In Memory of Allen Wise, Sumter Chapter
Left to Right - Ruth & Dean Leferink, Allen, Diane Reppert & Sandi Wise. Allen Wise ran Shady Oaks Gather All, an old-style roadside plant nursery on Highway 301 in Sumterville where he offered a mix of native, edible and Florida-friendly plants. His many loyal customers will continue to remember what he taught them about the plants that he nurtured. By making Florida native plants available to homeowners, Allen was a wonderful advocate for attracting pollinators and supporting butterflies in home landscapes. While volunteering as a Sumter County Master Gardener, Allen annually put together a native plant exhibit at the Sumter County Fair. He was always eager to donate his time at native plant shows and for 20 years was a faithful member of the Florida Association of Native Nurseries ( FANN ). He was a founding member of, and for years served as an officer for, the Sumter County Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society ( FNPS ), which disbanded soon after Allen found he had ...