Photo courtesy Selby Gardens.

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, I hope that you and your loved ones are safe.  All of you are in my thoughts. Many have inquired about how both campuses of Selby Gardens fared with the storm, so I wanted to provide a brief update following the initial assessments we have made.

The Downtown Sarasota campus was affected by storm surge and, as you can imagine, has debris to be cleared. The docks and decking appear to be lifted up in some areas by the surge and will need attention. However, I am happy to report that all buildings appear to be okay. The Green Orchid restaurant opened for lunch today, as well as the area of the gardens surrounding the Jean Goldstein Welcome Center and Morganroth Family Palm Promenade. The rest of the gardens will be roped off to the public until debris is cleared.

At the Historic Spanish Point campus, the seawall at the point collapsed and will need attention. The small bridge broke up, and the Packing House dock will likely need attention. Some of the pathways were washed out and will need to be replaced with new shell gravel.  However, I am happy to report that all buildings appear to be okay. The campus has no power, and will need to remain closed until the power is back on.

Please check selby.org and our social media channels (Facebook and Instagram) for updates on the status of both campuses.  We hope to be fully up and running soon to provide you with the refuge and respite of our bayfront sanctuaries. Sending you wishes for a safe recovery.

Jennifer Rominiecki is president and CEO of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.

Photo courtesy Selby Gardens.