The September 2022 Gardens Gate Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens Gardens Wildlife from Sean & Chris Minch Pg6 HowandWhytoWelcome DragonfliestotheGarden Pg9 OutandAboutwithTheGardens Pg16 UpcomingEvents Pg26
2 2410 SE Westmoreland Blvd. Port St. Lucie, FL 34952 Phone: 772.337.1959 Fax: Web:Email:772.237.5952info@pslbg.org 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: Jeff Chambers Vice President: Heather Furnari Secretary: Mary Petrone Treasurer: Cathy Russo Directors: Mark A. Barnes John JudyLauraJeanetteBrendaEricksonGustafsonKostivalMehrNashWade Standing Committee Chairs... Election Committee: AlessandriniStephanie Giarraffa Finance Committee: Cathy Russo Gift Shop Committee: Laura Mehr Horticulture Committee: Brenda Gustafson Membership & Volunteer Committee: Laura Mehr Resource Committee:Development Heather Furnari Strategic Planning Committee: TBD 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.
Jeff Chambers
I do hope you all are surviving this heat we are having. Here at The Gardens, we have had to cut back hours out in Propagation and general grounds maintenance. Hopefully we can resume full operations in September.
, President Friends of the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens
Lefty’s Wings & Grill had a camera that caught the entire theft. We will adjust our operating hours once the fence is installed but we will be limited as we need volunteers to cover the extended hours. If you have any time to spare, please VOLUNTEER!
Jeff (aka the Captain)
Hello Everyone!
To the current volunteers, I can’t thank you enough for what you do. I have received some ideas from volunteers and I encourage you to share more. One of the best things about being on the Board is the time I get to get out in the Gardens and talk with you. I have had some great suggestions from you all. Please keep them coming.
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If you have been up to the Gardens, I am sure you have noticed all the construction going on. At the Gardens, new artificial grass has been installed on the stadium seating at the Lilly Pad, new benches have been installed throughout the Gardens and the fence will start at any time. Once again, while we regret fencing in the Gardens, it is necessary with the theft, vandalism and graffiti. The golf cart was stolen last week, but luckily the Police found it and it is now at the station being processed. Hopefully any fingerprints will be clear enough to find the culprits. Thankfully
09/24/22 The Art Of Bonsai
09/26/22 Sunset Yoga at The Gardens
Kids Yoga at The Gardens 10:00 AM 11:00 AM 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 6:30 PM 9:00 PM 10:00 AM 2:00 PM 9:00 AM 10:00 AM Jazz Jams 6:30 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 AM 12:00 PM 10:00 AM 2:00 PM Club Meeting 1:00 PM 4:00 PM 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 11:30 AM 1:30 PM 9:00 AM 10:00 AM 9:00 AM 10:00 AM
09/19/22 Sunset Yoga at The Garden
Fort Pierce Jazz & Blues Society Jazz Jams 6:30 PM 9:30 PM 09/08/22
Tai Chi @ The Gardens 9:00 AM 10:00 AM 09/14/22
Sunset Yoga at The Gardens 7:00 PM 8:00 PM 09/07/22
09/24/22 Treasure Coast Bonsai Meeting
4 Date Event Start Time End Time 09/01/22 Visconti HOA Meeting 5:30 PM 8:00 PM 09/02/22 Inside the Garden Gate Volunteer Orientation 10:30 AM 11:30 AM 09/03/22
09/27/22 PSL Historical Society Meeting
PSL Anglers Club Meeting 5:30 PM 9:30 PM 09/12/22
German American Club 5:00 PM 8:30 PM 09/15/22 Treasure Coast Rare Fruit Club Meeting 7:00 PM 9:00 PM 09/17/22
09/20/22 KWVTCC 166 Meeting
Hats in The Gardens 10:00 AM 11:00 AM 09/17/22
09/28/22 Tai Chi @ The Gardens
09/26/22 Rio Lindo Garden
Tai Chi @ The Gardens 9:00 AM 10:00 AM 09/07/22
FPSLBG Board of Directors Meeting 4:30 PM 6:00 PM 09/12/22
09/21/22 Fort Pierce Jazz & Blues Society
Kids Yoga at The Gardens 10:00 AM 11:00 AM 09/03/22
Butterflies In The Garden 10:00 AM 11:30 AM 09/05/22
09/21/22 Tai Chi @ The Gardens
Sunset Yoga at The Gardens 7:00 PM 8:00 PM 09/13/22 PSL Orchid Society Meeting 12:00 PM 3:00 PM 09/14/22
09/28/22 Commemorative Meeting
Rio Lindo Board Meeting 10:30 AM 11:30 AM 09/12/22
09/19/22 Sandpiper Bay Community Meeting
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
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September Plant Sale All Plants for sale Check out our $1.00 table *excluding plants with black sticks and clay pots 8
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Dragonflies need water, so installing a pond or pool is one surefire way to attract them. Even a small water feature—the size of a kiddie pool—or a potted water garden in a whiskey half barrel can do the trick. Dragonflies fly best when warm, so put your water feature where it will receive sun at midday. They appreciate rocks in and around the water and throughout the
Dragonflies to the Garden
Dragonflies and damselflies are widespread across the United States and can be enticed to visit most yards. There are even species adapted to desert areas of the Southwest. Dragonflies and damselflies rely on bodies of water for reproduction; adults lay eggs in the water or on plants at its edge, and the nymphs that hatch from the eggs live under water for months or years before they mature and fly. Although these insects tend to stay close to their birthplace, they are strong fliers that will explore surrounding lands and some will move to new territory. That's why even if you garden only remotely near fresh water or a wetland, the right adjustments can lure dragonflies to reside in your yard.
