Welcome to this issue of the Wilmot Botanical Gardens newsletter. It has been said that change is the only constant in life, attributed to the Greek philosopher Heraclitus. This is perhaps most accurate in a garden. A garden is built on change. Seasons change, plants are added and removed, and our botanical interests move with the seasons. This garden is no different, as we enter our summer of change. I will begin with our challenges and opportunities.
First, our long-time gardener, Steve Pritchett, has moved on to a new opportunity. He was involved in many of the improvement projects here, and his eye for detail will be missed. I would like to acknowledge his many years of dedicated service and wish him every success in his new endeavor.
Second, as is mentioned elsewhere in this newsletter, we will be beginning anew our therapeutic horticulture and gardening offering. This will be challenging, but also an amazing opportunity. The addition of the B.J. and Eve Wilder Therapeutic Garden to our already world-class greenhouse facility will allow us to grow new things and offer new activities in our programming. More on the new plantings in this garden later in this message.
Third, I will note a challenge that I relish and an opportunity for which I am grateful. I am honored to assume the role of Director of Wilmot Botanical Gardens. While not exactly a surprise, it is still a “pinch me” moment. I look forward to applying my experience of a lifetime in horticulture, along with my training which began right here at UF those many years ago, to the stewardship of these beautiful gardens and our meaningful mission. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Tisher for his guidance and wisdom as he continues to serve Wilmot Botanical Gardens as Director Emeritus. We must remember that without his vision and force of will, this garden would not exist in this form today.
Now, on to the garden highlights. I am pleased to relay that our spring Plant Sale was a great success, thanks to our volunteers, staff, and especially our tireless ringleader Courtney. These sales are crucial to the ongoing care of these gardens, and we thank you all for supporting us. Please be sure to note the dates for our next sale, October 2-3, 2026. We will have a great selection, including many native plants.
We were pleased to host, as we do annually, the Hippocratic Award ceremony on May 1st. This award is presented annually by each graduating class to a faculty member “who represents the ideal role model and embodies professionalism, humanism and teaching prowess”. It was moving to witness the outpouring of gratitude from student to teacher.
I want to share some photos from the aforementioned Wilder Garden. I’m often asked about summer flowers in our challenging climate. I have found Zinnnia spp. to be almost foolproof. This multicolor mix is performing beautifully, and I have many others that self-seeded last season and required no effort on my part—they just appeared! I wanted to also mention our wall of sunflowers, Helianthus spp. I planted a mix of varieties, with my two favorites being the multi-flowered ‘Ice Cream’, and the enormous ‘Mongolian Giant’. The bees, and the birds, have been enjoying them immensely. We currently have a medicinals bed, tomatoes, tomatillos, assorted peppers, and something new to me–South Sea Salad Tree (Abelmoschus manihot). Related to okra and hibiscus, the leaves can be eaten raw or lightly cooked, and the flowers eaten raw. I look forward to our first harvest.
Finally, my apologies for the length of this message. As you can see, we have had a busy few months, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. To be a gardener is to embrace the changes that bring both challenges and opportunities and make the best of it that you can.
I hope to see you in the Gardens soon, and as always,
Find Something Beautiful Today!
Jim Stribling
Director, Wilmot Botanical Gardens