The Gardens Gate – March 2022

March 2022 The Gardens Gate Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens

Botanica 2022 In Pictures

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Garden Center Rocks

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Out and About with The Gardens

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Upcoming Events Geli Visions Angelica Jaramillo

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2410 SE Westmoreland Blvd.

Port St. Lucie, FL 34952 Phone: 772.337.1959 Fax: 772.237.5952 Email: info@pslbg.org Web: www.pslbg.org

Pavilion, Gift Shop & Garden Center Hours:

Wednesday - Saturday 10:00am - 4:00pm Sunday 12:00pm - 4:00pm FURRY FRIENDS ARE WELCOMED ACCOMPANIED BY RESPONSIBLE OWNERS. PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW YOUR PET TO RELIEVE THEMSELVES IN OUR GARDEN ROOMS. PET STATIONS ARE LOCATED AROUND THE GARDENS FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE. SKATES, BOARDS & BICYCLES ARE NOT PERMITTED ON THE WALKWAYS IN THE GARDENS

Suggested Donations: Adults $5 • Students $2 Free for FPSLBG Members and Active Military with family (IDs required)

Mission Statement...

Friends’ mission is to create and maintain a beautiful, serene sanctuary in the center of Port St. Lucie that is environmentally sound and naturally diverse and to provide educational, cultural and recreational opportunities for all who visit.

Officers & Directors...

President: Vice President: Secretary: Treasurer: Directors:

Jeff Chambers Heather Furnari Mary Petrone Brenda Gustafson Mark A. Barnes Valerie Davis-Bailey John Erickson Laura Mehr Judy Nash-Wade Arthur Pearlstein Cathy Russo

Standing Committee Chairs...

Election Committee:

Stephanie Alessandrini-Giarraffa Cathy Russo Laura Mehr Brenda Gustafson

Finance Committee: Gift Shop Committee: Horticulture Committee: Membership & Volunteer Committee: Laura Mehr Resource Development Committee: Heather Furnari Strategic Planning Committee: Arthur Pearlstein

Newsletter...

Editor & Design:

Mark A. Barnes

The Gardens is managed and operated by Friends of the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)(3) public charity organization, that was founded to help support the daily operations of The Gardens. Friends volunteers provide hands-on daily oversight of the facility, including staffing to handle the many visitors year round. Please consider becoming a member of Friends. Friends' is a 100% volunteer organization. In all cases, donations are deductible to the extent allowed by law.

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Greetings one and all!

I would like to thank all the Volunteers that made this year’s Botanica Plant Sale a success! Without you, this would have not been possible. I can never thank you all enough for the hard work that you do!

We are getting the fence project moved up and it will make a huge difference. It is unfortunate that the Gardens has to be fenced in but the vandalism and theft has gone on long enough that action has to be taken.

I personally thank the City for recognizing this issue and making this happen.

We are starting to upgrade our systems and hopefully it will be a more user friendly system and help us to be more efficient. In addition, the Serenity Garden has come a long way, just a few more finishing touches and it will be a welcome addition.

The Port Project will be a great addition. The plans for the proposed restaurant are really exciting and will definitely be an asset with the farm to table concept. There will be something for everyone.

This year we welcome a new Board member, Cathy Russo who is taking on the duties of Treasurer. She has worked with Brenda Gustafson for the past year so the transition was seamless. Please welcome her to the team.

As always I thank my Board of Directors for their support during the past year. I also have to thank the City of Port St. Lucie City Council for their support they give to the Gardens.

Thank you all!

Jeff Chambers, President

Friends of the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens

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Available NOW!!!

Available Wednesday thru Saturday 10am - 4pm And Sunday 12noon - 4pm For use in the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens Limit 1 Per Family - State ID Required Backpacks are cleaned & sanitized after each use.

Are You Looking for Fun and Educational Children’s Activities?

The Gardens is the Perfect learning environment!!!

Our NEW Discovery Back Packs are available to the public inside the Pavilion, free of charge, for parents and kids to take an exciting adventure and learning experience through the Gardens.

Adults may sign-out backpacks Wednesday thru Saturday 10am - 4pm and Sunday 12noon - 4pm, with a Valid State ID, for use within our Gardens.

Scheduled Lessons are available to public and Private schools. Inquire at our front desk or email education@pslbg.org.

Thank You.

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Thank you to our St Lucie County Community and all the surrounding communities for helping to make our Garden Center Sale so profitable. We are so appreciative that our community has been so supportive and generous with purchases and donations.

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Special thank you to our dedicated volunteers who, without their hard work we would not be the Garden we are today. We are a 100% Volunteer Garden.

Thank you so much to Paula Barger for the donation of the lovely White Christmas Palms along with many other plants. They were started by her mother over 40 years ago and Paula often made Christmas presents for her friends from cuttings. We will continue her tradition moving forward.

These lovely Christmas Palms can be seen on our Veranda.

Our High School students planting one of three palm trees donated by D’Asign Source Botanicals. They specialize in Cycads and we recently purchased Cycad’s for our new Ancient Garden that are outstanding. Thank You for the Donation!

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Volunteers Making it Happen in the Garden Center Our new Pergolas are in the Garden Center—Thank you to our design and implementation team, Merv Yearwood, Laura Brady, Sherry & Eric Catalina, John Erickson and Gene Kovacs. Be sure to stop by and visit our ‘chic boutique Garden Center’. Lots of new plants and unusual, fun items for sale.

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Who was the most instrumental person who influenced your love of gardening?

Heather Furnari What’s your favorite tree or plant, and why?

Orchids they are very forgiving and produce magnificent flowers .

Why did you choose to volunteer at the PSL Botanical Gardens?

I enjoy people and want to help support Botanical Gardens.

Do you have any goals for your time here as a volunteer?

My goals are to help the growth of The Garden’s Gate .

What do you find most rewarding about volunteering at The Gardens?

The nice people I have encountered.

What do you like to do when you’re at The Gardens?

Work in the Gift Shop.

Outside of The Gardens, what do you enjoy doing in your free time?

Shopping and eating out in good food restaurants. Also some traveling to new places.

Tell us a little bit about your family.

I have a lovely family that resides in Utah.

Five fabulous grandchildren and three great grandchildren. I was born in northern Virginia. Left at an early age . Have very few relatives.

Tell us something about you that’s interesting, or that not many people know about you.

Tough question. I am honest and caring . No hidden talents What’s your favorite quote or saying?

Life is Good

Hours: Wednesday thru Saturday 10am - 4pm & Sunday 12pm - 4pm. Closed Mondays & Tuesdays 11

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2022 Annual Membership Meeting

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The Gardens in Bloom

Our Resident Mermaid of The Garden.

One of our Gopher Tortoises our for a walk.

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New signage at the Garden Rooms

Our resident Gator taking a stoll

The Serenity Garden takes shape.

Story Time in the Fairy Garden during Botanica. Readings were performed by Ms. Lisa from the Morningside Library. Mr. Lisa read: Fairy Felicity's Moonlight Adventure and Ten Magic Butterflies.

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Stop by the Gift Shop for an Application and More Information.

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