What an amazing time to be a member of Jensen Beach Garden Club. We have so many incredible things going on – there’s truly something for everyone!
As a relatively new member, I have been continually impressed with the amount of warmth, inclusion, dedication, and enthusiasm shown by the members of this club. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know many individuals while working on our initiatives.
Our biggest initiative – our Annual Garden Expo – has raised our visibility in our community. We have created a very welcome Jensen Beach event in just two years. Attracting attendees from a tri-county area, we’ve offered an experience that informs and delights attendees and vendors alike. This event has also increased our network of county and community contacts and local businesses.
We’re excited about our newest fundraising initiative – our Jensen Beach Garden Club Cookbook. With member-contributed cherished family recipes and custom cover art by local artist Sally Eckman Roberts, it will make a treasured keepsake and a great gift idea!
Also new this year, we are extending our giving even more by awarding an annual scholarship to a deserving local high school student pursuing a degree in horticulture, landscape design, environmental sciences, farming, sustainable gardening, conservation, botany, turf management, forestry, marine biology, or related subjects. We are also creating a new series of educational gardening seminars for children and adults through the House of Hope and other area venues. We will continue to support camper scholarships to the Florida Oceanographic Society and the Environmental Studies Center, the Junior Master Gardeners, and the community gardens of the House of Hope. These and our other fundraising initiatives give us the ability to give back to the community and continue to support one of our core missions – education.
We continue our beautification mission by maintaining our three lovely public gardens – the butterfly gardens at Indian Riverside Park and Hoke Library, and the garden at Langford Park’s Log Cabin. And have you noticed how nice the planters in downtown Jensen Beach have been looking? That’s thanks to a group of club members dedicated to their upkeep and watering. We’re always looking for more gardeners to help with our active gardening!
We are very excited about our upcoming year. We have interesting and informative meetings planned for our upcoming season and field trips that will take us to new places and experiences. I am honored to serve alongside our hardworking and brilliant executive board, committee chairs, and committee members.
It’s been said that “you get out of something only what you put into it” – and that is very true. As I became more involved in this club, my enjoyment and sense of fulfillment increased a thousandfold. I encourage you to get involved – even in a small way. I guarantee you will feel the reward. You’ll have fun, make new friends, and maybe try something new. Everyone has something to share, and we can all benefit from participating. Please bring your ideas and enthusiasm, and we’ll all grow together!
Here's to a wonderful year ahead!
Dana von Rinteln, President
