The Gardens' Gate - July 2023

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, and Garden Hours:

Tuesday - Saturday | 9 AM - 5 PM Sunday | Noon - 5 PM

Summer Garden Center Hours

Tuesday - Saturday | 9 AM - 12 PM

Skates, boards & bicycles are not permitted on the walkways in the gardens.

Suggested Donations:

Adults $5 • Students $2 • Children 12 & Under $2 Free for PSLBG 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.

Office & Directors

President: Heather Furnari

Vice President: Jeanette Kostival

Secretary: Judy Nash-Wade

Treasurer: Cheri Mabry

Directors: John Erickson, Dale Johnson, Mary Petrone, Pam Scholey, Tim Sutton, Moses Hill, Joleen King

Standing Committee Chairs

Election Committee: Stephanie Alessandrini Giarraffa

Finance Committee: Cheri Mabry

Gift Shop Committee: Pam Scholey

Horticulture Committee: Tim Sutton, Dale Johnson

Membership & Volunteer Committee: Jeanette Kostival

Resource Development Committee: Heather Furnari

Strategic Planning Committee: Tim Sutton

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.

CONTENTS

Monthly Calendar pg. 4

What’s Blooming Now? pg. 10

The Welcome Desk pg. 16

Orchid Room New Addition pg. 18

Volunteer Spotlights pg. 20

Mango Madness pg. 24

Thank You, Claude! pg. 27

Did You Know? pg. 31

Guest Photos pg. 36

*Reminder

Friends Monthly Board Meeting

Monday, July 10, 2023 | 4:30PM

Members are welcome to attend meetings.

Happy 4th of July!

With the summer’s heat upon us, we want to ask all our guests to be sure to stay hydrated, wear a hat, use sunscreen, and walk in the shade when possible. There are many beautiful, shaded areas to choose from here at The Gardens. But most of all, please stay hydrated!

Due to the summer heat, our volunteer hours in the Garden Center have been reduced. The new hours at the Garden Center are 9 AM - 12 PM, Tuesday through Saturday. The Garden Center is closed Sundays. They will return to regular hours on September 16th. If you are bringing in any plant donations, please make sure that you do so during these hours. While we always welcome donations, they must be tracked to keep all our plants healthy.

This month’s issue of The Gardens’ Gate newsletter is full of great classes, events, and other happenings, so come on over and relax, learn or just stroll in the shade while connecting with nature.

Before I close this letter, a quick update on the Port Project. Construction is continuing and the children’s playground is really taking shape. The big metal alligator is in place, as are several other pieces of equipment. The sidewalks are starting to be poured, and work on the berm for the event lawn area has started. Please come out and visit us. The summer is a special time in The Gardens. There’s plenty to do for everyone, and the butterflies, flowers, plants and trees are all waiting for you!

Respectfully,

Heather Furnari

President Friends of the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens

If you’re interested in discussing opportunities to join any committees at The Gardens, please email: volunteer@pslbg.org

(Gardens Closed)

TASTE

Saturday, September 9, 2023

8:30 AM - 3 PM

Enjoy

What’s Blooming Now?

Cattleya orchids prefer bright, indirect light and moderate humidity, while Dendrobium orchids have varying light requirements and thrive in different temperature ranges depending on the species.

Watering and fertilizing practices also differ, with Cattleyas needing a drying-out period between watering and regular fertilization, and Dendrobiums having specific watering needs depending on the type.

Cattleya Orchids and Dendrobium

Orchids are two distinct genera of orchids. Cattleyas feature large, vibrant flowers with few to several blooms per stem, while Dendrobiums produce smaller flowers in clusters along the stem. Cattleyas have a creeping growth habit with pseudobulbs, while Dendrobiums can be either sympodial with pseudobulbs or monopodial with elongated stems.

Dendrobium Orchid

Cattleya Orchid

Vanda Orchids and Moth Orchids, also known as Phalaenopsis, are distinct genera of orchids. Vandas feature large, showy flowers that are typically vibrant in color and often have a waxy texture. Moth orchids produce elegant, moth-like flowers with a range of colors, including white, pink, and purple. Vandas are typically monopodial, with long, erect stems and aerial roots, while Moth orchids are also monopodial but have shorter, more compact stems. Vandas prefer bright, indirect light and high humidity, while Moth orchids can tolerate lower light levels and moderate humidity. Watering practices vary, with Vandas requiring regular watering and misting, while Moth orchids prefer a drier environment and should not be overwatered. Both orchids can be cultivated as potted plants and require specific care and attention to thrive.

