Home is Where the Garden Is

The Calusa Garden Club is possibly one of the busiest little clubs on the island, and its members aren’t afraid of getting their hands dirty on occasion. Founded in 1982 and federated in 1983, it is part of District IX of the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. and is affiliated with the National Garden Clubs, Inc.

This last week, club members sponsored the annual Marco Island Home Garden Tour. This event saw over sixty members of the public purchase tickets to enjoy the event. The ticket holders chose either a morning or afternoon to tour four selected residences whose owners, three of which were either members, former members or friends of the club, had volunteered to demonstrate their love of gardening and what it brings to their homes and their hearts.

The tours went off like a well-oiled machine. After receiving their instructions and a bottle of water to stay hydrated, the tour guests headed out to the first of four different homes that belonged to the participating homeowners, with their rides provided by their personal tour guides and assistants who guided them through their beautiful gardens in and around the island. (The afternoon tours started promptly at 1:00 PM to keep them on schedule and would follow the same routes).  

The unique garden created by the first homeowner was a place of tranquility for various species of butterflies. Rhonda graciously toured guests around as they admired her handiwork and witnessed the beautiful butterflies that graced the grounds at her Old Marco home. At the next stop, Linda guided them through a wide variety of Florida native species of plants, as well as a selection of subtropical species for contrast, along a well-manicured shell pathway.

At the same time, one of the tour groups was visiting a home and a hostess who loves her orchids and other native Florida flora. Charlette kept her audience audiences spellbound with her knowledge and commitment to the many species of orchids and other vegetation.

The tour goers wanted to stay and enjoy the beauty at the last home on the stop. A spectacular domed conservatory area provided Ron, his wife, and the tour guests with a beautifully shaded retreat. From there, they enjoyed the many varieties of plants that the owners had chosen to adorn the beautiful pool and lanai area of their home.

Upon completion of the afternoon tour, a short program was held at the Methodist Church on putting together a properly created plant basket. Attendees were also given a demonstration of how to maximize the beauty of a floral design for your home. The afternoon ended with a short presentation on the proper use of fertilizers. 

You may find yourself enjoying a number of special Calusa Garden Club projects around the island, like the spectacular Butterfly Garden located along the Winterberry multi-use trail across from the city’s softball field. The Calusa Garden Club sponsored this park on city-owned land, providing plans, plantings, benches and maintenance in a collaborative effort with the city. The committee gives tours to community groups and presents a yearly Butterfly Release, which raises funds to help defray the costs of maintaining the garden. 

If you’ve enjoyed seeing beautiful displays at various public buildings or places you might also tip your cap to this busy club as they enjoy adding a little color here and there as a way to give back to the community that supports them.

And when visiting Veterans Community Park, look for the Blue Star Memorial. That Memorial Marker was donated by the club, and the plantings surrounding the memorial are donated and maintained by their organization. 

More information about the Calusa Garden Club can be found on the following website. www.calusa.org to learn more about the club, its activities and possible membership.