- To study the culture of succulents under local conditions.
- To strive to use the correct scientific nomenclature for succulents.
- To study the use of succulents in landscape and home gardening.
- To aid in civic projects involving succulents and promote protection of native species.
- To aid and give assistance to educators, to the members, and to the general public, thereby furthering the knowledge of succulents.
For a small example of this last item, please visit our Horticulture Page for Cactus and Pest Control tips. More importantly, we also sponsor live educational programs in our gardens several times throughout the year. To learn more about our educational outreach, please subscribe to our newsletter, below, or watch our Sales Details page for the latest programming information.)
The Sarasota Succulent Society was started in 1950 by an industrious and interested group of people who knew, worked and studied with Walter G. Sparkman at his home, a small house on 38th Street next to a creek. Mr. Sparkman started many individual gardens in his yard and carefully filled them with succulent plants from around the world--which he studied and watched carefully to see if they could grow in Sarasota.
After his students began to fill the yard with more and more families of plants, he suggested they form a club and buy more property--the lot next door had come on the market. They did so, and when the drainage ditch was dug, along the site of the creek, the rock and sand removed was left in piles on the bank on the Succulent Society property. These rocks and berms were incorporated into the gardens and have made a rolling property from a very flat section of west central Florida.
The Succulent Society property runs from 38th Street south to Myrtle and extends from Cocoanut east to the drainage canal. Mr. Sparkman's depression era style home was awarded a local Historical Designation by the City of Sarasota. We use it as our clubhouse.
The Sarasota Succulent Society is incorporated under the laws of the State of Florida and it is registered with the federal Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) Charitable Organization.
We have a Scholarship Program for local college students and we regularly offer free educational programs in our gardens. Please contact our president for details about the many convenient ways you can make a tax deductible contribution to our efforts.
We would be delighted to have you become a member of the Society! All new members are warmly welcomed, regardless of their prior experience (or lack thereof) with succulent plants. Learn more about how to apply for a new membership (or submit your renewal) here.
We are always looking for new volunteers to bring fresh energy and new ideas to our organization. Although volunteering is not a requirement for membership, the Society depends 100% on its volunteers to function. As a member, or prospective member, we ask you to please consider helping maintain the vigor of the Society. We think you will find the work enjoyable and personally rewarding. Please visit our Volunteering Page to learn more.
Everyone is invited to receive our Newsletter. We promise we will not share your email address with any third parties, and, if you ever decide you want to stop receiving our Newsletter, there will always be an "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of every edition.
Elected Officers:
President ............ Susan Palmieri
Vice President ............ Jennifer Rodgers
Secretary ............ Judith Haver
Treasurer ............ Pat Becker
Specialty Volunteers:
Social Media ............ I-Fang Hsin
Newsletter Editor ............ Volunteer!
Historian ............ Volunteer!
Horticulturist:
Volunteer!
Curators:
Susan Palmieri, Wilda Meier
Board of Directors:
Elected Officers, Horticulturist, and Curators
We are forever indebted to these tireless and dedicated volunteers for their vision and leadership over the past 73 years.
1950-1952
Mrs. Claude R. Case
1952-1954
Mrs. Harry Hine
1954-1955
Miss Hazel Trask
1955-1957
Mrs. Elizabeth Jarman
1957-1959
Mrs. Merle D. Graves
1959
Mrs. William N. Parker
1959-1962
Mrs. Eric Jackson
1962-1963
Mr. Fred Flick
1963-1964
Mrs. Jacob Grabill
1964-1966
Mrs. John Stuart, Jr.
1966-1969
Mrs. John Zimmerman
1969-1970
Mr. Claire C. Coons
1970-1971
Mr. Harry Newell
1971-1973
Mrs. Marion Young
1973-1975
Mrs. John Zimmerman
1975
Mrs. George Kersch
1975-1977
Mrs. Harty Hartzog
1977-1979
Mr. Jess Barber
1979-1981
Mrs. Marion Young
1981-1986
Mrs. Jack Horner
1986-1989
Mr. Archie Waugh
1989-1994
Mrs. Betty Kennedy
1994-1996
Mrs. Hedy Lang
1996-1998
Mrs. Phyllis Turner
1998-2000
Mrs. Hedy Lang
2000-2002
Ms. Wilda Meier
2002-2004
Mr. Derrick Robbins
2004-2006
Ms. Wilda Meier
2006-2013
Mrs. Nancy Wellford
2013-2016
Mrs. Joanne Ehrenreich
2016-2019
Mr. Wolfe Zucker
2019-2020
Ms. Linn Torres
2020-2022
Mr. Jason Stockman
2022-Current
Mrs. Susan Palmieri
