The Gardens Gate – July 2022

July 2022 The Gardens Gate Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens

Children’s Education at The Gardens

Pg6

ACE Volunteer of the Month Pg9

Out and About with The Gardens

Pg16

Upcoming Events

Pg27

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 Hours:

Wednesday - Saturday 10:00am - 4:00pm Sunday 12:00pm - 4:00pm

Garden Center “Summer” Hours

Wednesday - Saturday 9:00am - 12:00pm 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 John Erickson Jeanette Kostival 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.

2

Summer Greetings...

Well summer is off with soaring heat already. Remember the basics, keep hydrated, use sun screen and wear a hat. Try to get your gardening done early in the morning. Heat stroke is a very real possibility.

The Pioneer Village, which is the children’s playground, has been awarded to a contractor so we should see some prep work starting on that and the Peacock House should also be starting soon.

I know you have noticed the trenches around The Gardens and that is the initial phase of putting in the Security System and the Wi-Fi throughout The Gardens. We should see the poles going in before long that will elevate the cameras.

The fence and the paving in the Secret Garden are still on track. The electric for the fountain should be installed any day along with the benches. Staffing shortages and just getting the materials in has been somewhat of a challenge. The kitchen cabinets have been approved and a vendor selected for the project. Hopefully that will be very soon and we can get better organized.

The Board of Directors will not be meeting in July or August, but we are still available and will be on site as usual. This will be much needed time to catch up on the busy work.

Once again, thank you all for what you do!

Jeff (aka the Captain)

Jeff Chambers, President

Friends of the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens

3

Date

4

Event

Start Time

End Time

07/01/22

Inside the Garden Gate Volunteer Orientation (All Welcome)

10:30 AM

11:30 AM

07/02/22

Kids Yoga at The Gardens ($5 per child)

10:00 AM

11:00 AM

07/06/22

Tai Chi @ The Gardens (Registration Required)

9:00 AM

10:00 AM

07/06/22

Art Show Committee Meeting

9:00 AM

10:00 AM

07/06/22

Fort Pierce Jazz & Blues Society Jazz Jams at The Gardens ($7.00 Donation / $6.00 Members / All Welcome)

6:30 PM

9:30 PM

07/11/22

NO FPSLBG Board Meeting For July

-

-

07/11/22

Sunset Yoga at The Gardens (Registration Required)

7:00 PM

8:00 PM

07/13/22

Tai Chi @ The Gardens (Registration Required)

9:00 AM

10:00 AM

07/14/22

PSL Anglers Club Meeting

5:30 PM

9:30 PM

07/16/22

Kids Yoga at The Gardens ($5 per child)

10:00 AM

11:00 AM

07/16/22

Inside the Garden Gate Volunteer Orientation (All Welcome)

10:30 AM

11:30 AM

07/18/22

Restorative Yoga at The Gardens (Registration Required)

7:00 PM

8:00 PM

07/19/22

KWVTCC 166 Meeting

10:00 AM

2:00 PM

07/20/22

Tai Chi @ The Gardens (Registration Required)

9:00 AM

10:00 AM

07/20/22

St. Lucie Master Gardeners Meeting with Pot-Luck

9:00 AM

12:00 PM

07/20/22

Fort Pierce Jazz & Blues Society Jazz Jams at The Gardens ($7.00 Donation / $6.00 Members / All Welcome)

6:30 PM

9:30 PM

07/23/22

Treasure Coast Bonsai Meeting

10:00 AM

12:00 PM

07/25/22

Sunset Yoga at The Gardens (Registration Required)

7:00 PM

8:00 PM

07/27/22

Tai Chi @ The Gardens (Registration Required)

9:00 AM

10:00 AM

07/27/22

Commemorative Committee Meeting

9:00 AM

10:00 AM

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.

5

Page 6 - The Friends of the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens Education Department presents a seminar on “Feathered Friends” at the St Lucie County Public Library - Morningside Branch.

Page 7 (Top) - The Friends of the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens Education Department conducts a seminar for Helping People Success on “Perfect Pollinators”.

Page 7 (Bottom) -The Friends of the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens Education Department are having fun with the St. Lucie County Summer Passport Series and classes regarding nature as well as scavenger hunts.

6

Continued on Pg8

7

GARDEN CENTER SUMMER HOURS nd th June 22 through September 14 Wednesday through Sunday 9:00 am to 12:00pm

8

ethic, and attention to detail makes her the perfect fit for her choice of Jeanette as July’s Ace award winner.

