Adopt-A-Highway: 
1989: FCGC adopted as a Club Project, a 2 mile stretch of highway 48 from US 41 to Trails End Road during Citrus County's Project Pride.  Throughout the year, three or four highway clean-up days are held ... members and others in the community participate. Dates are announced in the news paper and we need all the help we can get. For some reason our section of road is constantly being strewn with litter and we collect an average 10 - 14 bags for the county.
 

Club Library: 



2002: In keeping with National, State and Local Garden Club goals to advance education in the fields of horticulture, landscape design, gardening and we constructed a library book case, painted by Carol Dyer, and filled with books, videos and brochures donated by members and organizations.
 
Community Gardens:  FCGC has created many gardens and currently maintains five [5] throughout the year: Click here for more pictures.
 
Memorial Gardens & Labyrinth: 
1956: a 5-year plan to landscape library grounds was adopted, but became an ongoing project.  1993: it became the Memorial Garden. 1995: the labyrinth was completed, hand-made stepping stones were added, as well as benches and birdbath and dedicated it to the community on October 27, 1996. 2000: plants damaged during a building-repainting project were replaced, new benches were installed and a new sidewalk replaced the stepping stones. 2002: a sign was placed in the arbor.
Memorial Gardens Capital Improvement Project: [2007-2012]. In conjunction with the new Town Center, We will assist in the design and planting landscape  and gardens

In conjunction with the Memorial Garden, a Book of Remembrance is maintained in the Public Library … For a fee, anyone can have the name[s] of Floral City loved ones placed into the book.
   

Gateway Garden & Sign 2003: We assisted in the sign lay-out design and created the garden that surrounds the “Historic Floral City” gateway sign.  The artwork was donated by Jo Quackenbush, H.D. & Lynn Bassett donated the lettering and Frank & Phyllis Peters donated the plants.  Michael Harnden, Certified Arborist planted the trees. The Floral City Heritage Council worked with the county to have the sign created.

click here to see gateway garden dedication  

School Bird & Butterfly Garden:
1999: Junior Gardeners helped install the first Butterfly Garden School Beautification Project
Phase I: The Garden. 
2003-2003: volunteers from Camp E-Ninini-Hassee helped us enlarge the flower bed. .2004: additional shrub and tree plantings, a seating area and a stepping stone path were added

School Beautification Project


Phase II: The Mural  2003-2005: A large educational mural depicting native plants, wildflowers, birds and animals conceived by President, Cathi Ayers, designed by Jo Quackenbush, and painted by FCGC volunteers [Artistic contributors included: Cathi Ayers, Bette Ayers, Marcia Beasley, Pam Bellman, Jeanne Henson, Patsy Neel, Sheila O’Dell, Jo Quackenbush, and Bobbie Schoss].  Bellman Painting furnished paint and supplies.  A brochure depicting each critter [Great Blue Heron, Egret, Cormorant, Anhinga, Snowy Egret, Alligator, Shan hill Crane, Screech Owl, Wood Duck, Slider Turtle, Julia Butterfly, Bald Eagle and Red-tail Hawk] and each plant [Live Oak, Bald Cypress, Mimosa, Swamp Rose, Marsh Mallow, Pickerel Weed, White Water Lily, Sky Blue Lupine, Swamp Marigold, was created and presented to the school as a teaching aid for students.


Egret~~~~~~~~~~Blue Heron


Wood Duck~~~Slider~~~Gallinule

Screech Owl~Anhinga~Cormorant~Snowy Egret

   

School Beautification Project
2006 Junior Gardeners with the assistance of our Trees Committee Chairman, Michael Harnden, Certified Arborist, planted 2 trees in front of the Floral City Elementary School.

   

State Trail Bird & Butterfly Garden
2001: We created a bird & butterfly garden on the south entrance to the State Trail off E. Orange Avenue.

2006: this garden was awarded a citation by the Keep Citrus Beautiful Organization.
   

State Trail Rose Garden 2004 we volunteered to help the Friends of the Garden Club by assuming the maintenance of their Rose Garden.

 
   
Orange Avenue Garden Spots & Pots
2006 we adopted from the Friends of the Garden Club other town gardens [the corner garden on US 41 and E Orange Avenue, the trail garden across from the Gazebo, the corner garden at the convenience store and the ivy covered fence] along with potted plants and the maintenance of seating benches. Member, Dave Bellman installed a drip system to water the potted plants.

