Allen Wise owned Shady Oaks Gather All, an old-style roadside retail plant nursery on Highway 301 in Sumterville, Florida. A member of the Florida Association of Native Nurseries (FANN) for 20 years, Allen was always eager to volunteer at native plant shows and other events boosting the industry, even when operating from his wheelchair. Offering a mix of native and Florida-friendly plants, Allen was active with the Sumter County Master Gardeners, annually put together a native plant exhibit at the Sumter County Fair, and also was a member of the Florida Native Plant Society for several years, serving as president of the former Sumter Chapter. Allen's friends have established this fund to honor his memory. Donations are used to support research projects that expand and strengthen the native plant industry that Allen loved.
