzAmie SwanNikki TaylorMargarete van Antwerpen

Saturday, March 31, 20126:30pmCocktailsandHorsd’oeuvres•8pmDinnerandDancing

2012 Orchid Ball Committee

An Evening atVersailles

Save the Date

March 31st

2012

signature pieces by internationally-renowned jewelry designer David Lee Holland, and a trip to Jamaica’s ultra-luxurious Round Hill Hotel and Villas. Tickets start at $300 per person and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Table sponsorships are also available.

Tickets go on sale February 8th on line or at the Welcome Center. Please contact Cynthia Dwyer at (941) 366-5731 ext. 229 or email orchidball@selby.org for information. Proceeds from the Orchid Ball benefit the Gardens’ mission.

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13The Tropical Dispatch January–April 2012

Excitement is building in anticipation for the 2012 Rainforest Masks Exhibit & Sale, March 9 to April

20. RSVPs for the opening reception on Thursday, March 8th started coming in as early as September. If you are new to Sarasota and have not seen this annual exhibit, get ready for a sensory experience! Come see the walls of Selby’s Museum of Botany & the Arts covered with hundreds of hand-carved and painted wooden masks created by master carvers from the southwestern indigenous village of Boruca, Costa Rica. The history and traditions of Borucan rainforest masks began hundreds of years ago, pre-dating the Spanish Conquest. “Diablito” masks, or little devil masks were originally created and worn with the intent to scare the unwelcomed invaders back to Spain. The forbidding images on the masks failed to keep the Spanish out of Costa Rica, yet the Borucan people feel a great sense of pride knowing they were triumphant in keeping the Spanish from conquering their spirit. Employing simple tools and traditions that have been passed down through generations, the contemporary masks are intricately painted and carved from sustainable native woods. In addition to the more traditional “Diablito” masks, other designs include “Ecologico” and “Combinado” styles. The ecological masks find inspiration from the tropical plants and animals that surround the artists in their rich bio-diverse country. “Combinados” are an intriguing blend of the “Diablitos” and the “Ecologicos.” Artist, mask collector, and Selby-member R.O. Woody has been enjoying this exhibit since 2004. Woody believes that “each year the artists make great strides in concept and incredible technique, incorporating the historic with the modern, almost Picasso like, juxtapositions of carved and brilliantly painted, intertwined images. The masks are conceived at times with humor and at times with

Selby Gardens and La Vista Verde PresentRainforest Masks 2012 of the Borucan Indians

Marilynn R. Shelley, Manager of Community Classes & Exhibits

reverence for the environment, but always with outstanding artistic visual impact. Their specific, original creativity seems boundless, yet still tied to the traditions that go back centuries. It is always an exciting pleasure to see the new and fresh development of their world each year.” Join us for the Exhibit Opening Reception on Thursday, March 8 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm in the Museum of Botany and the Arts. For reservations please email mshelley@selby.org, or call (941) 366-5731, ext. 239. Take advantage of an opportunity to see the Borucans demonstrate their carving

and painting artistry during four “Meet the Artists” sessions in the Museum of Botany and the Arts on Saturdays and Sundays, March 10, 11, 17 and 18 from 1 to 3 pm. A Spanish interpreter will be available to help translate your questions. Paint an authentic rainforest mask of your own alongside a Borucan artist. Register in advance for this mask painting class on March 13, from 10 am to 2 pm. For more information and to register, visit www.selby.org. On several occasions my husband C.J. and I have had the pleasure of being guests of the artists in their village. On Wednesday, March 14, from noon to 1 pm, we will present a travelogue of our trips to Costa Rica and Boruca in Selby’s Cooley Theater. See images of colorful animals and verdant forests; learn more about the artists behind the masks, and hear stories from our adventures at a free lecture titled “The Road to Boruca and Beyond.”

La Vista Verde has donated this work of art by master carver Francisco Rojas Morales as the 2012 raffle mask. Win this magnificent mask, valued at $695, for the price of just a $5 ticket!

2012 Raffle Mask by Francisco Rojas Morales

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combinado by estaban morales

pedro rojas morales, neftali rojas morales, r.o. woody and francisco rojas morales

14 Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

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Upcoming Volunteer

OrientationsIf you’ve been thinking about

becoming a Selby Gardens volunteer, there’s no better time than now! Attend one of our no-obligation volunteer orientations to learn more.