Differences between dragonflies and damselflies
There are several differences between dragonflies and damselflies at all stages of their lives, but their behavior and benefits are much the same. The easiest way to tell if you're looking at a dragonfly or a damselfly is to wait until it perches and see how it holds its wings. Dragonflies rest with their wings held open, while damselflies fold their wings back over their abdomens while at rest. Dragonflies are sometimes also called skimmers. The benefits of dragonflies and damselflies
Why would you want to bring dragonflies and damselflies to your garden? They're fun to watch, for one thing, but they also play an important role. They are excellent predators of other insects, including mosquitoes and beetles. They have excellent eyesight and they're supreme fliers, being both fast and nimble in the air. They often snatch their prey while in flight and devour it without even landing. Dragonflies and damselflies themselves are a food source for various birds. Dragonflies and damselflies don't sting or bite people. How to attract dragonflies and damselflies
garden, on which they can bask and warm themselves. Dragonflies also need perches from which they can scan the skies for prey. Shrubs and grasses at the water's edge provide perches. A pond should have some plants growing in it where the nymphs can hide and hunt. Avoid adding fish since these would prey on the nymphs.
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A 12 spotted skimmer alights on a skinny stem. Skimmers are one type of dragonfly.
Even without adding a water feature you can lure dragonflies to your garden if you live in proximity to a body of freshwater, or if you have a naturally boggy area in your yard. Wandering adults will explore the surrounding lands and they can fly quite far. Provide basking rocks and twiggy shrubs and tall perennials for them to perch on. Bare bamboo stakes are good perches for dragonflies, too.
Summer Hours: Wednesday thru Saturday 9am - 12pm Closed Mondays & Tuesdays 12
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The 2022 Summer Passport program has ended. Thank you all for your support in helping make this happen. A special thanks to the Welcome Desk volunteers for helping our visitors in those unexpected moments.
Thanks to Tinia Miniaci for the wonderful yard art she donated to the Garden Center. A very generous donation for sure!
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New artificial grass being installed on the stadium seating at the Lilly Pad.
17 Weddings are Magical at The Gardens WOW!!! Mary Hensley, a Garden Center volunteer, jumping off a Vermont cliff on a recent vacation.
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at the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens. Beginners Tai Chi is designed to inspire better balance and improve confidence, concentration & peace of mind within the beautiful grounds of the Botanical Gardens. The cost is $10 per class for Non Friends' Members and $5 to FPSLBG Members Sign up at www.pslbg.org/taichi. September 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th October 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th November 2nd, 9th, 16th, 30th
• 1st & 3rd SATURDAYS • 10:00am - 10:45am
Kids
Yoga is a fun and engaging class for children of all ages and their families. The instructor aims to teach kids about their social and emotional development, using breath-work and movement to teach children about themselves. Classes are $5.00 per child and limited to 15 children per class. Parents do not need to register, but must be present. Sign up at www.pslbg.org/yoga. September 3rd, 17th October 1st, 15th November 5th, 19th
RESTORATIVE
YOGA • SELECT MONDAYS • 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Join Restorative Yoga at the Port St. Lucie Botanical L. Buse (RYT emotional
Gardens, a fun mix for basic and intermediate participants on select Monday’s of each month. The cost is $10 per class for Non-Friends' Members and Free to FPSLBG Members. Become a Member and get More Free Perks! Sign up at www.pslbg.org/yoga. September 5th, 12th, 26th • 7pm - 8pm October 3rd, 10th, 24th • 6pm - 7pm November 7th, 14th, 28th • 5pm - 6pm
Join Sunset at the Port St. Lucie Botanical
us for
TAI - 10:00am
KIDS YOGA
Yoga
us
us for
29 WELLNESS CLASSES AT THE PORT ST. LUCIE BOTANICAL GARDENS
CHI • WEDNESDAYS • 9:00am
Gardens with Gina
Join for Tai Chi
relaxation. Appropriate for all levels, it is practiced at a slow pace, long holds, stillness and deep breathing. The cost is $5 per class for Friends' Members and $10 for Non Members. Limited to 10 participants. Sign up at www.pslbg.org/yoga. September 19th October 17th November 21st SUNSET YOGA • SELECT MONDAYS
200). Restorative yoga encourages physical, mental, and
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