The Gardens' Gate - March 2023

Monthly Calendar pg. 4

What’s Blooming Now? pg. 10 Mosaic Art by Anita Prentice pg. 14

Volunteer Spotlights pg. 20 Cacti & Succulents pg. 24

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, Garden Center and Gift Shop Hours:

Wednesday - Saturday | 10 AM - 4 PM Sunday | Noon - 4 PM

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

Suggested Donations: Adults $5 • Students $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:

Secretary: Judy Nash-Wade

Treasurer: Moses Hill

Directors: John Erickson, Dale Johnson, Jeanette Kostival, Mary Petrone, Pam Scholey, Tim Sutton

Standing Committee Chairs

Election Committee: Stephanie Alessandrini Giarraffa

Finance Committee: Moses Hill

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 Dutton

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

Mosaic Art with Anita Prentice pg. 14

Volunteer Spotlights pg. 20

Wellness at the Gardens pg. 22

Cacti & Succulents pg. 24

Photos from Our Guests pg. 28

*Reminder

Monday, March 13, 2023 | 4:30PM

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

In February, a new board was voted in, and I’d like to welcome Pam Scholey, Dale Johnson, and Tim Sutton to the Board of Directors. I am excited to be stepping into the leadership role as President at the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens. I am fortunate to have a strong and supportive Board and a phenomenal membership group. The board and I will continue to focus on our mission and foster growth and development in ways that support the Gardens and its community.

First, I thank Jeff Chambers for his selfless commitment to the Gardens. President of a nonprofit is one of the most demanding volunteer roles, and Jeff performed with dedication and patience. Jeff was an outstanding leader despite difficult decisions, such as organizing new gating around the garden rooms. A famous activist once said, “Wisdom is knowing what to do next; virtue is doing it.” Jeff proved to be both wise and virtuous.

I want to thank our members for their continued participation and enthusiasm in The Gardens and our event directors and sponsors for their incredible support. This support allows us to continue to offer exciting and educational programming opportunities. Finally, I’d like to give a special shout-out of appreciation to our volunteers and committee members for their tireless work on behalf of all of us. The time and effort they are willing to volunteer is incredibly generous and has allowed us to continue to succeed as an organization.

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

HAPPENING AT THE PORT ST. LUCIE BOTANICAL GARDENS

MARCH 2023

* (Registration Required)

A Look Ahead...

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

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

Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens

What’s Blooming Now?

The Orchid Room

is located to the west of The Pavilion. It houses over 100 orchids of rare and exotic varieties. Thank you to the Port St. Lucie Orchid Society for maintaining this garden room.

Phaleanopis

Cattleya Hybrids

Phaleanopis Verda

Cattleya Hybrids

Cattleya Hybrids

Cattleya Hybrids

Anita Prentice MOSAIC ART WITH

Local artist Anita Prentice will create a new piece for The Gardens’ Hibiscus Room. You may have noticed the 15” diameter cement pole installed in the center of The Hibiscus Room this past month. The cement pole needs to cure for an entire month before Anita can begin her creation. It will be the base of a fabulous mosaic design. Anita will cover the pole with her signature styling of hibiscus flowers, insects, vines, and other flowers and garden-themed art.

Anita’s canvas in the gardens she will be working with.

Anita’s previous work in the The Gardens’ Butterfly Room.

Anita will start her mosaic work on the pole the first week in March. All are welcome to come to the Hibiscus Room to watch her create this unique work of art from Wednesday through Friday, 10 AM until noon, during March. All are welcome to observe her work!

Anita’s artwork can be seen in The Gardens’ Butterfly Room on the wall of the city’s storage building and on a bench in the Butterfly Room.

Mock-up of Anita’s garden art for cement pole.

Anita’s mosaic artwork.

ATTENTION PHOTOGRAPHERS

Due to the new fence being installed, photographers that are members will be able to enter the grounds for 1-2 evenings at month for a fee. Please stay tuned for details.

Photo by: Kristy & Vic Photography | kristyandvic.com

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

ACE VOLUNTEERS OF THE MONTH

Volunteer

Debbie LaDow has been selected as one of our ACE March 2023 Volunteer of the Year award by Jeff Chambers. Debbie was nominated by Jeff Chambers. Debbie has been volunteering at The Gardens for almost three years. She has recently been given the leadership position for The Garden Center. Debbie says that she finds her bliss in the peaceful nature of The Gardens. And feels that all of the volunteers in The Garden Center have a love of nature and plants. They also all have a mutual respect for each other’s knowledge and enjoy sharing that knowledge with each other and with the customers.

Debbie is happy that Tim and Dale have been named cochairs of the horticulture department, and she is looking forward to sharing her ideas for the future of The Garden Center with them.

She particularly enjoyed the latest Garden Center event, Ask the Expert, and feels that there could be more of those events, as each volunteer in The Garden Center has a unique and specialized interest in different species of plants to share. She says that every day is new in The Garden Center, and she never knows what plants will arrive or be donated. The constant changes make her time there exciting and enjoyable.

Debbie feels that The Garden Center is a hidden gem of The Gardens and is constantly amazed that so many customers remark that ‘they never knew The Gardens had a plant nursery.’ Along with the constant positive feedback from the customers, and the continuing cooperation of her fellow volunteers, Debbie is in her element, right here in her own backyard.

