A horticultural exhibit at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is the latest in a string of record-breaking exhibitions hosted by the institution. The Orchid Show: Earth, Air, Fire, Water set double-digit revenue records for the Gardens, with overall revenue increases at 27% over the prior year. Since Selby Gardens changed its operational model two years ago, every exhibition hosted by the research institution has shown double-digit growth year-over-year. The major increases at the living museum come from attendance, membership, events, public food sales and retail sales. For six weeks from mid-October through Thanksgiving weekend, The Orchid Show set new revenue records for attendance, retail and food service and membership sales during the normally quieter fall shoulder season. Compared to the same timeframe as last year, admissions revenue is up by 28 percent, retail shop revenue is up by 28 percent and membership revenue is up by 26 percent. The success of the fall 2017 Orchid Show comes on the heels of the exhibition Marc Chagall, Flowers and the French Riviera: The Color of Dreams, which attracted 100,000 guests during its six-month run and also set revenue records.

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens