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Monday, February 1, 2016

Our Adventures at the GTM NERR by Garden Club President, Claire Fioriti

January is a month to get outdoors and enjoy the clean fresh air, which is what members of the Garden Club of Switzerland did.  Trooping to the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTM NERR)* on A1A in Ponte Vedra gave us all what we were looking for and more.

Shepherded by wonderful and informed guides, we divided into two groups: one to learn the workings of an estuary and the other to take a 2.2 mile hike to view the Guana River Marsh and the Tolomato River.  Both groups were equally ecstatic about their experience and the GTM NERR.  Speaking for group 2, we saw  the Guana River dam, a “toothache” tree and hardwood hammock, birds, a Minorcan well and an oyster bed.   It was 64 degrees and sunny with a slight breeze. Following the tour, we enjoyed lunch at a nice restaurant on the Intercoastal waterway.  A perfect day!

* According to their web site, www.gtmnerr.org, "The GTM NERR is part of 28 sites designated to protect and study estuarine systems, established thru the Coastal Zone Management Act."   It offers educational events and activities for schools and the general public (admission fees may apply).  For information do a GTMNERR search. There are many informative sites.

We've recently published a few articles that might also be of interest.  In The Creekline January 2016, see our, "Bluebirds Beat the Winter Blues," and in the St. Johns Sun for February 2016, "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden,"  with a notice about Washington Oaks Gardens State Park's presentation on maintaining roses, 11AM on February 13.   All our articles are at Our Published Articles at the About Us page.

And don't forget!  We're back at the Bartram Trail Library, Thursday, 2/11 from 10AM-noon.  Our featured presenter, Master Gardener Shirley Barber, will share how "Beautiful Gardens Start with Seed."  She gave this presentation ro a paying audience last October at the state-wide Florida Master Gardener Convention.  Guests are welcome to join us (no charge!) and encouraged to RSVP so we'll have enough snacks for everyone!  See our Calendar for future events and activities.

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