Horticultural Shows Sets Attendance, Sales Records at Selby Gardens

Image: Courtesy Mischa Kirby
"Selby’s Secret Garden," a six-week horticultural show at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, recently set records for attendance and retail and membership sales for the fall shoulder tourist season. Compared to the same timeframe as last year, admissions revenue increased by 20 percent, retail shop revenue grew by 35 percent and membership revenue went up by 53 percent. The exhibition featured a living plant display that drew from Victorian greenhouses along with an installation of rare botanical books, prints and preserved plants that are part of Selby Gardens’ research collection. Revenue for food service at the Selby House Cafe by Michael’s on East also more than doubled during this time.