Visit Sarasota's gardens in paradise

Sarasota doesn’t just have beaches and palm trees. It also has beautiful plants and gardens.

The Sarasota Garden Club is hosting one of its largest annual fundraisers, Gardens in Paradise, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 16. There will be six houses on the self-guided tour, on Siesta Key and in Sarasota, and attendees can explore them in any order.

Randi Broida, event chair for the sixth-annual tour, said each of the stops offers a special attraction.

“Observe the construction of sand sculpture, gaze at magnificent florals on silk and meet a tropical bird,’’ she said. “You’ll see the Japanese art of ikebana, and master gardeners can give you information about Florida-friendly gardening.’’

These attractions are meant to inspire people in their own gardening pursuits.

“You will see large waterfront estates and cozy cottage-style landscapes. Gardening is an art, and it evolves,” Broida said. 

The tour includes a stop at Sarasota Garden Club from 11:30 am to 1:30 p.m., where visitors can contribute to a large community painting and enjoy a luncheon presentation.

Proceeds will go to the club and its community projects. Some of the community projects include scholarships for children to attend an outdoor nature camp, support for the Girl Scouts, garden therapy for seniors, Face Autism, Tidewell grief therapy and help to maintain the plants at The Spirit of the American Doughboy statue in J.D. Hamel Park.

The tour will release the addresses for the tour Friday.