SARASOTA – One of Sarasota’s hidden gems welcomed gardening lovers and the plant curious to its annual sale.
“I love plants, I’m always looking for plants for my yard,” said Sarasota Succulent visitor, Maureen Maglione.
The Sarasota Succulent Society welcomed visitors to their annual Labor Day sale, Monday. The garden, which houses hundreds of plants, ranging from easy-to-care greens to rare and exotic succulents attracted visitors of all ages, including one orchid lover.
“Who knew that this place was tucked back in here, I had no idea, apparently it’s been here for years,” said Maglione.
Visitors found a variety of houseplants at low prices, all they while enjoying a walk in the garden, which is located at Myrtle and Cocoanut.
“The sale today is one of three that we do through the year and all proceeds help sustain the operation of the garden,” said Volunteer, Arthur Wasserman.
Beyond its beauty, the garden has a whole lot of history attached to it, dating back to its founding in the 1930s, by Sarasota resident Walter Sparkman.
“In the 1950s with his passing the half acre or so was incorporated into a non-profit organization and we’ve been kind of rolling forward ever since, but as I mentioned completely non-for-profit and completely volunteer driven,” said Wasserman.
The group’s historian, Wilda Meier says the growing demand for succulents and greenery alike has kept demand up with the need to incorporate growers.
“That have unique items, they’re not open to the public, but we can go and we can purchase plants from them and I was just told that most of the plants in the chicken coop have been sold, people are really enjoying succulents, and they are very popular nowadays,” said Society Historian, Wilda Meier.
You can visit the garden every Monday from 9AM to Noon and every third Saturday of the month, also from 9AM to Noon.
