“Best Kept Secret in Spring Hill” Needs Volunteers

In a quiet wooded corner of Spring Hill lies a peaceful garden full of wonders. Brick and wood chip paths invite adventures to meander along, and discovery waits around every corner. Stately statues of sandhill cranes, tiny ceramic busts and painted pinecones are some of the treasures one can find.

Memorial benches sit under shady trees for birdwatching or catching up with a friend. Butterflies and bees fly busily among the flowers and trees. Table and chairs set around the garden encourage visitors to rest and take time to reflect. This is a place where locals can host a wedding or a celebration of life gathering, have a birthday party, take their dog for a walk, or even donate money to decorate a whole tree for Christmas!

What makes the Nature Coast Botanical Garden so special is not just the beautiful plants or the peacefulness it exudes; it is love that makes it so warm and welcoming. That love is evidenced by the names of loved ones engraved in paving bricks and benches, a garden dedicated to fallen soldiers, handmade sculptures, and colorful murals, not to mention the well-designed amenities such as the picnic area and clean restrooms.

From the very beginning, this garden has been a celebration of nature’s beauty and a collaboration between the Spring Hill Garden Club and local businesses and government. The four-and-a-half-acre plot of land was leased to the Garden Club in 1993 by Hernando County for $1 a year for ninety-nine years and Southwest Florida Water Management District donated the first funding and path materials.

After securing the land, the garden club took painstaking measures to clear unwanted foliage, along with the trash the community had heaped upon it. Garden club members held plant sales at their former area on Glenlake Avenue. To aid in the endeavor, businesses donated money and services to get the Botanical Garden up and running. In a 1996 letter submitted to the local paper by first garden club president Ruth Anderson, named businesses are thanked for donations of lumber, masonry, crushed rock, electrical, septic and sanitary services, and much more.

Slowly, the garden that we know and love today took shape. A parking lot was built with a few structures and walking paths. The Spring Hill Garden Club Nursery and Plant Sales portion of the garden was added in 1999, and in 2021, two large pavilions were added to the picnic section. Today, the garden contains 21 unique gardens and is maintained by a small group of dedicated volunteers who care for the plants, perform maintenance, give tours, and run the welcome table and plant sales. Revenue for the garden’s maintenance is generated by eighty percent of plant sales, income from Weddings and events, and visitors’ donations.

Volunteers are the heart of this garden, which Garden Manager Carole Biagini calls “the best-kept secret in Spring Hill.” Nursery Manager Kathy Wolfe says their “volunteer base is dwindling,” as most are well into their seventies and eighties. For many, like “Master Weeder” Kate Ertle, gardening here is a very important part of her life and has been an effective therapy for life’s trials. Mary Wuest, retiring Garden Manager, relishes the peaceful feeling she experiences here while working.

What makes a great volunteer for the garden? According to long-time volunteers, they must love learning about plants in a friendly atmosphere and even enjoy forgetting about the cares of life while working. Volunteers must enjoy the satisfaction of a job well done from a morning’s work and love getting dirty working outside with plants. No knowledge of gardening is needed and volunteers are trained by experienced gardeners.

There is no better time than the holiday season to check out the garden and get involved. Saturday, December 7, the Holiday in the Gardens celebration will have community members, clubs and businesses decorating live trees. Visitors will be treated to refreshments and live music from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and a children’s parade around the main path will take place at 11 am. The Poinsettia Planting will also take place during this time. Anyone wishing to be a part of the planting in honor of a loved one can bring their plants to the Poinsettia Garden. As always, this event is free, but donations are very much appreciated.

The garden is located at 1489 Parker Avenue, Spring Hill. For information about volunteering, holiday events, or booking events, visit their website at naturecoastgardens.com.