Other Community Gardens:
Community Gardens: Post Office Beautification Project: In 1989 FCGC members planted flowering plants and shrubs at the Floral City Post Office. In 1990, on 20th anniversary of Earth Day, FCGC members replanted the gardens and continued to maintain them until 1997 when the P.O. assumed responsibility.

Community Gardens: Withlacoochee Trail State Park Beautification Project at Jeanette Gazebo Site:  1997: In April, for Floral City Heritage Council's Gazebo Project, FCGC members, assisted by a few volunteers from Heritage Council, planted 18 trees [10-65 gal size], 25 vines and 10 shrubs [all native] along the Withlacoochee Trail State Park.

Community Gardens: Community Building Beautification Project:  FCGC members planted flowers and hedges in front of the Floral City Community Building and maintained them from 1991 until 1998 when the Lions Club assumed responsibility.
Community Gardens: Plant the Town Project:  1999: For Make-A-Difference Day: We participated in a community-wide project digging new gardens, making planters and planting plants to put "floral" back into Floral City. The gardens at the corner of Old Floral City Rd. & Orange Avenue was restored, new gardens were created at the Lighthouse, the Shamrock and under the Old Oak Tree between the Masonic Lodge and Memorial Gardens.

Community Gardens: Corner Flower Garden Project:  1998: We created a garden at the corner of Old Floral City Rd. & E Orange Avenue.
 

Decorate the Town  --
Our Gift to the Town
1981 We made decorations and adorned the community building for Christmas.  Later we made wreaths and placed them on the oak trees and gazebo. 2005: We purchased giant red bows to decorate the Avenue of Oaks.
Click here for more pictures.  

Decorate the Town: Giant Christmas Card:  2003: the club logo was painted on half of a folding 4’ x 8’ piece of plywood to create a giant Christmas card and donated to the club by jo Quackenbush for holiday display … the right side of the card was left blank so it can also be changed as needed to use as a sign for special events such as the Plant Sale or Secret Garden Tour. 



 
Fundraiser's:  A necessary function of the club is to raise money not only for its own expenses, but also for donations to worthy organizations such as Camp E-Nini-Hassee, The Nature Conservancy, The Audubon Society, for scholarships to students seeking higher education in the field of botany or horticulture, to send Junior Gardeners to Camp Wekiva and to purchase Arbor Trees each year which are donated to the community. 

 

Flower Show:
1960 1st Flower Show: “In the Beginning”
1961 2nd Flower Show & Bazaar @ Citrus County Fair; 1962 3rd Flower Show; 1963 4th Flower Show; 1964 5th Flower Show: “Beauty is Where You Find it”; 1965 6th Flower Show; 1966 7th Flower Show; 1968 8th Flower Show: “At Home With Lola”

Garden Tea & Arts & Crafts Fair:



1999-2001 Monthly floral arrangement workshops, taught by Marcia Beasley & Marie Jones, included instructions on how to grow specimen plants and put on a flower show.  The Standard Home Flower Show with Garden Tea & Art Fair using the theme "A Peek At Our Past" was held at the Historic Jont Knight home owned by Dave & Pam Bellman. Musicians Pete Hennings and Pete Price provided entertainment. Guests Artists and Crafter's displayed their work.  Marie Jones created a Recipe Book of old fashioned desserts and prepared quantities of each for refreshment.
Click here for more pictures.

   
Annual Plant Sale:  Each year, usually in the spring, FCGC hosts a plant sale for the community.  Often organizations set up display booths and guest speakers are scheduled throughout the day to teach the community about Florida gardening topics [individual plant species, garden pest/weed control, proper pruning and fertilization techniques].
  Click here for more pictures.
Secret Garden Tour The first Secret Garden Tour with Art and Artist at each home and Luncheon with Music at the Floral City Community Building was held October, 2003 … we ran out of food.  In 2006 the club voted to hold this fund raiser every other year.  The public is invited to come on a Secret Garden Tour to view the gardens of approximately 7 homes featuring guest Artists displaying their work at each of the homes. The second Secret Garden Tour was held in September, 2006, and visitors were treated to free bottles of water and a club fan. Click here for more pictures.

   
Pontilla: 2001: Our first Pontoon Flotilla was held as an aquatic educational resource for the community as well as a fundraiser. 2002 & 2003 Additional “Pontillas” were held.
Click here for more pictures.
 
