Garden club tours botanical gardens
Members of the Estero Island Garden Club toured the Botanical Gardens at Sanibel Moorings Resort on Monday, Nov. 15. Master Gardener and Naturalist Anita Marshall gave a tour of the beautiful and lush grounds that cover six acres.
As the group strolled along the pathways of the tropical gardens, Anita pointed out the many and varied plantings, including palms, flowering and fruit trees, natives and exotics, bromeliads, orchids, bamboo, and cactus. Many of these plants and bushes attract both butterflies and humming birds. There is a stunning collection of more than 200 hibiscus hybrids with more than 200 different blooms.
Anita gave gardening tips on keeping the plants healthy, on trimming them and on preventing disease and insect damage. The gardens are also critter-friendly, providing habitats for families of screech owls and marsh bunnies, among other animals.
Tours are open to the public, and Anita is a passionate and dedicated gardener and naturalist. The next meeting of EIGC will take place at the Fort Myers Beach Library on Dec. 6, when members will decorate the library for Christmas, and afterward have lunch at the Pancake House. Anyone interested in joining the Garden Club should contact Madeline at kinderella1@aol.com or Becky at 463-4102.