Heather also said that Jeanette has greatly improved the forms that are used in events, and has taken an active role in recruiting more volunteers for events. Her calm and reassuring manner is perfect for the guests seeking to have their celebrations at The Gardens.

Jeanette Kostival of our Events department is our ACE award Volunteer of the Month for July, 2022.

We are all so happy to see Jeanette’s smiling face whenever she is at The Gardens. Her good humor and kindness have made friends of many.

In talking to Heather about Jeanette, she said that Jeanette slid right into a dominant role in events, and that her computer experience, happy personality, sense of humor, strong work

Jeanette also works as a registered behavioral technician and has been helping children for over 10 years in that field. When she has spare time, she loves to go dancing, attend concerts, and spend time with her family, especially her grandson, Oliver, who has charmed everyone at The Gardens with his impish grin and playful personality.

The Gardens is so lucky to have her here as a volunteer, and if you don’t know Jeanette, stop by the events office and say ‘hi’.

By: Laura Mehr

9

Perennial Treachery: Betrayed by Garden Plants!

In this humorous essay, Scott Beuerlein describes how some of his favorite plants have turned traitor in his garden.

Of all the rotten things in the world, the most appalling is betrayal. Who are history’s most loathsome people? The treasonous! Judas, Brutus and Benedict Arnold.

Irises—so pretty until a closer look reveals the weeds they're wont to shelter.

Recently, I discovered that many of my perennials have been traitors. They have aided and abetted my worst enemies—such vile foes as sorrel, chickweed, annual bluegrass, crabgrass and other weeds I cannot name but loathe. You know them. That filthy ilk.

I have long been aware, of course, that certain perennials are unapologetic weed enablers. Iris, for instance. They’re like the Mae West of plants. So openly and eagerly do they invite the rabble in that it’s almost cute. Among their shoots they will present to you anything from barnyard grass to silver maples to Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm’ seedlings.

They do this about the same way your cat presents you with a dead mouse.

We have to assume, then, that iris mean well. They’re just kind of weird and dumb. Like cats. Likewise their relatives crocosmia and candy lilies. Or almost any of the sedges.

The weeds these perennials harbor are weeds you can pull, at least. (Someday. When your back doesn’t hurt too much. And when it’s not too hot out. And maybe after you’ve had that second cup of coffee. Yeah, on that day, you can bend over and pull the little bastard!)

I’m not nearly as forgiving of certain other perennials—former favorites that, it turns out, have been dirty, stinking rats. Corydalis and columbines. Look beneath them: Every weed you can imagine! Hostas host all the worst offenders. And Geranium ‘Rozanne’?

Oh, how I love her, but beneath her skirt she gives refuge to every sorrel under the sun!

And spurge. And others. All of them setting seed.

This sad revelation has changed me. I used to take some pride in being a relatively nice guy. Now I’m like Darth Vader in one of the episodes where there is absolutely no chance he’ll do anything redemptive. I whisk about my yard, angry and paranoid, obsessively lifting shoots, cussing and laying waste to ruffians. There’s a walking path right across the street, with lots of people coming and going. My wife is mortified. Me? After my energy is spent, I feel only shame.

10

I know that some of you will suggest I try mulching. Others will argue for use of a preemergent herbicide. But I’m stubborn. And I’m stupid. And I like it when some of my plants can at least dream of having children of their own. Moreover, there has never been a moment in my life when any of the worst vices on Earth didn’t seem a more constructive pursuit than carting heavy, steaming, stinking, fermenting bark around the yard.

So here I am. Stuck. This is my bitter fate. I am a monster who mortifies his sweet, sweet wife. Set in his ways. Obsessed with ‘Rozanne’s’ comeliness, and then with her indiscretions. Just another lost soul of a gardener down in the gutter, destined to pull weeds. Forever.

PERENNIALSDEEP ROOTSWEEDS

BY SCOTT BEUERLEIN 11

12

Summer Hours: Wednesday thru Saturday 9am - 12pm Closed Mondays & Tuesdays

13

14

15

Aerial View of the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens

PSL Orchid Society Meeting

Rio Lindo Club Meeting

PSL Orchid Society Meeting

16

Rio Lindo Club Meeting

Rose Garden & Moon Gates

A rose in bloom in the Rose Garden

Secret Garden

Rio Lindo at the Taste of the Tropics

Visitors from Wichita Ks, Fort Meyers and Port St. Lucie

17

Continued from Pg17

18

Continued on Pg20

19

Continued from Pg19

20

Continued on Pg22

21

Continued from Pg22

22

Continued on Pg24

23

Continued from Pg23

24

Continued on Pg26

25

Continued from Pg25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32