I'm thinking Lindsey, Patty and Elaine may add to this thread. The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota is a treasure. Here are a few pics from my last visit:

This is the Bromeliad I took a photo of so I could look for it at Tropiflora. It's called Aechmea chantinii 'Samurai'


How about this for a pitcher plant?


The big blooming Amorph that everyone was looking at. Thankfully, it was not in full stink at the time we were there.


Lots of bonsai plants on display:


The Rainbow Eucalyptus is quite impressive. I secretly want one.


A very slow grower from Afganistan, the Nannorrhops ritchieana or Mazari palm is a very slow grower. This is the largest one I have seen.


I'll post more later.

Jim

So great to see a familiar place through somebody else's eyes (or camera). I'd never noticed the Rainbow Eucalyptus or that beautiful palm even though I'm sure I've stood beside it every time I've visited Selby. I love the view from the point out there under the Bo tree.

Jim, you NEED a Rainbow eucalyptus. I saw a massive specimen in Carol Noel's garden years ago and have not so secretly drooled over the idea of living someplace where they could grow ever since. The battery on my camera died before I could get a picture of that awesome tree.

We saw this one at the botanical garden in Grand Cayman. It's pretty big, too. Maybe 18in. diameter trunk, and that was 4 years ago. They are SO pretty.

What a beautiful thread! Jim, I can see why you are smitten with that gorgeous Bromeliad!!
The Amorphophallus titanum is also blooming right now at New York Botanical Garden. We saw it in August 2006 at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, it was impressive and the major stench was already pretty much done at our visit.
Such pretty colors on the Rainbow Eucalyptus!

Here's a few more pictures from our orchid club outing..

the biggest Hoya bloom I've ever seen..each flower was about the size of a silver dollar!



I'm not a huge fan of pitcher plants, but this one was pretty cool



I loved the texture on this leaf stem


the garden enjoys refreshing (sort of ) breezes from the bay



I liked this waterless fountain



one of the focal points in the Japanese garden area


the long view, looking back towards the Selby house



incredible roots on this big boy!



close up of the bark on the Rainbow



waterfall at the Koi Pond



a serene spot to escape the world problems



one of the sunny perennial beds

Beautiful and tranquil!

Years ago I visited Selby on Good Friday. Lots of kids were out of school and visiting grandma and grandpa in Florida for spring break. Although there were children everywhere I could not get over how quiet it was. The children seemed mesmerized by the tranquility. No one was running around or yelling like you would expect of children in a park like setting. There is definitly something magical about that place.

Selby and Chanticleer are my all time favorite gardens.

Here are a couple more pictures of the garden.

Spindle palms


The famous clock vine in the hot house:


Dendrobium Sunny Side Up:


Another fancy Bromeliad bloom


I wonder how much this old Cycad from Madagascar is worth? It is Cycas thouarsii.


I don't know what this small tree is called but the leaves are really cool. I need it whatever it is.


How about this Bromeliad?


Is this a garden or what?

Jim

Yes, it is!! And it keeps going!!!
Jim, you put a name to a plant I saw growing over the Mariposario entrance in Mindo/Ecuador. Nobody there had a name for it. Thunbergia mysorensis!

All I can say about that bromeliad is WOW.

This is a Selby billbergia photo from several years ago. Sadly it was not labeled and the staff had no records on it.

Wow! That Quesnelia is amazing! I can't see in the picture what is supporting it, but I'll bet it's heavy.

I took a picture of this guy because he reminded me of the one Ursula has with the plant on his head.


Jim

Now he is really cool!

I knew you would like him.

Jim