Phalaenopsis or Moth Orchid

Phalaenopsis or Moth Orchid

Brassocatanthe

Vanda Orchid

Welcome Desk The

by GAIL L’ESPERANCE

When you first walk into The Port St Lucie Botanical Gardens Pavillion, you’ll be greeted by a friendly volunteer who will tell you about The Gardens and answer any questions you might have. If you come by on a Wednesday morning, you might meet Charles at the Welcome Desk.

I was curious about the Welcome Desk, so I sat down with Charles to ask him how he came to volunteer at the Port Saint Lucie Botanical Gardens and what his volunteering job entails. Charles explained that he was introduced to the Botanical Gardens in 2021, at a time when he was looking for a place to volunteer. The Gardens were perfect because he’s an avid gardener.

Charles at the Welcome Desk

Charles said he chose the Front Desk because first impressions matter. He feels that greeting people, answering their questions, and making them feel comfortable is a vital part of any service organization. When visitors first enter the Botanical Gardens Pavillion, Charles informs them about the facilities and gardens, then gives them a map and a brochure. He also answers the phone, restocks the desk supplies, and cleans up when needed.

I asked Charles what the hardest part of volunteering at the Front Desk was, and he said that he thoroughly enjoys The Gardens and there is no hardest part – except possibly getting up early enough to arrive before it opens in the morning. Charles loves greeting guests and making them feel welcome.

When you come to the Port Saint Lucie Botanical Gardens, please say hello to Charles or whoever is the Front Desk volunteer of the day. They are the heartbeat of The Gardens.

In the Orchid Room at The Botanical Gardens, we use bamboo fencing to display orchids that we call bag babies. The bag baby orchids can be purchased at Lowes and The Home Depot. We call them bag babies because they come in a bag. The Port St. Lucie Orchid Society places orchids on a bamboo wall to show how to mount, grow and display the orchids. The bamboo grows naturally in Taiwan where many of our orchids come from, so we try to incorporate this method of growing orchids in our Orchid Room.

ACE VOLUNTEERS OF THE MONTH

Volunteer Spotlights

by LAURA MEHR

Congratulations to MaryAnn Ronay, one of our July ACE Volunteers of the Month. MaryAnn was nominated by Board Member Joleen King.

Joleen told us that MaryAnn’s presence at the Welcome Desk is a wonderful thing. She greets all our guests with enthusiasm and interest, and calmly guides them on their way into The Gardens. MaryAnn loves to talk with our Garden guests to find out where they are from, and what they think of The Gardens. She is reliable, loyal, and most importantly, loves The Gardens. You can stop by the Welcome Desk every Saturday morning to have a chat with MaryAnn.

MaryAnn is originally from Long Island, and moved to Florida in 1988. She worked for Pan Am Airlines for 21 years and loved to travel while working for them. MaryAnn recently joined the Rio Lindo Garden Club and helps out in our Rose Garden on Wednesday mornings.

We are happy and grateful to have such a dedicated volunteer with us at The Gardens.

Congratulations to Tracy Kutzler, one of our July ACE Volunteers of the Month, nominated by Board Member Pam Shoeley.

Pam nominated Tracy because she is always the first to volunteer to cover the Gift Shop when someone is needed. Board member and Volunteer Chair Jeanette has also said that Tracy is always willing to cover any open spots when coverage is needed at any event.

Tracy takes initiative and is a self-starter, watering the air plants, restocking the shelves, and printing the daily reporting envelopes. She is also incredibly determined to find the solution to any issue we may have with the Gift Shop’s computer or its software.

The Gift Shop customers love her, because of her friendly and welcoming attitude, and no one is inclined to leave without buying something from Tracy.

Tracy is the mother of Amy, our plant ID researcher, who is currently attending UF, majoring in Forestry. Tracy’s pride in her daughter’s accomplishments is always at the forefront of any conversation with her. Tracy, her husband, and Amy love to go on cruises. Tracy has had many adventures in her travels around the world.

We are so grateful to have Tracy on the Gift Shop team, and she is so deserving of this honor.

We are so grateful for Tropiscapes Landscaping who are selflessly donating their skills and labor to install the memorial bricks in the Serenity Garden. Thank you for your incredible generosity and for creating a beautiful way to remember those in our community!

