March in the Park: Plant, garden art sale takes place this Saturday
Horticulturists in Cape Coral and beyond can find an abundance of greenery this weekend to fawn over and even purchase.
The 11th annual “March in the Park,” a plant and garden art sale, takes place this Saturday at Jaycee Park from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is put on by the Garden Club of Cape Coral.
“Come out and enjoy beautiful Jaycee Park. Walk around and enjoy the view on the river while enjoying food, plants and get informed,” said Garden Club spokesperson Ginny Huffer.
A plethora of selections will be available from more than 35 vendors including palms, heliconias and bananas from Calusa Palms Nursery, native plants from All Native Garden Center and perennials, succulents and sub-tropicals from Exotic Blossom, just to name a few.
“These people raise and grow these plants. We have a wide variety of selections. When you buy you should know where it is able to grow, and how to plant it. These experts can help you do so,” said Huffer. “We try to bring information to the public.”
Some of the garden art available will feature clay flower pots hand painted by Sandy Sacco from St. James City, glass jewelry from Marilyn’s Place, photo cards and hand sketched pictures from Pet Portraits, along with honey, canned goods and jams.
Those working on their green thumb can learn from a handful of guest speakers on a variety of topics that include native shrubs for butterflies and birds, Florida friendly landscape, making a gopher tortoise habitat, building an earth box from recycled material and growing orchids in Southwest Florida.
If you have any questions pertaining to greenery not covered in the presentations, master gardeners will be on site all day to answer questions, along with Garden Club Members.
“They’re all knowledgeable people. All have a background on their topic. These are qualified speakers who know the ins and outs,” Huffer said.
Attendees can even bring a leaf or a branch of a plant they have questions about to the event to be looked over by an expert.
For the kids, a face painting booth will be there among activities and take-home projects for all ages.
Students from Trafalgar Middle School will also be doing a presentation for the public, as the school has a large garden that the club supports.
“We love to give the kids a chance to show what they’ve learned in school. It’s great to have them come out. We help the school with their garden. It’s a fun project,”Huffer said.
The Boy Scouts will be there serving hot dogs and hamburgers from the grill all afternoon.
A deejay will be there to play music throughout the event as well.
The Garden Club of Cape Coral in a non-profit organization, with all of the proceeds from the event going to benefit local high school seniors who have shown a love of the art.
Funds raised will go towards seniors as Marty Ward Merit Awards in horticulture, civic beautification; youth campers to Camp Wekiva; Habitat for Humanity projects; local middle and high school garden projects and to promote civic awareness of environmental and conservation concerns.
“Most of our vendors are local people. Some sell all native plants, and that’s what we’re trying to promote,” said Huffer. “You can find some unusual things that you can’t find in big box stores.”
Prize opportunities are also a reason for plant-enthusiasts to head to the park for the day.
The top five prizes are a hand-painted rain barrel, a garden cart filled with plants and gardening material, two tickets to the Broadway Palm Dinner Theater, two tickets to Edison & Ford Winter estates and four tickets to Cultural Park Theater.
Each drawing is a-buck-a-piece or six for $5. Winners do not need to be present to win.
The Garden Club of Cape Coral meets the second Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at The Kiwanis Club. All meetings are open to the public.
The Kiwanis Club is at 360 Santa Barbara Blvd. in Cape Coral.
Jaycee Park is at 4125 SE 20th Place in Cape Coral.
For more information, visit www.gardenclubofcapecoral.com.
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