The grounds of St. Edward’s Episcopal Church are more than landscaping — they are sacred space. Nestled close to downtown Mount Dora, our campus is home to a butterfly garden, a Memorial Columbarium garden, St. Mary’s Garden, and a peaceful St. Francis Garden. These spaces invite parishioners and visitors alike to pause, pray, and experience God’s beauty in creation.
A Vision Planted
While the church employs a professional lawn service for general maintenance, many of our garden beds require careful attention that only loving hands can provide.
Ten years ago, Matt Ashby, a newly trained Lake County Master Gardener — took on the task of redesigning and planting the berm along 5th Avenue. His vision and dedication transformed that entrance into a welcoming display of color and life. Matt later joined the church staff as our gardener, faithfully tending and planting throughout the grounds.
As Matt’s landscaping business grew, I — also a Master Gardener, stepped forward to organize volunteers and formed Friends of the Garden. For the past eight years, this informal group has met monthly to weed, trim, and plant.
Membership varies, with three to five parishioners typically gathering each month — and others quietly serving on their own time by trimming hedges, weeding beds, or planting flowers.
Quarterly Saturday workdays — including the ever-popular “Mulch Madness” — draw even larger groups of volunteers who accomplish an incredible amount in just a few hours.
The Birth of Adopt-A-Plot
As our gardens expanded, so did the need for more hands. That’s when Adopt-A-Plot was born.
Through this program, individuals, couples, or friends “adopt” a specific garden area and commit to tending it at least once a month. I provide the training as needed. Now in its second iteration, Adopt-A-Plot includes both longtime volunteers who continue to care for their spaces and new members who are stepping in for the first time.
But this ministry is about far more than mulching and pruning.
Our gardeners have built friendships and welcomed newcomers. For some parishioners, especially those who have recently moved or experienced the loss of a spouse, these gatherings fill a void and provide meaningful connection.
Friends of the Garden and Adopt-A-Plot offer something simple and sacred:
A way to serve the Lord — while getting your hands in the dirt.
Photo caption: Sandy Betlach, Suzi Morgenthaler, James Cartlidge, Sue Furlong, Rozann Abato, and Chuck LeSage (inset)
By Sandy Betlach
