By Dana von Rinteln, President  -  October 1, 2024

Remember that children's story of the little engine that could? Well, that's us! While we are not the largest garden club in the area, we have accomplished great things this past year.

Just take a look around you… 

The lovely sidewalk planters in downtown Jensen bloom beautifully thanks to the dedication of gardeners who water and maintain them. And they don't go unnoticed - we are often complimented on our efforts. We've created a large new planting bed at Indian Riverside Park. Regular walkers there have commented on the positive change it's made and eagerly look forward to seeing what's blooming next. A lovely heron statue by Geoffrey Smith now stands in our butterfly garden at IRP dedicated to Past President, Dorothy Strauss. Soon, we will have two hand-made butterfly houses thanks to a local Boy Scout and the artistic efforts of two of our Club members. A gorgeous Hong Kong Orchid tree has been added to the lawn of Hoke Library, and new plantings have been added to the Log Cabin landscape beds. 

We rocked Garden Expo 2024! Moving the location in IRP to the space in front of the Dockside Pavilion made a huge difference! The space was so inviting, perfect for strolling from booth to booth. Many vendors reported having great sales because attendees arrived early and were ready to buy. And Mother Nature did her part with a spectacular day. But the real stars of the Expo were our members. They were incredible. The Sponsor Committee raised nearly $20,000 - six times as much as our first Expo. Over half of our members volunteered, some working at the event all day and others working many hours behind the scenes. I thank each of you for your hard work!

Our cookbook, Seeds of Flavor, has been an incredible success! How many recipes have you tried? Thank you to all the members who shared their delicious recipes. We deeply appreciate the committee’s careful work in selecting and organizing the recipes to create such a delightful collection. The cookbook's popularity nearly depleted our first printing, so we've reordered 100 more copies. Following the Expo, it has become our most successful fundraiser yet!

We also curated an educational gardening series presented to House of Hope’s clients. Our members created four different sessions, some of which we shared with other organizations. Thank you to the members who volunteered to develop the curriculum and to present these sessions.

One of the most rewarding projects this year was creating a scholarship award for local high school students. Our committee worked diligently to craft the right parameters and requirements to select the most qualified student. This year they selected an outstanding young woman who plans to study biology at FSU. 

They say it is better to give than receive, and it's true. This spring was so rewarding because we donated over $10,000 and made a point of hand-delivering the checks to the organizations. The other members and I left each of these occasions with very full hearts.  

For the coming season, in addition to our fabulous meeting programs and field trips, we will also hear from some of the organizations that received donations from us. This way, you can hear directly from the organizations how the money is being invested and the difference it is making in the lives of children and families and this wonderful community. 

The Club will proudly celebrate its 75th anniversary in January 2025. Throughout the season, the board and committees have some exciting surprises planned to commemorate this milestone.

I have been so proud to see our members step up to run or join a committee this year. It is so fulfilling to be part of a project and work with other dedicated and talented people. I'd like to thank our incredible Board of Directors for all the work and passion each brings to the table. Working with you all is a real pleasure; your contributions are truly appreciated. 

There will be a couple of openings on the Board for 2025-2026, so please consider volunteering for one. I guarantee you'll find it rewarding and have a lot of fun doing it!

If you're not already part of a committee, please consider joining one that interests you. From active gardening to hospitality, publicity and communications, organizational skills, and fundraising… there's something here for everyone. Your ideas and passion drive this Club; just look where it's taken us!

This Club is the little engine that can!