In Memoriam:John Sibley
Winner of the Mike Kenton Award of Recognition
n December 11, 2020, via Zoom at our Annual Members Meeting,
FANN presented John Sibley, past president of FANN and founder
of All Native Garden Center in Fort Myers, with our Mike Kenton
Award of Recognition. Less than two months later, John unexpectedly died,
after living much longer than doctors had predicted after diagnosing cancer
several years ago. He used that extra time to lead FANN, strengthen his business
and train his transition team.
John served FANN as president and co-president for eight years and
spent the last couple of decades beating the native plant drum. He first
encountered FANN long ago at a Florida Native Plant Society conference
and of course we persuaded him to go all in with native plants, which he did.
John had moved from Connecticut to Florida to start a landscaping business
and readily embraced native plants.
John was a force for nature in Southwest Florida, particularly for native
plants and the wild creatures they support. He worked with WGCU on a popular
televised native plants landscaping documentary series, served on county
advisory boards for extension and roadways, served for years as president of
the Coccoloba Chapter Florida Native Plant Society and was personally involved
in hundreds of native plant sales and award-winning landscape and
garden projects throughout Southwest Florida. As FANN’s president, John was
a huge advocate for FANN’s very first Native Plant Show in 2013, donning a
suit and tie to stroll the aisles at other industry events and sell exhibit spaces.
He was a great ambassador and loyal supporter, advertising in every publication,
exhibiting at every show and hosting a fundraising plant sale for FANN.
John is remembered as a very likeable, funny colleague who worked hard
for our cause. On the rare occasions when he got a little personal time, he
enjoyed reading mysteries and for several years, was able to “get away” to
Guatemala, home country of many of his crew members, for some much
needed peace and quiet. Despite his penchant for dropping the f-bomb at
every frustration, John was really a sweetheart, and particularly admirable
was his care and affection for his employees — a phenomenal crew and the
envy of any green operation. Thanks to John’s leadership, All Native Garden
Center & Plant Nursery will continue into the future under the management
of Joaquin Herrera. 5
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“As Florida contends with water supply challenges, habitat loss,
imperiled estuaries and a host of other environmental strains,
I know that FANN has and will continue to do a phenomenal job
of countering these concerns by providing a vast selection of high
quality native plants that can help restore a healthy environment
and sustainable future for all Floridians. Our grandchildren
will certainly be grateful for our efforts.”
—John Sibley, FANN past president and Founder, All Native Garden Center
Mike Kenton was a much loved nurseryman
who founded an early native plant nursery
in Pasco County, specializing in rare and
endangered plants, and generally offering a
few samples of nearly every Florida native
plant our members have learned to grow.
FANN presents the Mike Kenton award
annually to a member in recognition of
significant value and service to the Florida
native plant industry.
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