Established in 1950 and tucked away in the Bayou Oaks neighborhood in north Sarasota, the Sarasota Succulent Society stubbornly and sweetly remains Old Florida, a place shaded by giant live oaks and devoted to the love of sun, soil and plants that prefer little rain—namely arid-loving succulents and cacti. The gardens were started by Walter Sparkman, who built his home there in the 1930s and became passionate about succulents. He found others to share his interest; eventually, they founded the society and purchased the property. Now a nonprofit, the gardens are run entirely by volunteers who care for the plants, educate the community and encourage conservation. 

Succulents vs. Cacti

There’s a famous line in the succulent world: “All cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti.” Succulents, according to Britannica.com, are “any plant with thick fleshy tissues” that have adapted to store water.  A cactus mainly stores water in its stems and also has areoles—tiny, round bumps on its surface where leaves, hairlike fibers and spines grow. Succulents are found on every continent but Antarctica.

The Bungalow

Walter Sparkman’s yellow, 950-square-foot, wood frame cottage still stands on the two-acre property. It was ordered from a catalogue and built in 1930 and serves as the society’s tiny library and clubhouse.

When and Where to Go

The garden is open every Monday and every third Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon. Admission is free. The succulent society also holds three major sales a year along with an education program. This year, major sales are Feb. 14 (Valentine’s Day); May 10 (Mother’s Day), and Sept. 7 (Labor Day) from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Feb. 14 speaker is Mitch Kessler, a Tampa-based expert on succulents and cacti.

1310 38th St., Sarasota, sarasotasucculentsociety.org