Happy 75th Anniversary JBGC!

A Blossoming Legacy:

Jensen Beach Garden Club to Celebrate 75 Years of Community and Growth

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The Jensen Beach Garden Club is set to celebrate its 75th anniversary in January 2025, reflecting a long-standing commitment to community service and gardening expertise. Founded by Rose Ditterline as an off-shoot of the Stuart Garden Club, JBGC’s early efforts focused on beautification projects, including enhancements at All Saints Cemetery, flower deliveries to nursing home residents, and plant exchanges.

Over the decades, the Jensen Beach Garden Club significantly expanded its initiatives. In the 1960s, it contributed to the beautification of Jensen Beach Blvd and the Chamber of Commerce building. The 1970s were marked by the planting of the "Liberty Tree" at the Environmental Studies Center and the organization of the popular Spring Flower Show. In the 1980s, the Club revitalized downtown Jensen Beach, collaborating with the Historic Downtown Jensen Beach Merchants Association on the Pineapple Festival, which featured a concert with Marie Osmond. The Club adopted Langford Park and hosted annual Earth Day and Arbor Day celebrations.

The 1990s and early 2000s saw impactful projects, including the planting of 180 trees on Savannah Road and the installation of a Butterfly Garden at Indian Riverside Park and at the new Hoke Library, which won an Achievement Award from the National Wildlife Federation in 2003. A highlight was the dedication of the Blue Star Byway Marker at the Arches, honoring U.S. Armed Forces.

In 2010, the Club launched its first Annual Plant Sale at Indian Riverside Park, which thrived for nine years. Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, the Club adapted, evolving the Plant Sale into the "Jensen Beach Garden Expo," which debuted in 2022. A hallmark, Treasure Coast tradition; it kicks off the spring planting season featuring local vendors and educational presentations and demonstrations. Mark your calendars for the 4th Annual Garden Expo on March 1, 2025!

The Jensen Beach Garden Club's philanthropy extends beyond the Expo. Fundraisers have supported local organizations such as House of Hope, the Environmental Studies Center, and the Junior Master Gardeners of Martin County. In 2024, the Club awarded its first college scholarship for high school students pursuing horticulture, environmental sciences and similar studies.

Today, with over 100 members, the Club fosters a strong sense of community. Its gardening committee actively maintains public spaces, including the Butterfly Garden at Hoke Library and two gardens at Indian Riverside Park, the Senior Center “Log Cabin” in Langford Park and the planters downtown.

We invite anyone who shares our passion for gardening and community service to join us. Meetings are typically held from October to April on the third Wednesday of each month. For more information about the Jensen Beach Garden Club or to participate in an upcoming event, please visit jensenbeachgardenclub.com or email us at jensenbeachgc@gmail.com.

STAY TUNED! More information to follow as we plan for the anniversary in January 2025.

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Garden Tours

By Lisa Oster & Stacie Latham • January 6, 2025

Part 1 - Edible Gardener's Paradise

Spreading Wings: Butterfly Conservation in Jensen Beach

By Lisa Oster • December 10, 2024

Spreading Wings: Butterfly Conservation in Jensen Beach The Jensen Beach Garden Club proudly maintains four beautiful gardens in our area, along with the vibrant flower planters that brighten downtown Jensen Beach. These gardens are lovingly tended by our dedicated Garden Committee, co-chaired by Annie Ruffing and Dina D’Angelico-Elms. Every two weeks, rain or shine, committee members roll up their sleeves to plant, prune, and water, ensuring these spaces remain havens for butterflies and other pollinators and provide beautiful landscapes for everyone. Among our projects are two flourishing butterfly gardens—one at Hoke Library and another at Indian Riverside Park—designed to attract, nourish, and protect essential pollinators. Did you know that the Hoke Library Butterfly Garden was certified by the North American Butterfly Association in 2002? This distinction recognizes its role in providing vital resources for butterfly populations worldwide. And this year, we’re taking our conservation efforts to new heights by adding butterfly houses to both gardens! The Buzz on Butterfly Houses A butterfly house creates a safe and nurturing environment, mimicking the natural habitats butterflies need to thrive. These houses help protect against habitat loss by offering a space to rest, mate, and feed—all while supporting education, research, and conservation efforts. To bring this project to life, our club collaborated with a remarkable young leader: Sebastian Gonzalez, a senior at Jensen Beach High School and an aspiring Eagle Scout. Sebastian, no stranger to community service, has been a dedicated partner in our gardening efforts. You may have spotted him lending a hand at our February 25, 2023, Garden Expo or helping spread mulch at Indian Riverside Park. Built by Sebastian and beautifully painted by club members Linda Elliott and Kathryn Lerett, the houses were installed in the garden beds in October 2024. A Passion for the Atala Butterfly For his Eagle Scout project, Sebastian focused on supporting the recovery of the Atala butterfly, a small, brilliantly colored species native to Florida. Once considered extinct in the state, the Atala has made a remarkable comeback thanks to conservation initiatives like ours. Sebastian recommended we add more Coonti plants (Zamia integrifolia) to our gardens—the sole host plant for Atala butterfly larvae. Each house features a dedication placard, symbolizing our shared commitment to protecting butterflies and enhancing biodiversity in Jensen Beach. Sebastian will be studying the activities of our beloved butterflies and will keep us posted on his findings. Celebrate With Us We’re thrilled to see Sebastian’s butterfly houses in action and invite you to join us in celebrating his achievements. His dedication to conservation and our community has made a lasting impact, both on our gardens and the butterflies they support. Look for them during your next visit! Stay tuned for updates on this project and other exciting initiatives from the Jensen Beach Garden Club. Together, we’re growing a greener, more beautiful world—one garden at a time!