Community Corner

Selby Gardens Light Bromeliad Tree (Video)

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens has displayed a bromeliad holiday tree since 1997.

The bromeliads are shining bright once again at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.

The annual Bromeliad Tree is helping to light up the gardens for the holidays with Mayor Suzanne Atwell and Marty Haberer, associate director of the Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, hitting the switch Tuesday night.

The gardens has displayed a bromeliad holiday tree in front of the Christy Payne Mansion since 1997 with a new design each year. This year volunteer and former Selby Gardens employee Bob McComb designed the tree.

Find out what's happening in Sarasotawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"It has endured and it gets better every year," McComb told Patch about the event.

McComb gives credit to the horticulture staff and Mike McLaughlin, director of horticulture, for putting the bromeliad tree together and selecting the tree.

Find out what's happening in Sarasotawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The gardening expert said by now designing the bromeliad tree is "innate knowledge."

The tree stands about 35 feet tall with more than 700 bromeliads including the "tossed salad," "cookies," and "tres colores" varities. Each bromeliad will go on sale to the public starting Jan. 4 in front of the mansion. 

The festivities also included the lighting of a menorah.

But the sale isn't the highlight of the holidays—the lighting helps get visitors in the mood for the Lights In Bloom and American Society of Interior Designers Showhouse event Holiday Splendor at the Payne Mansion.

Lights In Bloom

Lights In Bloom takes place from Dec. 15-23; 26 and 27 from 6 to 9 p.m. featuring a snowfall tree, dragonfly puppet, 3-D illuminated snowflakes and light displays on Sarasota Bay. Admission for Lights In Bloom is $15; $13 for member; free for children 11 and under and tickets can be purchased at www.selby.org or at the gardens' welcome center.

McComb also worked on Lights In Bloom for the last three years.

"We transformed it into a tropical garden with flowers, lighted flowers, seven-foot butterflies to bring a more garden atmosphere rather than just holiday fare that everyone else has," McComb said.

Ballerinas dressed as sugar plum fairies with 9-foot-tall lighted "treeman" will help guide visitors through Selby Gardens. There's even Toyland where kids can have a chat with Santa and his elves to make sure Christmas goes according to plan.

Live music will be provided by The Jacobites, Missing Links, Rex Willis and Mark Mannino.

Holiday Splendor

Holiday Splendor is annually produced by Florida West Coast Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers. 

This year's event is open Dec. 16-24, 26 and Jan. 2 from 10 a.m. to 4:30p.m. and during Lights In Bloom. Admission is included in both day tickets for Selby Gardens and for the night Lights In Bloom.

The showcase will highlight the use of the red guzmania bromeliad, according to Selby Gardens.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here