Marie Selby wouldn’t leave for her summer ranch in Montana until the vibrant hues of her Sarasota spring flower beds had faded. Donning a cotton dress and sneakers, she spent hours tending to the extensive gardens she had designed when she and her husband William first built their bayside home in 1921. In her will, she left her 15-acre site and home to the general public, simply for “enjoyment.” And for more than 50 years, Sarasotans have happily taken her up on the invitation.

“The community makes Selby Gardens what it is; they created the Selbyverse,” says CEO Jennifer Rominiecki. “Every bit of [our success is] because of the community’s support, engagement and love for our work. We’re so grateful to everyone in the community on every level for enabling us to do what we do.” Today, that engagement has helped Selby grow into an internationally recognized research institution and living museum beloved by tourists and locals alike.

See all of our Best of Sarasota 2026 winners here.