Scene Snaps: Gardens

February 2022—This month, readers show off their green thumbs. Delight in their butterfly gardens, edibles and ornamentals, wildlife havens, beautiful blossoms, and more.

Isaac Tyson has created a garden specializing in tropical plants and foliage, including rare heliconias imported from Hawaii.  

The Junior League of Sarasota Sustainers recently enjoyed working with the teachers and Head Start learners at Children First to build sustainable peppermint plant hubs, which will be used in weekly nutritional and cultural food menus. Submitted by Evan Ackerman.

On a few acres in north Sarasota, Bill Pischer and his team bring forth the bounty at Jessica’s Organic Farm. Pictured here, rows of baby greens grown in natural mulch to suppress weeds, reduce water use, and improve soil.

A rainbow forms over cover crops like Sorghum and Cow Peas that enrich the soil in the off season.

Cutting back the cover crop with machetes.

Watering the nursery.

Volunteers and kids gleaning beets for donation to a food bank.

Harvesting Red Leaf Lettuce, as fresh as can be.

At Manatee Square Garden—a partnership between DOH-Manatee, Manatee County government, and University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences—members of the public can stake their own plot. Here, Laurie Desiderio waters tomatoes, Amy Buchanan clips lettuce, and Joann Spencer plants flowering plants for a butterfly garden. Submitted by Christopher Tittel.

Nancy Morrison, a Sarasota Orchid Society board member, lives near the Carlton Reserve. “While I do grow my orchids in their native habitat under the oaks and palms on the mesic hammock where I live, I also focus on native plantings which support wildlife and require less water,” she said. “I have surrounded my home and patio with butterfly and pollinator-attracting native flowers and shrubs.” Thanks to the milkweed she planted, the garden now attracts Monarchs, Queen, and Viceroy butterflies in addition to the Zebra Longwings, Yellow Sulfurs, White Peacocks, and other varieties attracted by Tropical Sage and Senna Mexicana. Hungry deer are kept out by a barrier of mesh, steel, and wire around trees and shrubs.

Members and staff at the Academy at Glengary plant and take care of their garden every day. Midnight snack tomatoes and peppers are among the bounty. Submitted by Dariel Paredes.

Bonnie and Stuart Schar built their gardens with trial and error over 20 years—encouraging bees and butterflies, experimenting with varieties of trees and flowering bushes, and welcoming blooms across the seasons. Their house is flanked by palms, royal poinciana, and a Thai mango that was supposed to grow to 8 feet, but now towers at 30 feet and provides hundreds of delicious mangoes every year. In the back, a petrea winds its thousands of tiny lavender blossoms around a pergola. A flowering “mash-up” of bougainvillea, petrea, golden vines, rubber trees, irises, hibiscus, and queen crape myrtle graces one corner. Plus orchids. Says Bonnie, “The birds are quite happy, and so are we!”

Jon Thaxton of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation nurtures a wildlife-friendly garden in his own yard; shown here are blooming bromeliads and crinum lilies. He says, “The yard/garden has no grass, no irrigation system, and uses no pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers.  The soil has been maturing for over 25 years and together with the canopy, mid-canopy, and understory, captures most all rainfall.”

“I plant vegetables in earth boxes and raised garden beds to better control the soil,” says Carlene Cobb. “ Sarasota County Extension Office Master Gardeners’ advice helps even the neophyte gardener be successful. We have grown cauliflower, collards, rainbow chard, broccoli, green beans, arugula, romaine and various leaf lettuces, celery, cucumbers, peppers, squash, basil, oregano, parsley, and much more.”

Master gardeners Angela and John Antonucci created a butterfly and rock garden for the Child Protection Center. Offering a water source, a spot for sunbathing, and plants like Penta, milkweed, salvia, porterweed, Jatropha, Bush Daisy, it attracts butterfly visitors. (Monarchs left this chrysalis on the adjacent wall.)  Says CPC’s Shannon Maloney, “This garden is one of the first things children see as they begin their journey of healing after the trauma of abuse.”

A gorgeous Golden Shower (Cassia fistula) tree brightens Audrey Robbin’s yard. Beautiful orchids, which get rotated and tied to a tree, rebloom season after season.

Limelight Community Garden volunteers help clear 802 Mango Ave before preparing raised beds for plants, vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Ultimately, the urban garden will provide educational opportunities, child-friendly access, and demonstrations. Submitted by Kim Livengood.

Join us! Enter before February 10 for the theme:
High Design & Treasured Collectibles

What objects do you treasure, and why? Send photos of your favorite displays and cherished pieces—and share a little about why they’re so precious to you. 

Email them to wendy@scenesarasota.com by February 10.