• Tuesday,January17–1to4pm

• Thursday,April19–10amto1pm

• Saturday,May19–10amto1pm

Volunteer orientations are held in the Great Room by the Bay. Come prepared to hear all about the Gardens important work and to enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of where volunteers work.

Tropical 4th of July 2012

6 pm until the fireworks end

A family celebration with bayfront fireworks, live music, children’s

activities, all American BBQ with beer, wine, and other beverages available for purchase. Bring your blankets or chairs; no coolers, please. Adults (age 12 and up) $20; members $17; children 11 and under enter free. Tickets go on sale June 14th online or at the Welcome Center.

7th AnnualAsian Cultural Festival

March17&18,2012from 10 am to 5 pm

The Asian Cultural Festival is one of the most popular Selby Gardens daytime events. We expanded its focus

last year, and this year will include even more Asian inspired healing, massage, and wellness components. There will be demonstrations of yoga, tai chi, Ikebana, bonsai, Sumi-e painting, traditional dance, and other Asian arts. The dance performances are amazing and not to be missed. A variety of Asian foods from area restaurants will be available for purchase.

Garden Music SeriesApril 8, 15, 22,& 29,

May 6 & 13

Six Sunday afternoons from 1 to 3 pm in front of the Selby House, bring your lawn chairs and get ready for

our wonderful Garden Music Series at Selby Gardens. Enjoy Sunday afternoon entertainment under the Banyans – free to Members! Check www.selby.org for program information and admission details.

15The Tropical Dispatch January–April 2012

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Oriental Brush Painting is an intellectual, spiritual, and artistic pursuit. It is closely related to the ancient art of Chinese calligraphy. The brush strokes

used to create a painting are based on the strokes used to produce the beautiful characters of Chinese writing. The painter’s goal is to use a few free flowing confident strokes to produce the essence of the landscape, the flower, the tree or the scene, not an exact copy. The exhibition will include excellent examples of various Oriental Brush Painting “schools.” Members have studied Chinese, Japanese, and Korean as well as contemporary styles. The Sarasota Chapter of the Sumi-e Society of America is a non profit organization serving as a cultural bridge between Eastern and Western Art. The purpose of the Sumi-e Society is to foster and encourage the study and the appreciation of Oriental Brush Painting. The local society meets once a month in season and welcomes new members. For more information, see www.sarasotasumi-e.org.

“The Year of Rabbit” by Keiko Romerstein.

10amto4pm in the Historic Selby Housethrough January 25, 2012

Selby Gardens’ 9th Annual Watercolor Class Exhibition features original watercolors painted

by instructor Carolyn Merenda and her talented students. See familiar Selby Gardens florals and landscapes as well a variety of beautiful images reflecting the interests of this diverse group of artists. The exhibition pieces are on display and for sale in the Historic Selby House through January 25, 2012. For further information contact Marilynn Shelley at (941) 366-5731 ext. 239 or mshelley@selby.org.

Reserve Your Bench in the Gardens

TodayThe idyllic beauty of Selby Gardens is the

perfect place to honor your loved ones. Selby Gardens offers a variety of opportunities to do so, including sponsoring a bench. Benches throughout the Gardens offer a welcome resting place for guests to relax and reflect and can be personalized with a plaque recognizing your friend or family member. For more information on sponsoring a bench in the Gardens, please call (941) 366-5731 ext. 224 or email lromero@selby.org.

Sarasota Sumi-e Society Exhibition

In the Historical Selby HouseJanuary28–March26,2012

from10amto4pm

9th Annual Selby Watercolor Class

Exhibition

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Say “I DO” in a tropical bayfront setting here at Selby

Gardens and celebrate surrounded by nature’s beauty.

Come and see what we have to offer for weddings and

private events. Please see our new wedding brochure

online under Private Events at www.selby.org and

elegala.com.

Extraordinary Space for an Extraordinary Event

We now offer delivery service on customer arrangements in the Sarasota area. Gorgeous arrangements for any occasion are guaranteed

to be delivered the next day, or if time permits, the same day the order is received. Be sure to order flowers for Valentine’s Day.

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The all new Selby Botanical Gardens 2012

calendar is available. It provides a photographic

journey through the Gardens and is sure to

inspire you! On sale in the Garden Shop while

supplies last.

now available!