The Gardens Gate – November 2021

The November 2021 Gardens Gate Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens

The Gardens Through The Eyes Of Scott Hunter Pg6

Gardens Elections 2022

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Out and About with The Gardens

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How-To Seminars and Upcoming Holiday Events

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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 PETS ARE NOT PERMITTED IN THE GARDENS 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 Tim Sutton

Standing Committee Chairs...

Election Committee:

Stephanie Alessandrini-Giarraffa Brenda Gustafson Laura Mehr Brenda Gustafson

Finance Committee: Gift Shop Committee: Horticulture Committee: Membership & Volunteer Committee: Mark A. Barnes 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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Dear Friends, Fall has finally arrived and that means the Holiday Season is upon on us!

We have our Thankful Gathering Holiday party coming up in November and before you know it 2022 will be here and what a year we will have.

The calendar for 2022 is already filling up with events, classes and other activities. With that said, we really need everyone that can volunteer their time to please join us. The increase in visitors and the events coming on board has us stretched thin. It would be great to be able to have individuals interested in being docents, guest services and our Gift shop as well as other areas. Our Education Program has really taken off and we certainly could use extra hands there, especially working the Back Pack program and the other educational activities.

The Festival of Lights will begin in November after Thanksgiving and we will be extending the opening hours of the Pavilion Friday, Saturday and Sunday 5pm to 10pm.

We will have some food trucks, entertainment and participation from other garden clubs. This will be the first event so we will have some bumps along the way, but as always we learn how to do better next time.

I would also like to extend an invitation to attend our Board of Directors meetings.

These meetings are open and we do give individuals time to speak. The Gardens belong to everyone and we do value your input.

As always I am very thankful for each and every one of you. I am constantly amazed at the hidden talent and ideas you all come up with.

I am humbled and proud to be your “Captain”.

Jeff Chambers, President

Friends of the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens

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What’s Going on at the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens in

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Available Available September NOW!!!29th

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

The Gardens is the Perfect learning environment!!!

Our NEW Discovery Back Packs will be available to the public starting on Wednesday, September 29th, inside the Pavilion, for parents and kids to take an exciting adventure and learning experience through the Gardens.

Adults may sign-out backpacks each Wednesday & Saturday between the hours of 10:30am & 2:30pm, with a Valid State ID, for use within our Gardens.

Children’s activities have begun on select Saturdays and continue monthly.

Inquire at our front desk.

Thank You.

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

Grab a bargain everyday!

at our CLEARANCE Table $1, $2, & $3 Plants 9

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

What an impressive place to be! Often, before or after our committee meetings, I love to walk through the garden and see what is new. I also enjoy taking groups of students, during our workshops, through the garden. For the majority of these students, and the adults accompanying them, it is the first time they have ever been here.

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

My entire career, I have been in education. I can truthfully say that I never looked back on my decision to become a teacher. After retirement, I volunteered at schools in Fort Pierce and PSL. When the pandemic hit, I was at a loss. I missed the interaction with kids and the comradery with the teachers who I worked with. When I heard, through a friend, about the Education Committee here at the pslbg I immediately called to volunteer.

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

My original focus was to offer my time to help create standards-based educational workshops for students who would come to the gardens. This focus has increased ten-fold because of our director Mary Patrone. Under Mary’s direction, our committee now includes more opportunities than ever before for garden visitors. Besides the workshops, which have already been successfully given to several camps and summer programs, we have started a backpack program: the opportunity for “scavenger hunts,” new ideas for adult education and the possibility of other kid centered programs such as story time in the garden. We have also developed a collaboration with the Morningside Library which has been most helpful in providing our group with book lists and creative ideas going forward.

What do you find most rewarding about volunteering at pslbg?

The most rewarding thing about volunteering here has been the connection to so many other volunteers. The care and concern for the success of the pslbg shown by each of these people has been inspiring. Because the garden relies on the dedication of its volunteers, we each feel valued and respectful of the impact we can have now and for future generations.

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

Actually, in our house, my husband Bob is the one with the “Green Thumb.” He keeps our lanai full of gorgeous plants and flowers. When we still were New Yorker’s, our neighbors loved to sit on our porch or in the back yard because of his attention to beautiful landscaping. He has helped me see how truly peaceful and inspiring an area can be when one adds plants to any surrounding.

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

Anything in the Butterfly Room. The activity here is “naturally” amazing!

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

My free time is best spent with family and friends.

My husband and I enjoy golfing and discovering what Florida has to offer. We are originally from upstate New York. I am an avid card player and see this as a great way to keep brain activity going in a strategic game.

Tell us a little bit about your family.

My husband and I have five daughters and eleven grandchildren. Unfortunately, the family is spread over the country and we do not get to see our children and grandchildren as often as we would hope for. On the plus side, they each live in some impressive places to visit.

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

My life has been an open book however, even my friends do not know that I have wanted to write a book for many years. Unfortunately, there have been numerous “false starts” in this process for me.

Ideas have not yet seen fruition. Hopefully, there is still time to find that Road not Taken (thank you Mr. Frost).

What’s your favorite quote or saying?

My mother was a no-nonsense person who believed that hard work was a real plus. Therefore, whenever my sister or I would try to get out of something like school or work she would say: “ Put some lipstick on and go do what you need to do.” I still try to follow this advice.

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Donations of items to create a dry river bed Cash donations for additional Faeries

Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens

A Loving Volunteer Group to watch and maintain the Garden. All Donations Tax Deductible

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Many thanks to our fellow board member Valerie Davis-Bailey for her generous donation of our Gift Shop Garden Cart.

Posing in the Gift Shop PSL Tree Give-A-Way Volunteers Heather, Georgette & Jeff

A shout out please to Ren Smeder for his donation of this large Staghorn for our new Ancient Garden

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Cars line up to receive their trees at the PSL Tree Give-A-Way

Cooking with Pizazzz

Cooking with Pizzaz attendee - great job.

Nightime at The Gardens

Cooking with Pizazzz

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Can you give us as little as 3 hours per week of your time?

The Friends of the Port St Lucie Botanical Gardens are looking for Volunteers to assist in various positions throughout the Garden. Become a part of a very active garden, meet fellow volunteers, have fun, and enjoy being part of a team.

Garden Center. Gift Shop, Welcome Center & Guest Services Wednesday - Saturday (3 hours) • 10am-1pm or 1pm-4pm* Sunday - 4 hours • 12pm-4pm Garden Rooms—Daylily Garden, Bromeliad Garden, Secret Garden - Name your hours.

We need help with weeding, trimming, and maintaining the gardens.

Contact our Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@pslbg.org or call The Gardens at 772-337-1959 and leave a message.

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