Selby Gardens’ Selenicereus, or night-blooming cactus, will flower tonight, Thursday, June 6, for one night only.  Head to the gardens to catch the bloom from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Hobart K. Swan and Janis F. Swan Live Oak Arrival Court at 1534 Mound St. in downtown Sarasota to witness the flowers open.

Guests are encouraged to bring their camera, lawn chair, bug spray, and flashlight. Food, drink, and spirits will be available for purchase from the Michael’s on East food truck. Ample parking is available in the Morganroth Family Living Energy Access Facility.

Selenicereus is an epiphytic, lithophytic and terrestrial cactus genus found in Central America, the Caribbean and northern South America. The generic name is derived from Selene, the Greek moon goddess, and cereus, meaning “candle” in Latin. On a single night each year in early summer, as twilight moves to night, spectacular blossoms open up all along the length of the plant for a few brief hours. As dawn sets in on the horizon, the petals close up before another year passes for a repeat performance.

For more information, visit selby.org.