The Sarasota Succulent Society is a hidden, historical gem that continues to bloom.
Never heard of it? No worries, but here’s why you’ll remember it now: The group is run by energetic volunteers and celebrates its 75th anniversary this year.
Located on four acres in the Bayou Oaks neighborhood, the society is home to “hundreds” of succulent plants, says Sarasota Succulent Society President Diane Sanguedolce.
Succulents are plants like aloe vera, cactuses, jade plants, and one of any other thousands of varieties. One pointer to keep in mind: All cactuses are succulents, but not all succulents are cactuses. Some plants have sweet heart-shaped leaves, others have prickly arms that shoot up straight into the air—with all varieties of colors, shapes, and sizes. Nowadays, it’s common to see succulents sold as small, inexpensive plants in cute containers.
The Sarasota Succulent Society began when Walter Sparkman, a printer, moved to Sarasota in the 1930s and began to grow a variety of plants. He had a keen interest in succulents, which led him to charter the Sarasota Succulent Society in 1950. As it turns out, Florida is a good place to grow succulents, especially if you can control the amount of water they receive so they don’t rot.
Member Wilda Meier of Sarasota remembers joining the group in 1967 with her husband after moving to the area. He had had enough of the harsh winters in New York; when he learned about succulent plants, he became fascinated with them. That prompted her interest. Meier still volunteers with the group regularly, and members credit her for helping to rebuild the group’s member roster when it had dwindled to a low point.
The society is still located on Sparkman’s former property, which includes his family’s Depression-era cottage that is now the society’s clubhouse.
The society opens its doors to the public on Monday mornings and the third Saturday morning of each month. When it’s open, volunteers charge about weeding, planting, propagating, and chatting. Volunteers also help build structures for the plants or get plants ready for sales.
Visitors can walk around and breathe in the peacefulness of the plantings. Yet it’s always good to chat with volunteers about where to walk and what to avoid, as some areas were damaged by the 2024 hurricanes and are still recovering.
The society also has a display house that’s like a “museum of succulents,” with beautiful and unusual succulents from around the world.
Sanguedolce became involved about two years ago, after she and a friend were on a kick to visit a variety of botanical gardens.
“We came and fell and love with it and signed up as volunteers and members,” she says. “I’m not a flower person, so the succulents and cactuses are much easier to manage.”
Sarasota Succulent Society
1310 38th St, Sarasota
sarasotasucculentsociety.org
