Okay, But Why Is It Called “Winter Garden”?
You’d think we’d know this.
We do not.
For a city that has spent more than a century confidently calling itself Winter Garden, history left us several competing explanations for who actually came up with the name.
And one of them involves people spitting tomato seeds on the ground.
One local story preserved in accounts of Winter Garden’s early history says sawmill workers eating lunch during the 1880s tossed or spit tomato seeds onto the ground.
The seeds sprouted.
Then they survived the mild Central Florida winter and produced tomatoes.
A garden.
In winter.
Winter Garden.
It’s almost suspiciously perfect.
But that’s only one version.
Another story involves Arthur Bullard Newton, one of the most important characters in early Winter Garden history. Newton came to Florida from Mississippi while suffering from poor health. One version says the community’s name honored a Dr. Gardiner who had recommended that Newton move to Florida.
Other accounts credit local growers who needed a name for their railroad stop. Another credits prominent landowner David E. Washburn. Yet another credits Mrs. Frank Davis of nearby Apopka.
Then there’s the wonderfully uncomplicated explanation: farmers could grow crops here during winter, so “Winter Garden” simply described what made the place special.
NASA’s Earth Observatory history of Lake Apopka notes the area’s long agricultural relationship with the lake, while local historical accounts have preserved the various stories surrounding the community’s name.
So which story is true?
Nobody can say with absolute certainty.
But the basic idea behind the name certainly fits.
While much of the country spent winter staring at frozen ground and dormant gardens, Central Florida farmers could still grow things.
Whoever ultimately put the two words together picked a pretty good name.
SocksWithCrocs Side Note
Imagine accidentally naming an entire city because you threw tomato seeds on the ground during lunch.
Meanwhile, we’ve spent 25 minutes trying to name a Wi-Fi network.