When she is not helping The Garden Center be at its best, she spends time with her SO, Fred, and visits her children and grandchildren in Sarasota and Plantation, FL.

Spotlights

by LAURA MEHR

Fran Overcash

Many of our members know Fran Overcash, who has been volunteering at The Gardens since the Fall of 2010 when The Gardens first opened. She has always volunteered on Saturday mornings at the Welcome Desk. Her good nature and helpful demeanor have been a great asset. In her younger days, she also volunteered with The Wacky Weeders. Now she also volunteers at our special events, such as Botanica, The Art Show, and Bootanica, the Halloween event. She is a great ambassador for The Gardens. She says she especially likes greeting and working with the children that arrive at The Gardens and loves to tell them about our BackPack Program and the scavenger hunts. She is conscientious in assessing whether or not a child can carry the backpack and whether they will be able to utilize the materials in the backpack. The children always returned happy that Fran introduced them to The Gardens’ wonders through the children’s programs.

Fran had spent 13 years volunteering in the ortho department at St Lucie Medical Center until the pandemic. She was on the board of the Volunteer Auxiliary. In that capacity, she trained all high school students at the hospital to complete their volunteer hours.

Fran retired after 32 years with Northrup-Grumman in Long Island, NY. Attending college at night, she obtained her BS degree and became a data analyst with Northrup-Grumman. She was also a Northrup-Grumman Retirees Club board member here on the Treasure Coast.

She enjoys spending time with her two Chihuahuas, Cookie and Peanut, and spending time with her sister, who is a snowbird.

WELLNESS AT THE GARDENS

Yoga at the Gardens

Sunset Yoga

Monday, March 6, 20, 27 7PM - 8PM

Restorative Yoga

Monday, March 13 7PM - 8PM

Take advantage of the beautiful weather we have this time of year and find your zen in the gardens! The cost for Yoga at the Gardens is $10 for non-members. Sunset Yoga is FREE for members. Restorative Yoga is $5 for members and friends of members.

Tai Chi at the Gardens

Select Wednesdays

March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 9AM - 10AM

Join us for Tai Chi in the Gardens! Tai Chi is an ancient martial art practiced for health benefits and meditation. All levels are welcome! Dress comfortably in flat tennis shoes and bring your water bottle and a towel.

*Registration is required for all events. Outdoor event weather permitting. Refunds are unable to be provided for no-shows. To save your spot, visit: www.pslbg.org/events.html

www.pslbg.org/become-a-volunteer.html

Cacti& Succulents

by GAIL L’ESPERANCE-NORRIS

I recently met with Tony, the volunteer in charge of succulents at the Port Saint Lucie Botanical Garden. The first thing I learned is that Tony has an MS in horticulture. If you’re like me, and not exactly sure of the definition of Horticulturist, Oxford Dictionary defines it as “An expert in garden cultivation and management.” Tony is responsible for maintaining the Cactus and Succulent Garden by pruning the plants, looking for diseases and pests, and doctoring them if they need care. He explained that succulents have evolved to conserve water under harsh conditions in arid regions.

Succulents typically have:

• Fat leaves and stems

• Underground rhizomes

• Hair or wax on the leaves

A common question is “What is the difference between a Succulent and a Cactus?” In a nutshell, all Cacti are Succulents that have small, round, cushion-like mounds which spines, hair, leaves, flowers, and more grow from. All cacti are a type of succulent. Tony further explained that this can be confusing because some plants with the word cactus in their name, are not true cacti. For instance, the Brain Cacti and the Pencil Cacti are actually from the family Euphorbia.

As you walk through The Gardens, you see a wide variety of Succulents, such as Donkey Ear, Medusa Head, Brain Cactus, Agave, Aloe, Barrel Cactus, and Spiral Cereus. One of the most interesting is the Walking Sansevieria. In its natural habitat, this plant can’t go underground, so it ‘walks’ by creating aerial shoots above ground, followed by stilt-like rooting which gives it the appearance of ‘walking’ away from the parent plant.

Cacti&Succulents

In addition to tending the Succulent and Cactus garden, Tony also propagates succulents for resale. He showed me how easy it is to propagate succulents, as you can usually just cut off part of the top, let it dry, and then plant it. He explained that they are easily cared for by watering thoroughly, then allowing them to dry out before watering again. He also said that they like to be pot-bound, so it’s best if they do not have too much room in the pot. Tony creates Succulent Dishes that are beautiful. I asked him how he knew what to put into a Succulent Dish. He explained that gardeners use the concept of including a thriller, spiller, and filler. This means it’s essential to have a beautiful plant that catches the eye (thriller), several that draw the eye down (spiller), and the rest to fill in the spaces (filler). Taller succulents are the thrillers. Fillers are shorter and often wider, and spillers trail over the edge, putting a finishing touch on the whole container. Using different shapes, textures, and colors forms a living work of art that is beautiful and a welcome addition to any home or office. Most of these Succulent Dishes are for sale.

If you’d like to try your hand at creating a succulent dish, you can purchase a wide variety of succulents and cacti at the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens’ garden center.

be our GUEST

PHOTOGRAPHS FROM OUR GUESTS AT THE GARDENS

Courtney Schultz

Luann Monzo Johnson

Rosemary Badger

Kelly Leary

Don Morin

Anthony Martucci