Laying the Groundwork

by Jeannine Gage

The Sanford Cultural Guild is planting the seeds for a beautiful garden project that will combine nature, history, and the arts.

In partnership with the City of Sanford, the nonprofit guild plans to add a botanical garden to the grounds of the Sanford Museum, enriching the cultural, educational, and environmental landscape of the city. The approximately 1.5-acre Sanford Botanical Garden will border the museum on East First Street and Lake Carola.

The project will feature a diverse collection of plants and sustainable landscaping practices. Plans also call for a brick walk, a butterfly garden, artwork, an event lawn, and a Florida wetlands display with a boardwalk. A walk-through event was recently held to give residents a sneak peak at the garden’s footprint. 

Exploring Their Roots 

“This will be an immersive garden celebrating Sanford’s rich history,” says Robin Theisen, one of the guild’s founders and a third-generation Sanford resident.

The garden will not only highlight the area’s natural beauty, it will also shine a spotlight on town founder Henry Shelton Sanford’s agricultural contributions – which included developing several experimental citrus groves.

“We have such a rich cultural history here,” says Robin. “I want this garden to add to it. ”

The Sanford Cultural Guild was founded in 2023 by Robin and fellow Sanford residents Caroline van den Berg and Sarah Clore. Its mission is to enhance the cultural and artistic significance of Sanford through valuable events and beautification projects.

Because the botanical garden is being added to city property, it will become part of Sanford’s Parks and Recreation Department once it is completed. City workers, along with guild members and volunteers, will be responsible for its maintenance.

Hopes are to have the botanical garden, which will open in phases, completed in three to five years, Robin says. In the meantime, the guild’s focus is on fundraising and applying for grants for the garden.

They Dig It!

“It’s an ambitious project,” says Robin. “But nothing good happens without being ambitious.” 

Paula White of Ixora Garden Club, another Sanford-based nonprofit, is thrilled about the plans for the botanical garden. The Ixora Garden Club donated funds toward the botanical garden’s conceptual design and will assist with its maintenance. 

“We are so excited about this beautiful garden,” says Paula. “It’s just going to elevate the city.”

Sanford resident Jim Hoke attended the walk-through event at the museum and was pleased with what he saw.

“This will add something different,” says Jim. “All the new restaurants and bars are great, but this will improve us culturally.”

How Does Your Garden Grow?

The Sanford Cultural Guild is also collaborating with the Historic Hopper Academy in the Georgetown neighborhood to add a community garden there.

The project’s design and budget have been set, and a committee of gardeners has been formed to plan and maintain the garden. 

The Historic Hopper Academy, which was once a school for African-American students, now functions as a community center. The community garden will serve to beautify and enhance the area, cultivating community bonds and common ground through a nature-based project. The guild is raising funds for the project and will oversee the installation, which is planned for this fall.

To learn more about these projects, visit SanfordCulturalGuild.org.