Heritage Days:  we have supported Heritage Council's Heritage Days since its inception in December 1992.  Each year we assist in lighting luminaries, dress in period costumes and Hostess the Tour of Homes in various historic homes throughout the city.  Some years members bake cakes and cookies for the cakewalk and/or cookie sale to raise funds for the club and to make a donation to the Heritage Council.
Click here for more pictures.
 

HOST:
Florida Federation of Garden Clubs District V Meeting Host: In 1963 the Floral Garden Club first hosted the FFGC [Florida Federation of Garden Clubs] District 5 meeting and the theme was “Beauty is Where Your Find It”. 

In 2004, we again hosted the Spring FFGC District V Meeting … the theme was “A May Day Celebration”.  In excess of 80 Delegates and guests representing clubs located within Dixie, Gilchrist, Bradford, Alachua, Citrus, Levy, and Marion counties attended.  The girls from Camp E-Nini Hassee helped prepare and serve lunch to guests. Click here for more pictures.
 

HORTICULTURE Q&A + GROW & SHARE:
A horticulture presentation with Q&A session is presented at most meetings by Horticulture Chairman, Lynn Bassett. It is often combined with Grow & Share where members bring plants, cuttings, tubers and/or seeds to share with members and guests ... they describe the plants and explain how and where to grow them.

Near-by botanical, horticulture or flower show events are announced.

 

LIBRARY ARRANGEMENT :



1970: we adopted the project of creating dried flower arrangements, made by volunteer members, for community enjoyment to display on a monthly rotation basis in the Floral City public library.
 
SCHOLARSHIPS

Scholarship Awards to High School Students
2001: We support education in the fields of botany, agriculture, horticulture and conservation, and established a scholarship fund awarded annually to a Citrus County student planning to major in one of these fields.  2006: it was named the Marie Jones Scholarship Award.  In 2006 and 2005 year enough money was collected to grant two scholarship awards.

   

Scholarship Awards to FFGC's Camp Wekiva for Junior Gardeners:
1982: Two children were sponsored to go to Camp Wekiva.

1988: We began a Junior Gardeners after school group to teach children to appreciate and cultivate our natural resources as well as a practical appreciation of gardening techniques. Each year a Junior Gardener or two are selected based on their participation, with parents’ approval, to attend FFGC’s Camp Wekiva.

2006: the name Dorothy Clark Camp Wekiva Scholarship Award was given in honor of the president who offered the first scholarship to Junior Gardeners.

2007: Four Junior Gardeners were able to attend Camp Wekiva due to the generous donations of members.
2006: the name Dorothy Clark Camp Wekiva Scholarship Award was given in honor of the

http://www.ffgc.org/youth/camp_wekiva.html

 
 
TREES

Trees: Arbor Day, Memorial Tree Campaign: Floral City is widely known for its "Avenue of Oaks", a half-mile long stretch of century old live oak trees, originally planted in 1884, the historic district along Orange Avenue.  In order to preserve this heritage of our community, the FC Heritage Council had each existing tree carefully evaluated by Certified Arborist, Michael Harnden in 2001-2002.  Arbor Day:  FCGC using Arbor Day to replace trees, which have been lost due to disease or storms over the years.  Individuals and community businesses will be given opportunity to purchase a sizeable tree in honor or in memory of a designated person or organization.  Each year FCGC members join together for the Arbor Day celebration to purchase, for the community, a native tree[s] and plant it on the Withlacoochee State Rails to Trail bicycle path, as replacement trees along the Avenue of Oaks or maintain older trees.

2007 Arbor Day: a Fringe Tree was added to the Memorial Gardens. Click here for more pictures.

   

Freedom Trees & Parade:

2003: In recognition of National Garden Club’s Freedom Tree Program, FCGC purchased 2 large live oak trees which were planted by Michael Harnden, Certified Arborist, and Frank Peters assisted by the Junior Gardeners.  In celebration of Arbor Day and as a Memorial Tribute to 9/11, FCGC sponsored the Freedom Tree Dedication with Floral City’s first ever parade assisted by the Floral City Heritage Council.
Click here for more pictures.
   
2007 All garden clubs within District V participated in a monumental public education program about our natural water resources. Included in the planning and two-day celebration at Fanning Springs State Park [pictured above] were Governor Jeb Bush and SWFTMUD. Sharing boards were created to depict garden club activities [pictured below]. More about this event can be seen at the following web site: www.celebrate-water.com.

Questions? or Comments! send e-mail to:jbq@tampabay.rr.com