Madness Mango

Themango season is upon us. We don’t know if you’ve noticed, but this year brings south Florida a bumper crop of mangoes! It might be because of the near freezing temperatures we had a couple of times this past winter, or we might just be lucky, but every mango tree around town is filled to the brim with fruit. Please click the following IFAS articles for further information about our bounty:

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/ MG216

Alongwith our mango bounty we are also in the midst of a mosquito bounty –UGH! Our beautiful, lush summers bring them by the millions. Please check out the following IFAS article about our constant companions:

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ publication/IN1045

ThankYou!

Big shout out to Claude Denuzo for donating this Staghorn Fern (Platycerium) which can be found in our Ancient Garden. Claude’s brother, who has passed away, gave him the original pup. Now Claude wants to share this gorgeous fern with all our Garden guests.

Photographer SESSIONS

AT THE GARDENS

Due to the new fence around The Gardens, photographers that are members may enter the grounds for 1-2 evenings a month for a fee and bring their client to take photos.

Cost is $15/Session

Business Membership is Required www.pslbg.org/membership.html

Register Prior to the Event:

Monday, July 10, 2023

Photography Nights

Monday, July 10, 2023 4 PM - 8 PM

Thursday, July 20, 2023

https://portstluciebotanicalgardens.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/portstluciebotanicalgardens/eventRegistration.jsp?event=3215&

Thursday, Juy 20, 2023

https://portstluciebotanicalgardens.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/portstluciebotanicalgardens/eventRegistration.jsp?event=3220&

Did You Know?

The Butterfly Garden was originally designed to be a Citrus Garden. When the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens started in 2010, it was just around the time that the citrus greening virus was taking hold - and ultimately would destroy the industry in Florida. It was decided it wasn't viable to try to fight ....and so the Butterfly Garden was born!

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

A NEW VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

A new team is being developed! Help plan and implement outreach activities throughout our local community. Options include, but are not limited to: public speaking, outreach event planning, writing articles, etc.

Interested? Contact us at info@pslbg.org or (772) 337-1959

All members of the Friends of the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens enjoy exclusive benefits:

• Free admission to the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens

• 10% off most Gift Shop purchases

• Garden Center Member Specials

• Reciprocal Admission and/or Discounts to American Horticultural Society Member Gardens

• Members Only Events

• Members Access or Discounts on Select Classes, Seminars & Events

To learn more, visit: www.pslbg.org/membership.html

3RD THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH AT 7PM - 9PM

Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens

Our mission is to promote tropical and subtropical fruits; to introduce and distribute new and improved varieties; to inform the public of the merits of tropical fruit; to collect and disseminate information on cultural requirements and propagating techniques; and much more!

Come join us and bring a friend or neighbor. First meeting is always free!

MONTHLY PROGRAM, DELICIOUS TASTING TABLE, SEED EXCHANGE, PLANT AUCTION, PLANT RAFFLE

Visit our website to learn more: www.tcrarefruitclub.org

2410 SE Westmoreland Blvd. Port St. Lucie, FL 34952

WELLNESS AT THE GARDENS

TAI CHI

with Jessica Wednesday Mornings

9 AM - 10 AM

$10 for Non-Members | $5 for Members

MINDFULNESS

with Moses 3rd Friday of Each Month

7 PM - 9 PM

$25 for Non-Members | $12.50 for Members

RESTORATIVE YOGA

with Gina

2nd Monday of Each Month

7 PM - 8 PM

$10 for Non-Members | $5 for Members

SUNSET YOGA

with Dale Select Monday Nights

7 PM - 8 PM

$10 for Non-Members | Free for Members

YOGA FOR HEALTHY AGING

with Barbara Select Tuesday Nights

7 PM - 8 PM

$10 for Non-Members | $5 for Members

YOGA FOR VETERANS & FIRST RESPONDERS

with Gail Select Tuesday Nights

7 PM - 8 PM

$10 for Non-Members | $5 for Members

*Registration is required for all events. Outdoor event weather permitting. Restorative Yoga & Tai Chi will be moved indoors in the event of inclement weather. Refunds are unable to be provided for no-shows. To save your spot, visit: www.pslbg.org/events.html

be our GUEST

PHOTOGRAPHS FROM GUESTS AT THE GARDENS

Tag us on Facebook & Instagram to be featured! @pslbotanicalgardens

Scott Hall

Scott Hall

Jaclyn Upton

Eveline Saillant

Scott Hall

Scott Hall

Eveline Saillant